Canoe Polo

Participants

The match is played between two teams of five players each side that must be present on the playing area at any given time of the play. Three substitutions are allowed in the game which can be availed anytime.,

Playing Area

The match is played on a rectangular pitch which can either be on the open water or a swimming pool which should measure 35 metres in length and 23 metres in width. The water should be still water which must be at least 90 cm deep. A goal post must be located over the center of each goal line.,

General Rules

Player Composition

Each team shall consist a maximum of 8 players in the team out of which 5 players are permitted at any time of the play on the field with the left outs that are allowed for substitutions.

 

Duration Of The Game

The game time consists of two periods of ten minutes each unless overtime is needed to decide the result. The minimum playing time is two periods of seven minutes each. The half time interval shall normally be of three minutes. The teams shall change ends after each period of play.

 

Commencement Of Play

At the start of each period of play, five players from each team line up and are ready to start the play. If the team intentionally causes an unnecessary delay to start the game then an infringement will be called.

 

Ball Out Of Play

• Sideline and overhead obstacle: If any part of the ball touches the sideline or the vertical plane of the physical sideline, or touches any overhead barrier, the team that was not the last to touch the ball with their paddle, kayak or person, they are then awarded a sideline-throw.
• Sideline throw: The player receiving the throw must place their kayak at the point of exit of the ball, or the point on the sideline nearest to the point of contact with an above obstacle.
• Goal line or corner throw: It will be given when any part of the ball touches the vertical plane of the front of the goal frame except where a ball bounces off the goal frame (not the goal supports) into the playing area, or where the ball is blocked from completely invading the goal by a defender's paddle and rebounds back into the field of play, or where a goal is obtained.

 

Scoring

A team obtains a goal when the whole of the ball passes through the goal frame of the opponent’s goal. The referee will show the number of the player scoring the goal to the scorekeeper. Time-out must be there after a goal is scored. If the ball is prevented from entering a goal by either a defender's or substitutes paddle that enters the goal from behind, then a goal is awarded.

 

Restart After Goal

After a goal is scored, the scoring team must return to their own half in within 10-15 seconds. Any intentional delay will be sanctioned with a Team Warning for Unsporting Behavior for Deliberate Delaying Tactics Signals. The referee may restart play as soon as the attacking team is ready even if up to 2 players of the defending team are not back in their own half.

 

Fouls

The sport primarily adheres to the safety of the players and to keep the game fast paced along withmaintaining the excitement while playing as well as watching. Infringement of any of the rules of the game amounts to a foul.

The fouls in the play can be of the following types:-

• Illegal substitution and entering into the playing area
• Illegal possession
• Illegal hand tackle
• Illegal kayak tackle
• Illegal use of paddle
• Illegal jostle
• Illegal screen/obstruction
• Illegal holding
• Unsporting Behavior

 

The severity of the foul may be determined by the following three general principles:-

 

• Deliberate Foul- Liable to receive a green card. It is considered a foul where no effort has been made to avoid the illegal play.
• Dangerous Foul- A significant contact is made with the opponent’s arm, head or body which may result in personal injury. It is illegal.
• Significant Contact- It is any high impact or continuous contact that might result in personal injury or equipment damage.

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Officials

Referees

The match consists of two referees (one on each side-line) who are present on foot rather than in boats. 

 

Scorekeeper

The scorekeeper keeps the account of scores.

 

Timekeepers

The timekeeper observes the playing time and sending-off times. 

 

Line Judges

The two line judges monitor the goal lines.,

Events

Men's Events

 

Women's Events

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Techniques

Offensive Drills

• Overload- The 1 or 2 attacking players create the side of a zone by pushing the defensive players and making room for the third player of their team to sprint into the newly created space, they then receive a pass from the fourth one and grab a direct shot on the goal.
• Box Player- He positions himself directly under the goal, next to the keeper. The motive behind this is to receive a quick pass and then have a short, straight shot at the goal or gives to another player who grabs the opportunity to break through the defence.
• Star- The players place themselves around the zone and sprint in continuously, a defensive player moves to stop each player as they sprint in. The attacking team passes the ball around as the players sprint in, approaching to take a shot. If executed accurately the fifth player can sprint into the zone, they will have no defensive player to block them, receive the pass from the 4th player and will be to take a direct shot on goal.

 

Defensive Drills

• 3-1- Three players make a row above the goal keeper, 1 at each side and 1 directly above the keeper. This set up can be a very solid defensive tactic, by protecting the sides and the middle. The remaining player looks after the top of the zone with the objective of pressuring the ball and blocking players running into gaps in the defensive line.
• 2-2- This is done by placing two players of the team in the front, and to the side of the goal keeper, and blocking the attacking players who are attempting to the goal from the side. The other two players proceed forward and towards the middle with the aim of stopping players who are running in to the zone by placing pressure of the attackers. If looked from above, it is very much alike to a Christmas tree formation. The aim is to have long-shots and errors from the attackers so as to win the ball back, while protecting the goal.
• Five or out- Every player, along with the goal keeper, marks a player and pressures the ball and every pass, trying to make the attacking team do a mistake or gain an interception.