Canoe Polo
About Canoe Polo
Canoe Polo is one of the only team disciplines within kayaking. It combines fast pace paddling and boat control with ball handling and teamwork. This makes polo an exciting, contact sport in which team tactics and positional play are just as important as the ability of an individual player.
Two teams each with five players on the pitch at any one time (and up to three substitutes) compete to score goals in their opponent's net which is suspended 2 metres above the water. The ball can be thrown by hand or flicked with the paddle. Pitches can be set up in swimming pools or any stretch of flat-water Boats are specifically designed for Polo and are shorter (3m) than typical kayaks which gives them fantastic manoeuvrability. Paddles are very light weight and designed with both pulling power and ball control in mind. Body protection, helmets and faceguards are all compulsory.
There are internationally agreed rules for the game, allowing World and European Championships to be held every second year.
In Scotland, we currently have 2 leagues running through the winter seasons as of 2024
Polo Rules
The Paddle Scotland Polo Leagues - and any other Official organised tournaments - are played to Paddle UK rules which are the ICF rules adapted to accommodate playing indoors. The Paddle UK Polo Group publishes these adapted rules.
Rule books can be purchased from the referee organiser at referee courses.
For the full International Canoe Federation (ICF) Rules are available on www.canoeicf.com/disciplines/canoe-polo. The full ICF rules deal not only with the rules of the game - but how international tournaments are organised and administered.
Support
We continue to support the development of the sport and currently this is focused in the North. We currently have on loan all of the Paddle Scotland polo equipment to Monklands Canoe Club in Glasgow and Aboyne Canoe Club in the North East. If your club would like to be loaned equipment to start canoe polo. Get in touch with the polo development group and we will send you the application form. We loan the equipment for a year at the time from 1st March. Each year, clubs renew the loan, this is to ensure that new clubs have a chance to be loaned equipment.
League Table
Check the Paddle Scotland Polo Facebook page for regular updates.
Polo Development Group
The group can be contacted at polo@paddlescotland.org.uk
Members:
Chair (James McNeish)
Treasurer (Maxime Biret)
Secretary (Bob Cain)
League Organizer (Jack Watt)
Event Safety (Graeme Swanson)
Improving Standards (Jack Watt)
Referee and Safeguarding (Ross Barron)
Polo Venues
Olympia Dundee
We aim to host the leagues winter dates in the pool, the Olympia hosts a 50m pool allowing Division 1 to play in 6 lanes x 30m. Division 2 to play in 6 lanes x 25m.
Olympia Leisure Centre, 3 East Whale Lane, Dundee , DD1 3JUE: T: 01382 432300
Airthrey Loch, Stirling University
This is a great venue for outside training apart from the quality of water in the height of summer. The pitch is set up under the bridge with 2 goals. The loch is easy to access via a small pier to the side of the main University boat yard. If any other team wishes to use this venue it is usually polite to email the facilities manager of the University letting them know
Lochore Meadows, Lochgelly, Fife
There is one permanent pitch set up at Lochore Meadows. This area is very active with outdoor events. No bookings required to use the venue but always useful to send an email or call to see if they will have anything on. Changing rooms are £2 per person last checked in 2023.
Email: bookings.outdoored@fife.gov.uk | Call: 01592 583388
Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow
This is a recently completed purpose built centre in Glasgow with facilities for up to three polo pitches as well as an artificial white water course. Booking of the pitches is required but we can run polo on 1 pitch while the white water course is on or on up to all three if we book the entire site. Book by email or phone.
Email: info@pinkston.co.uk | Call: 0141 332 5636
Have a new potential venue?
If you need help finding, or setting up a new venue. Get in touch as we have lots of experience doing so and are more than willing to help!
