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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.
There are two active polo leagues in Scotland.
Polo Rules
The Paddle Scotland Polo Leagues - and any other officially 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.
The full
International Canoe Federation (ICF) Rules are available on their website. The full ICF rules deal not only with the rules of the game, but how international tournaments are organised and administered.
Get Involved
Polo Development Group
The group can be contacted on the group email address - 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)
Vincent Lemonnier
Discipline Development Group Terms of Reference
Click here to see Polo Committee VMOST & EAP
The Polo Development Group continues 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, please get in touch with the development group and we will send you the application form. The equipment is loaned for a year at a time from 1st March. Each year, clubs must renew the loan, ensuring that new clubs have a chance to be loaned equipment.
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.
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 two 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.
Pinkston Watersports, Glasgow
This is a 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 one pitch while the white water course is on or up to all three if we book the entire site.
Have a new potential venue?
If you need help finding, or setting up a new venue, get in touch with the development group as we have lots of experience doing so and are more than willing to help.
