Canoe Polo

Canoe Polo combines kayaking and ball handling skills into an exciting contact team game, where tactics and positional play are as important as the speed and fitness of the individual players. The game requires excellent teamwork and promotes both general paddling skills and a range of other techniques unique to the sport.

Each team has five players on the pitch (and up to three substitutes), who compete to score in their opponents goal which is suspended two metres above the water.

The ball can be thrown by hand, or flicked with the paddle to pass between players and shoot at the goal. Paddling with the ball is not allowed, so teamwork is essential. Pitches can be set up in swimming pools or any stretch of flat water. The boats are specifically designed for Polo and are faster and lighter than typical kayaks which give them fantastic manoeuvrability.

The boats also sport nose and tail bumpers for safety, and full face guards and specially padded buoyancy aids are also required to be worn at all times. .

About Canoe Polo

Here in Southampton, SUCP represents the University at competitions all over the country, culminating in the annual British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) tournament in Nottingham. Competitions can range from one day pool meets to weekend camping trips, with four teams representing the club; the A team, B team and two Ladies' teams.

With regular training sessions both in the pool and on the river, SUCP is one of the most successful teams around, and you can be a part of it. Even if you aren't interested in competing, the club welcomes all to come and train with us. Anyone and everyone of any ability is welcome to join in, whether you are a seasoned player coming to the university, an experienced paddler looking to try something new or have never even been in a kayak, SUCP has a space for you.

We have several free taster sessions and socials coming up and would love to see you there. Our first taster session is for beginners on September 29th in Jubilee Pool at 10:30-12:00 am and we will be having a group lunch together afterward. Check out our 2019 Freshers Facebook Group for events and more information!

See you on the water!