The game is played in many countries on all continents, for recreation and serious sport. The sport has World Championships every 2 years. Internationally the sport is organised by the Canoe Polo committee of the International Canoe Federation, as one the disciplines of the sport of canoeing.
The game is often described as a combination of water polo, basketball and canoeing. It is fast and aggressive, but relatively injury free. The tactics and playing of the game are not unlike basketball or water polo.
The ball, a waterpolo ball, is passed from hand to hand among the players, with some use of the paddle on the ball also allowed. A player can be tackled by being pushed over and can only hold the ball for a maximum of five seconds.
Canoe polo is played either indoor in swimming pools or outdoors on a "field" approximately 40 metres by 20 metres.
The goals (measuring 1 by 1.5 meters) are a frame with a net, suspended 2 metres above the water. A player, acting as goalie, defends the goal with their paddle.
The games are usually of 15 to 20 minutes in duration with 2 halves.
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External Links - main list in Canoe Polo Links.
A few of the most relevant links are presented here.