Each team has five players on the field (and up to three substitutes) who compete to score against an opponent’s goal, which is suspended two meters above the water. The ball can be thrown by hand or tossed with a racket to pass between the players and hit the goal. Dugouts can be set up in pools or on any 35-by-23-meter stretch of flat water.

Kayak polo combines boat and ball skills with a contact team game in which tactics and positional play are as important as the speed and physical fitness of individual athletes. The game requires excellent teamwork and develops both general canoeing skills and a number of other techniques unique to the sport. Kayaks are specifically designed for polo and are faster and lighter than conventional kayaks, which gives them excellent maneuverability.

The polo paddle blades have thick, rounded edges to prevent injury. The paddles are also very light and are designed with both traction and ball control in mind. Bumpers for the bow and tail of the boat, body protection, helmets and face shields are all a must.

History

The birth of the modern sport can be considered the demonstration event held at the National Canoe Exhibition at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London in 1970. In response to the interest aroused at the Crystal Palace event, the first national sub-committee of the British Canoe Polo Union was formed and it was this committee that developed the modern framework of the game.

National championships were held each year at the National Canoe Show, and this event led to the inclusion of canoe polo in the demonstration games in Duisburg , Germany, in 1987.

In India, canoe polo was initiated by Kashmir University in Srinagar in 2008 when the university’s water sports coach, Muhammad Yusuf, held a promotional match between Kashmir University and Islamia College on the waters of Lake Nigin in Srinagar. The event was later added to the university’s annual water sports calendar.

The J&K Water Sports Association also promotes the sport in Jammu and Kashmir on a larger scale.

Features

The game is now played in many countries on all inhabited continents for recreation and serious sport. The sport holds world championships every two years, and between years of world championships there are annual continental championships in Europe, Asia, Africa and Panamerica. Internationally, the sport is organized by the Canoe Polo Committee of the International Canoe Federation as one of the disciplines of canoeing. Finnish Canoe Polo Championship, Lahti , Finland, 2010. Practice on the River Cam , England, 2004.

The game is often described as a combination of water polo , basketball and kayaking . The tactics and play of the game are similar to basketball or water polo, but with the added complexity of boats that can be used to tackle an opposing player in possession of the ball, or to fight for position within 6 meters of the goal.

Officials

There are two officials (one on each sideline), and they walk, not boat. The score is kept by the secretary, and a timekeeper keeps track of game time and penalty time. The goal lines are monitored by two linesmen. Inspectors check all equipment for compliance with the rules before the game begins.

Serving

Canoe polo is played either indoors in pools or outdoors on a 35-by-23-meter field. The boundaries of the field are ideally marked with floating ropes (similar to lane markers in swimming), although pool edges are often used for smaller venues. An area about 6 meters in front of each goal can be defined as the Zone. In this area, defending players create structures to protect the goal from attackers.

Timing

The game is officially played as a 14 to 20 minute game, consisting of two halves of 7 to 10 minutes. Teams change ends at halftime, which lasts 1 to 3 minutes. Each half begins with a “sprint” where each team lines up against their goal line and the referee throws the ball into the middle of the field. One player from each team runs to get possession of the ball. Shot clock A shot clock can be used to speed up play. The attacking team has 60 seconds to take a shot on goal or they will lose the ball. The shot clock is reset when the opposing team intercepts the ball or the attacking team loses possession. The shot clock is a recent addition to the rules, and because of the cost and complexity of the equipment, it is not universally used.

The post Canoe polo appeared first on CanoePoloSyracuse2016.

With such a dynamic start, canoe polo thrills the fans from the first minutes. The guys, who develop incredible speed in their kayaks, literally wrestle the ball from each other. The speedy attacks, powerful throws and uncompromising fight for the ball do not let the audience breathe. But, of course, no words can describe what it feels like to watch live.

Canupolo is a spectacular and exciting game. The explosive start, where two sprinters from different teams try to get the ball! In the flicker of oars and splashing water the attacks are rapidly developing. The ball moves unpredictably from one team to the other and the players, without hiding their emotions, fight for it, pushing and turning over each other, adrenaline rushes over the edge. And the spectator, with bated breath, follows the game, the finale of which is impossible to predict.

Canupolo is a team game. In a playful and relaxed form it contributes to the development of such personal traits as: responsibility for the overall result, the ability to act as a team, the need to think about protecting your players, discipline, determination, perseverance, self-control, determination, courage. One for all and all for one, one word – the team!

Canupolo game tactical. And here, in addition to activity, pressure and physical capabilities, no less important is the ability to think strategically, some amount of cunning and wisdom. Any physically strong team that does not know the tactics, will be easily defeated by a weaker, but experienced. That’s why canupolo is not only a game of muscles, but also a game of the mind!

The post Canoe polo rules appeared first on CanoePoloSyracuse2016.

First of all, you should determine the style of riding. There are two big areas in which all boards are differentiated: riding behind the winch and behind the boat.

Park wakeboards have a smoother surface and an extra abrasion-resistant layer on the skid. They are designed for figure skating, which means they don’t have built-in fins and the main emphasis is on better gliding.

Boat wakeboards, in turn, need to be more stable and stable, and therefore have built-in and removable fins and deep channels on the skid in order to better cushion while jumping and doing tricks.

Park wakes often have a core of natural wood slats for responsiveness (snap) and durability, while boat wakes have a foam or hybrid core for greater rigidity or lightness.

Of course, there are also hybrid models designed for both park and boat. But it’s not always a viable choice.

Once you have decided on the style, you should pay attention to the length of the wakeboard. Length is considered one of the most important indicators and, depending on the weight of the rider, the length of the board will vary. The heavier the rider, the longer the wakeboard should be. Consider the main advantages of long and short boards:

Long wakeboards

• More stable and good for beginners
• Due to the greater surface contact with the water, they are more stable when barreling and develop more speed
• More surface area for balance and easier landings

Short wakeboards

• Smaller surface area makes it easier to do tricks and flips
• Generally more maneuverable wakeboard, but less stable
• The nose of the board may burrow into the water when landing and landings are generally heavier
• Slower than long wakeboards. Requires more effort to accelerate.

The rocker or the curve of the board

Probably one of the most important criteria in choosing a wakeboard is the rocker and the shape of the board. There are three kinds of rockers:

• Continuous rocker. A smooth curve of the board from bow to stern. Provides stability and good glide. Suitable for beginners.
• Three stage rocker. Wakeboard has two bend points and thus divided into three parts: bow, center and tail. Suitable for advanced riders and thrill-seekers, as such board cuts the water better, is more responsive to rider’s movements, has better elasticity and high speed. Wakeboard with a three-stage rocker is suitable for an aggressive style of riding, it is easy to perform tricks and high jumps. For even more advanced riders, there is also a five-stage rocker.
• Hybrid Rocker. This is an attempt to combine the benefits of a continuous and three-stage rocker. Of course, such a board glides better, is more stable, and at the same time it is easy to perform various tricks on it and to cut the water hard. But this wakeboard in most cases is chosen individually for a particular rider.
• Progressive rocker Smoothly changing radius of curvature from the center to the nose and tail, wakeboard as if it is part of a large circle, if you look at it in perspective. The disadvantage of such wakeboards can be called a high price, because making boards with a progressive rocker is quite expensive. Ideal for flate riding, will be a good help for those who are trying to get on the water for the first time.

The post How to choose the right wakeboard? appeared first on CanoePoloSyracuse2016.

Let’s start with a description of the construction of a paddle. An oar consists of three parts: a handle, a pole and a paddle.

First you have to decide your riding style, whether it will be leisurely or racing. If you plan to travel or have a relaxed paddling, we recommend using adjustable paddles, solid paddles are good for fast races or racing.

Non-adjustable paddles are lighter and sturdier in design, great for experienced riders. Professional riders when buying a paddle measure the desired height, then sawed off part of the shaft to their height and glued the handle. The disadvantage of this design is in transportation.

The most popular modification – Collapsible SUP paddles.

If you are buying a sapboard for tourism and relaxed riding, the best option is to buy a paddle that can be adjusted in height. Such paddles are easy to transport and when stored take up little space.

What materials are made of Sap paddles and how to make a choice.

To begin with, let’s list the most popular materials that are used in the manufacture of sap paddles.

• Blade (plastic, fiberglass, carbon, bamboo)
• Stick (aluminum, fiberglass, carbon)
• Handle (T-shaped plastic, ergonomic polypropylene, replaceable for 2nd paddle)
  Now let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each material:

1) Paddle material

2) Oar shaft / material

3) Handle material / construction

Nowadays there are a lot of paddle modifications on the market for different tasks and price ranges. Advice from managers is of course helpful, but in some cases you will be offered what is overstocked.

We advise you to choose the paddle exactly for your needs and riding style to make your selection and riding a pleasure.

The post How to choose the right paddles for SUP-boards and kayaks appeared first on CanoePoloSyracuse2016.