Rules to play Canoeing

1. The playing area shall be rectangular, and have a length of 35 metres and a width of 23 metres. The ImmediateSurround of the playing area shall be an unobstructed area of water, with where possible a minimum width of 1 metre outside all boundaries. The water throughout the playing area must be still water at least 90 cms deep. There must be a clear height of at least 3 metres without obstacles, and a minimum ceiling height of 5 metres, above the .....

Playing area boundaries and markers

2. The longer boundaries are to be referred to as the sidelines, the shorter boundaries as the goal lines. The sidelines and goal lines are to be indicated by a floating lane rope.The section of the goal line 4 metres either side of the centre of the goal frame should be free from floats so as not to interfere with the positioning of the goalkeeper. Markers indicating the goal lines, half way line and points 6 metres from each goal line are to be pl .....

Goals

3. Each goal will be located over the centre of each goal line with their lower inside edge 2 metres above the surface of the water. Each goal is to be held in such a way that it is prevented from swinging or moving. The goal supports should not interfere with any player defending or manoeuvring around the goal area, or with the flight of the ball in the area of play.Each goal will consist of an open frame 1 metre high by 1.5 metres wide (measured i .....

The ball

4. Size 5 will be used for Open. Size 4 will be used for Ladies and Youth.The ball shall be round and shall have an air chamber with a selfclosing valve. It shall be waterproof, without external strapping or any covering of grease or similar substance.The weight of the ball shall be not less than 400 grams and not more than 450 grams.For games played by Men, Under21 Men and Master Men, the circumference of the ball shall not be less than 68 cms and .....

Game officials

5. The game officials shall consist of two 2 referees, 2 goal line judges, 1 scrutineer, 2 timekeepers and 1 scorekeeper.Depending on the degree of importance games can be controlled by teams of between 3 and 8 officials. Where there are only 3 game officials, 2 shall be the referees who shall take on the additional duties of the goal line judges and the scrutineer and one timekeeper taking over the duties of the timekeepers and scorekeeper. .....

Referees

6. The referees shall be in absolute control of the game. Their authority over the players shall be effective during the whole time that they and the players are within the competition area. All decisions of the referees on questions of fact shall be final and their interpretation of the rules shall be obeyed throughout the game. No protest or appeal can be made in relation to an interpretive decision of a referee. The referees shall not make any .....

Scrutineer

7. The scrutineer will be responsible for checking the equipment of all players before and during their game. They may also check equipment at any other time during a competition. UK The BCU Canoe Polo Committee, National Leagues organiser, National Leagues Secretaries or relevant Competition Organising Committee may appoint a Scrutineer for any applicable event. .....

Timekeepers

8. The timekeepers shall be situated at the officials table. The duties of the timekeepers shall be toRecord the exact periods of playing time, timeouts and the intervals between the periods;Control the periods of timeouts and to signal the period by raising a red flag, except that a referee shall signal the end of a timeout;Record the sendoff times of players ordered from the playing area in accordance with the rules, together with the reentry time .....

Scorekeeper

9. The scorekeeper shall be situated at the official table. The duties of the scorekeeper shall be toRecord the awarded goals and maintain the scoreboard during the game.Maintain the record of the game, including the players, the score, timeouts, green, yellow and red cards awarded against each player. UK The scorekeeper should draw attention to the referee by suitable means (such as waving their hand) to indicate a player has accumulated either 3 G .....

Number of players

10. Each team may consist of a maximum of 8 players for any one game. No more than 5 players are permitted on the playing area at any one time. Any other players at that moment are to be considered as substitutes. A team must begin each game with 5 players, ready to start on their own goal line. If a team is reduced to 2 players at any time the referee shall end the game and refer the matter to the competition committee who shall decide the appropria .....

Kit

11. There are many specifications concerning kit. See the full rules for the full list. Here are just a few of the more important onesAll players must wear a shirt which covers the shoulders and upper arm.Helmets must be CE approved.Paddles must be of an approved thickness.No jewellery of any type may be worn.Players can exchange their kit whenever they want with another team member or from their substitutes area. .....

Game time

12. The minimum playing time is 6 minutes each way, and the maximum is 10. Play ends at the sound of the timekeepers horn whistle, not at the referees whistle (The only exception is if a goal penalty shot has been given before the timekeepers signal, but has not yet been taken. In this case play ends after the ball hits the water or rebounds back into play after the shot.). Half time lasts at least 1 minute, after which the teams change ends. .....

General game rules

13. The referees should be in complete control of the game what they say goes. They give signals to inform you of their decision. These are shown later on.Free throws are indirect you cannot shoot directly at goal.Free shots are direct you may shoot directly at goal (you do not have to).For both free throws and free shots, the player taking the throw shot must present the ball by holding it above their head. If you do not do this you may be penali .....

The pitch

14. The pitch should be 23 x 35 metres (this is often relaxed for lower leagues).The side lines and goal lines of the pitch are marked by floating ropes, or the sides of the pool are used in smaller pools.The pitch is split into several areas there should be 6 metre markers, 4.5 metre markers and halfway markers. This results in a pitch like belowSubstitutes should wait in their own substitutes area. They can pass through the no waiting area, but sh .....

Sanctions

15. The referee can give several sanctions (punishments) for illegal play. These are briefly described here.Two obvious sanctions are a free throw and free shot (explained above).Another of the sanction a referee can take is to give cards. These have various meanings.Green Card Warning. Green cards are given for repeated minor offences, unnecessary verbal communication with the referee and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Yellow Card Sent off for 2 minu .....

Starting the game

16. The teams line up with their kayaks touching the goal line (or the pool side in a small pool). One referee throws the ball into the middle of the pitch and blows their whistle. One player from each team is allowed to attempt for the ball. All other players must be at least 3 metres away from the body of their own player.If one team starts before the whistle, or other players are too close to their own player who is trying to win the ball, this is .....

Ball out of play

17. If the ball touches the plane of the side line, it is out of play. Side lines move with the ropes (if ropes are being used). A free throw is given to the team that didnt have possession, from the place the ball went out. You must take the throw from where the ball left the pitch.If the ball touches the goal line, it is also out of play. The goal lines move with the plane of the face of the goal (see diagram below). If the defending team was last .....

Scoring a goal

18. The whole ball must cross the face of the goal for a goal to count.After a goal is scored, both teams line up in their own half. Only the bodies of the players need to be in their own half. Play is restarted by the team who conceded the goal, upon the referees whistle. There is no need to present the ball. .....

Substitutions

19. Substitutions can take place at any time during the game. A player may be substituted once they and all their kit have completely left the pitch at their own goal line. The only exception to this rule is when substituting a capsized player who has left their kayak this player may be substituted at the next break in play as long as all their kit has been removed from the pitch.Play does not stop for a capsized player unless they are causing an ob .....

Referees ball

20. A referees ball is given if two players are in joint possession for more than five seconds, or if play is stopped through no fault of either team when neither team is in possession.One player from each team faces the side of the pool, one metre apart, with their paddles in the water not between the kayaks and their hands on their decks. No other player is permitted within three metres of the place where the ball will enter the water.The referee t .....

Extra time shootouts

21. If a result is required, Golden Goal extra time lasting between 3 and 10 minutes each way is played. Any team scoring a goal during this time is deemed the winner.If there is still no result, penalty shootouts are taken. Each team receives 5 shots, taken from the 4.5 metre line. A defending goalkeeper is allowed in shootouts (dont confuse this with a goal penalty shot from open play where there is no goalkeeper). If there is no winner after five .....

Shot clock

22. A shot clock was recently introduced to speed up the game. The attacking team have 60 seconds to have a shot on the goal or they lose possession. The shot clock is reset when the ball is intercepted by the opposing team or the attacking team loses possession. The shot clock is a recent addition to the rules and due to its expense and complexity of the equipment needed is not used universally. .....

Buoyancy aids

23. A Buoyancy aid is used to protect the players torso from injury, and must provide an inch of foam on the front, sides and back of the player. All buoyancy aids are numbered to make the player identifiable to the other players, referees and spectators. Buoyancy aids are reversible and are coloured with the teams primary and secondary colours on each side. This allows opponents to reverse their buoyancy aids and play in their away colours if the op .....

Helmet and Face Guard

24. Helmets and faceguards are compulsory to protect players head and face from injury caused by accidental contact from paddles or other kayaks. .....

Kayak

25. A special kayak is used. They are constructed from carbonkevlar or a similarly lightweight material. This makes them faster and more manoeuvrable than other kayaks. They are fitted with an inch of protective foam around both ends of the kayak to prevent injury and damage at high speeds. .....

Paddle

26. A Paddle is used to propel the players during the game. The paddle can be used to flick and play the ball. Paddles are strictly forbidden of being played within hands reach of an opposing player to reduce the risk of injury. .....

Spray deck

27. A spraydeck (or sprayco is a flexible cover for a boat, in particular for a kayak or a canoe. It is used in whitewater, inclement weather or sport to prevent water from entering the boat while allowing one or more passengers to sit in the boat and propel the boat by paddling or rowing.A spraydeck is a sheet made out of watertight cloth (for example, rubberized or impregnated cloth) sized to fit over the opening, or cockpit, of the canoe or kayak. .....