Canoe polo...
Also known as Kayak polo, is one of the competitive disciplines of
canoeing, known simply as "polo" by its aficionados. Polo combines
canoeing and ball handling skills with an exciting contact team game,
where tactics and positional play are as important as the speed and
fitness of the individual athletes.
The game requires excellent teamwork and promotes both general
canoeing skills and a range of other techniques unique to the sport.
Each team has five players on the pitch (and up to three substitutes),
who compete to score in their opponents goal which is suspended two
metres above the water. The ball can be thrown by hand, or flicked
with the paddle to pass between players and shoot at the goal. Pitches
can be set up in swimming pools or any stretch of flat water.
The canoes are specifically designed for polo and are faster and
lighter than typical kayaks which give them fantastic manoeuvrability.
Paddles are very lightweight and designed with both pulling power and
ball control in mind. Nose and tail boat bumpers, body protection,
helmets and face-guards are all compulsory.