rules to play canoeing

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 shots to each team, the shootout becomes sudden death.

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.

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 opposing teams primary colour is the same or similar.

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

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.

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.

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.A spraydeck has an opening for each passenger. Each opening likewise is encircled by a line or elastic string running in a hollow seam on the edge of the hole. This makes it possible to tighten the spraydeck around the body of the passenger.