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.

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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!

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Hungry for any kind of activity people started to take up wakeboarding or wakesurfing, moved on to mastering the wind with windsurfing. But from our side we have noticed huge demand for the hobby of SUP surfing. All over Russia schools, rental outlets and mass events are being opened. Do you want to learn about exciting water sports? Then read our article next.

SUP-boarding

Sup boarding has really become the most popular type of recreation on the water this season. This type of recreation on the water each year is gaining more and more fans around the world. Especially in comparison with classic surfing inflatable board is very easy to manage, and you can master it immediately getting on the board. All you need is the basic skills to keep your balance, a board and a paddle, as well as a great mood. The wide range of boards allows you to pick up absolutely any interest. Universal boards are suitable for riding in calm water in the city. Touring ones have a little more rigidity and are designed for open ponds or hiking with a lot of equipment. Specially designed boards for yoga on the water have a larger area for absolute stability and comfort. There are also sapboards for fishing, they are equipped with a comfortable cooler seat and rod holders. Choose a board for absolutely every taste and discover the fascinating world of water sports. For longer outings and even more convenience, consider waterproof bags that can hold extra clothes or gadgets without getting anything wet in case of emergencies.

Wakesurfing

Nowadays only a lazy person or a person without internet has not heard about wakesurfing. As soon as people were allowed to leave their homes, and the heat in the cities was quite strong, the whole Instagram was filled with photos and videos of people mastering this sport. Wakesurfing board is a great alternative in an urban environment. To create a surfer wave, a special boat with an offset center of gravity is used to form a keel wave. Wakesurfing is not easy to master in one lesson, but from the first lesson you will not be left indifferent and want to return again and again. The start is out of the water, where a person holds on to a special halyard attached to the boat and picks up speed, trying to catch a wave and stay with the board. Once the balance is stable and the halyard looks like an unnecessary accessory, it can be tossed aside and enjoy the free wave. The theory may look complicated, but you definitely won’t be able to forget this adventure and want to master urban surfing.

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding today is one of the most popular and extreme water sports among young people. Free, fast, interesting and diverse – all this can be said about wakeboarding. Learn wakeboarding and curb the board is not so difficult, just choose the right equipment and instructor. You can ride both behind the boat and on the winch in a wake park, but it is easier to learn in the park area. The wake itself consists of a board and special bindings, where the rider inserts his feet and controls the board. To master a simple move on the smooth water does not need to spend a lot of time, and once your rack will be strong, and you feel confident, you can move on to the development of figures and tricks. Wakeboarding is an exciting and dynamic sport, which is why it is most often chosen by novice athletes who are looking for a thrill.

Windsurfing

A sailing sport that is rapidly developing and gaining popularity. Windsurfing is similar to sapboarding, but the motion of the board is not by paddling, but by wind and sail. An inflatable board with a sail attached to it and keels to keep the board afloat more easily. With enough desire and persistence you can learn not just free movement on the waves, but also freestyle tricks. If you are in love with waves and action sports, then windsurfing is exactly what you need.

Waterskiing

Mastering the direction of water skiing is not easy for the beginner, but at the same time, this sport attracts more and more new athletes every year. There are several directions in this sport and each one needs its own skis. That is why there are slalom, figure skis as well as the usual pairs of recreational skis. The very essence is simple: the rider moves behind the boat, while holding the halyard. The boat’s driver continuously monitors the athlete and controls the situation in order to retrieve the athlete from the water or give him the halyard. Slalom (single) skis have a higher length and stiffness compared to pairs of recreational skis. Figure skis have a short length and medium stiffness for performing maneuvering tricks on figures. Pair cross-country skis are the golden mean for the beginner to consider.

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