Canoe Polo, an international canoe federation discipline, is a spectacular and rapidly growing sport. It is a game of two halves of 10-minutes where two teams of five players battle it out with a water polo ball in kayaks. The aim is to score into a goal, which is suspended above the water at each end of a rectangular ‘playing pitch’. Canoe polo is fast paced, combines kayaking and ball handling skills with tactics similar to basketball.
Canoe polo has been played for over 30 years in Canterbury and after a bit of a lull after the earthquake is currently growing and developing again participation wise. There is room for everyone to play, whether your school has a whole team or just some individual students.
Games are played at Lake Rua in the Roto Kohatu Reserve on a Wednesday after school in Terms 1 and 4. Teams are divided into grades (normally A, B & C) depending on experience. The top grade follows full competition rules including team lists and point systems etc. If for some reason other teams are unable to put out valid combinations, games will still occur, but competition points might not.
For those schools or players with less coaching, reffing and polo knowledge that would like assistance, we will endeavour to support you and find you some help with that. Everyone likes to enjoy and get better at what they do, and we appreciate Polo is a little bit quirky sometimes.
New players need to complete the safety ‘wet exit’ (required) prior to their first game and demonstrate their basic swimming ability. The purpose of this is to ensure players can exit their canoe should it tip over during a game.
Cost:
$35.00 per team per term
$15.00 per person should you wish to hire any equipment (boat, spray deck, helmet, PFD or paddle)
Affiliation to the regional & national bodies is additional. This is required should students wish to progress to tournaments and take advantage of club training days/coaching.
Contacts:
For further details please contact Justin Randall 027 6494476
Entry:
This is generally through your schools Sports Co-Ordinator. However, if your school does not already play, please contact Justin at schools.mcpa@gmail.com for further information.
Additional information:
New Zealand Canoe Polo: https://www.nzcanoepolo.org.nz
Burnside Canoe Polo Club: https://www.burnsidecanoepoloclub.org/
Draws & results: https://www.tourney.nz/#/
Key dates 2024:
| Term 1 | ||
| Friday 2nd February | Indicative entries due | |
| Friday 9nd February | Term 1 entries due | |
| Wednesday 14th February | Round 1 | |
| Wednesday 27th March | Round 7 (also Summer Tournament Week) | |
| Wednesday 3rd April | Spare if needed | |
| 15th – 17th March | NZSS Canoe Polo Senior Championships & Cup | Hokowhitu Lagoon, Palmerston North |
| 20th – 21st April | South Island Secondary School’s Championship | Lake Roto Kohatu, Christchurch |
| Term 4 | ||
| Wednesday 16th October | Round 1 | |
| Wednesday 20th November | Round 6 | |
| Wednesday 27th November | Spare if needed | |
| 16th – 17th November | NZSS Canoe Polo Junior Championships & Cup | Mitre 10 Park, Hastings |