Canoe Polo

Polo is truly the “King of Sports”, with many variants. Canoe Polo, or Kayak Polo, is a variant of polo, and is a combination of trying to score, and controlling a kayak. 

Source: Wiki Commons

THE EXPERTS

Diego Gago, winner of the Argentine Cup and a women’s team coach, has had a successful career in Canoe Polo and loves the game. He was kayaking for eight years, and took a lot of time before he became a professional. Canoe Polo has become a passion for Diego, because of its dynamics, and possibilities.

According to Mats Mampaey, who’s been playing Canoe Polo for nine years and is the captain of the under-21 team of Belgium, Canoe Polo is a very fast, dynamic and physical sport.

Source: Mats Mampaey

CANOE POLO’S CHARACTERISTICS

“A game is only 2 x 10 minutes with a 3-minute half-time. It is played 5 vs 5 with 3 substitutes on either side. Our goals are 2 metres above the water,” Mats says. “There is one goalie who also goes and attack with four defenders. So you are constantly moving, throwing the ball around and trying to create a good attack to go and score in the opponents’ goal. The team with the most goals wins the game. A tournament is always for 2-3 days, and you can play up to five games in a  day.” 

Mats feel Canoe Polo is interesting because it’s a constant process of learning and understanding the different ways to play the game, and each game is unique.

Canoe Polo has many types of equipment, such as kayak, paddle, helmet with facemask, vest, and spraydeck. There are also different models of kayaks, with bigger or smaller sizes and unique features are added to the kayak to help the player become faster, or better. Also, the paddles are of different types, lengths, and settings. It is all based on the player’s preference, and what they think is best. The life vests and helmets are all colour-coordinated, just like in soccer or any other team sport.

Source: Mats Mampaey

THE FUTURE OF THE SPORT

Canoe Polo is considered a risky sport, but the reality is that injuries are minimum, and not many players get hurt. While Canoe Polo is a contact sport and possibilities of hitting exist, the rules and equipment allow a safer game. The helmets with facemask and kayaks bumpers reduce the impact of contact. Gago explains: “The challenge of starting to play Canoe Polo is to overcome the fears of being in a kayak playing a contact sport; it is a challenge to learn new skills.”

 Mats’ biggest challenge in Canoe Polo is the costs that arise. 

“Because Canoë Polo is still a relative small sport,we have less funding. So that means everybody has their 9-5 jobs to pay for everything. That includes equipment, that may vary between €2500-€3000, airplane tickets, taking your kayak on the plane, diesel for car, food, accommodation, neoprene clothes, and once in a while, your paddle or boat breaks, so that needs replacing too, and so on.”

Source: Wiki Commons

Mats train nine times a week, during off-season and includes training focused on fitness and also kayak training which contains sprints, shot training and finally, the Canoe Polo match. Practice, hard work and dedication are required to become a good Canoe player. 

Canoe Polo may have some challenges along its path, but it’s one of the sports that creates a distinctive experience, for both the audience and the players. Canoe Polo is played at international levels too. 

Source: Belgium Canoe Polo Team