About Canoe Polo

Canoe Polo is an exciting team event played on 35m x 23m pitches set up in swimming pools or on flat stretches of water. Teams of 5 paddlers endeavour to score goals in a net suspended 2m above the water, the ball being thrown by hand, or ‘flicked’ with the paddle. Naturally, the team with the most goals at the end of the match wins the game.

 

Official ICF Rules

Australian Canoe Polo competitions are run according to ICF rules for Canoe Polo.

Download a copy from their website.

 

Rule modifications for the Melbourne Competition

Victorian Canoe Polo uses some minor modifications to the ICF rules for it’s regular season competitions. These include:

  • No hand-tackles permitted in Novice grade
  • End-line rather than centre-line restarts are used in A, B and C grades
  • In all grades, a team may commence a game with only 4 players, rather than 5

 

Refereeing

Jen Stevens is the current Referees Director. Please direct any refereeing queries to her via the contacts form on the canoe polo home page.

The ICF has also created a great refereeing resource which you can access here.

How Do I Get Involved

There are a number of competitions and events held throughout the year. To participate in competitions you must be a member of Paddle Australia. To be a member of PA you need to be a full (competing) member of a Victorian canoe club. Charges vary between canoe clubs, so it is recommended that you select a club that suits your needs. If you want to try Canoe Polo before committing to a membership there are a number of training and introductory sessions available either independently or through canoe clubs. It is well worth contacting the clubs for more information.

Join us for our Beginner Come and Try Season – July 2022

Where Do We Play?

Canoe Polo can be played on any section of flat water. This includes rivers, pools and lakes. The Melbourne competition is held at Richmond Recreation Centre. Weekend competitions are held throughout the year with common locations being the Yarra River at Studley Park/Yarrabend Park and the Maribyrnong River at the Essendon Canoe Club.

What Happens if you Flip Upside Down

This is known as capsizing. When a person capsizes they have the option to either exit the kayak (bailing) or to roll back up again (eskimo roll). People can learn to eskimo roll in a safe pool environment, and this can become quite a useful skill in games.

Why isn't it called Kayak Polo

Canoe Polo has evolved from some basic games played in canoes or on barrels into the game it is today. When it was first played in Australia in the 1950’s, it was played in a double canoe with one person paddling and the other handling the ball. The sport has been modified over several decades and while the vessels changed to kayaks, the name Canoe Polo is here to stay. For more information on the history of Canoe Polo see the link ‘Polo History’.

What type of Equipment is Required?

There are a number of essential pieces of equipment when playing Canoe Polo. These are listed below;

  • Kayak “Polo Bat” – There are specially designed kayaks available with rounded ends and soft rubber bumpers. They are relatively small being no larger than 3m long, with great manoeuvrability.
  • Paddle – A double-bladed paddle which can come in various shapes and materials.
  • Helmet – Helmets which come with face masks are essential as they protect the user from wayward paddles and balls.
  • Personal Flotation Device (PFD) – This device gives the user protection around their torso as it is generally more padded than many other styles of PFD.
  • Spraydeck – This is a flexible covering which attaches around the opening of the kayak to prevent water from entering.
  • In most cases this equipment can be borrowed from your canoe club, hired, or purchased.

What Costs Are Involved?

As previously mentioned, to compete you must be a member of a Victorian canoe club as well as Australian Canoeing (AC). AC membership costs are $80 for adults or $57 for juniors. Canoe club membership fees vary. Additional costs include those of team fees on a per competition basis. These fees cover pool hire costs. You must also consider whether you will be borrowing, hiring or purchasing equipment.

Skills and Training

Canoe polo training is happening and all levels are catered for!
  • Advanced Training: Tuesday/Thursday evenings on the Yarra (A/B grade focus)
  • Beginner/Intermediate Training: Saturday afternoons from 1pm at Essendon Canoe Club (Novice/C Grade focus)
  • Open Training for all: Sunday Morning from 8am on the Yarra

For full details and times please send us an email at news@viccanoepolo.org .

All are welcome. See you on the water!

Calendar

For all the upcoming Paddle Victoria events including canoe polo, check out the calendar.

Melbourne Competition – All welcome to watch or come along to join in.

Join us for our Beginner Come and Try Season – July 2022

 

INTERCLUBS

The interclub series is a family friendly, club based competition staged over four rounds through the summer months.

Interclubs – Last Sunday: September – November, January – March.

Current Melbourne competition:
Brunswick Baths
14 Dawson Street, Brunswick, 3056
April to September
8pm – 10pm
A/B Tuesday nights
C/Novice Wednesday nights
all welcome
Contact Jade Kerber (events@viccanoepolo.org)

Victorian Teams and Profiles

Victoria has had a very strong representation at this event over the last few years and it would be great to continue this tradition.

For more information contact us at events@viccanoepolo.org

Volunteers

Volunteers are a critical part of any sporting organisation and there are plenty of opportunities to help to develop and grow our sport. Here are some of the ways you could help:

  • Take a role on the Committee. With over 15 different roles you are bound to find something that fits your skills.
  • Help out at Melbourne Comp
    • We need pool coordinators for both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
    • We need experienced players and referees to help develop skills and understanding of the game on Wednesday nights.
    • Learn to referee, with some great online refereeing resources available, get stuck in and give it a go. There are always people around who are willing to help and guide new referees.
  • Help out in the summer competitions. These great competitions don’t organise themselves, they occur because of the great work of a few dedicated volunteers. Ask your club or one of the committee how you can help. Even the smallest things can make a difference sometimes.
  • Good at marketing and promotion? Get in touch! We are constantly on the lookout for new ideas and ways of doing things to attract more people to the sport.

Please get in touch with any of the Committee members if you want to help.

Governance

Committee

The Committee is made up of volunteers and meets regularly throughout the year to develop and promote the sport. Following this year’s General Meeting a number of pivotal roles changed hands and we saw ourselves with an almost brand new committee. If you think you can help out in any way you don’t need to wait until the next General Meeting to get involved. Contact any of the Committee members for more information about helping out.

Roles

Chairperson Dale Tomlinson
Vice Chair Vacant
Secretary Jade Kerber
Treasurer Vacant
Committee Member Ben Watts
Committee Member Michael Jarman
Committee Member Frank Magee
Committee Member Ken Brownlie
Committee Member Larry Robb

Contact Us

Committee

The Committee is made up of volunteers and meets regularly throughout the year to develop and promote the sport. Following this year’s General Meeting a number of pivotal roles changed hands and we saw ourselves with an almost brand new committee. If you think you can help out in any way you don’t need to wait until the next General Meeting to get involved. Contact any of the Committee members for more information about helping out.

Roles

Chairperson Dale Tomlinson
Vice Chair Vacant
Secretary Jade Kerber
Treasurer Vacant
Committee Member Ben Watts
Committee Member Michael Jarman
Committee Member Frank Magee
Committee Member Ken Brownlie
Committee Member Larry Robb

Results

Victorian Teams:
From recent competition in Penrith, NSW (April 2019)
Open Men – 8th
Women – 2nd (but Aus Champions)
Masters – 4th
Juniors – 6th
Results – Australian Championships

FINAL RESULTS

U18 (Juniors)
6. QLD Women
5. QLD 2
4. TAS
3. ACT
2. QLD 1
1. Fifth Wheel

Masters
5. TAS
4. VIC
3. SA
2. NSW A
1. NSW B

Veterans
2. NZ
1. NSW

U21
7. SA
6. NSW
5. TAS
4. NZ U21 B
3. NZ U18 B
2. QLD
1. NZ U18 A

U21 Womens
3. NZ U18 B
2. NZ U18 A
1 NZ U21 B

Open Womens
7. NSW
6. QLD
5. SA
4. ACT
3. NZ U21 A
2. VIC
1. NZ Women

Open
9. NSW B
8. VIC
7. ACT
6. QLD
5. NZ Men B
4. SA
3. Draft
2. NSW A
1. NZ U21 Men A

State Trophy
6. TAS
4. ACT & VIC
3. SA
2. NSW
1. QLD

OCEANIA FINALS PLACINGS

Congratulations to all athletes who took part in the 2019 Oceania Canoe Polo Championships! It was an exceptional display of friendly rivalry and determined competitiveness.

We congratulate the New Zealand Canoe Polo Association in retaining the Julian Carter Memorial Trophy.

Final category placings are:

OPEN MEN – presented by Andrea McQuilty, President Paddle Australia
1ST NZ MEN A GOLD
2ND AUS MEN A SILVER
3rd NZ MEN B BRONZE
4TH AUS MEN B

OPEN WOMEN – presented by Erin Moore, NZ captain and world championship team member
1ST NZ SENIOR WOMEN GOLD
2ND NZ U21 WOMEN A SILVER
3RD NZ U21 WOMEN B BRONZE
4TH AUS WOMEN A
5TH NZ U18 WOMEN A
6TH AUS WOMEN B
7TH NZ U18 WOMEN B

U/21 MEN – presented by Michael Beachamp, President NZ Canoe Polo Association
1ST NZ U 21 A GOLD
2ND NZ U21 B SILVER
3RD AUS U 21 BRONZE

U/18 MEN – presented by Craig Hutchinson, current Australian Men’s coach and former Australian Men’s captain
1ST NZ A GOLD
2ND NZ B SILVER
3RD AUS A BRONZE
4TH AUS B

30+ presented by Andi Fear-Ross Chief Referee
1ST AUS 30+ A GOLD
2ND NZ 30+ SILVER
3RD AUS 30+B BRONZE

45+ – RANKING ONLY
1ST NEW ZEALAND
2ND AUSTRALIA