International Canoe Federation

Canoe Polo, a spectacular and rapidly growing discipline of the International Canoe Federation, is unlike other Canoe sports. Canoe Polo is a game of two halves of 10 minutes where two teams of 5 players battle it out with a water polo ball. The aim is to score into a goal, which is suspended above the water at each end of a rectangular ‘playing pitch’. These pitches can be on open water or they can even be on a swimming pool.

Matches are controlled by referees and the fast, explosive action from players encompasses a wide range of canoeing skills including the Eskimo roll. This is incredibly useful when a player is in possession of the ball and their opponent pushes them over. Overtime (golden goal) is used to decide tied games that require a result.

Canoe Polo is a game for everyone. At club level thousands of players – boys, girls, men and women – compete against each other in competitions graded according to skill level. It is ideal for paddlers who wish to improve their all-round canoeing skills.

Highly skilled players at national and international level display exceptional kayak control, fitness and ball skills which provide some superb sporting action for spectators.

Canoe Polo is now played by 50 countries in all continents of the world with increasing press and television interest. Europe provides the fiercest and closest of competitions with international tournaments nearly every weekend throughout the year.

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