Very Basic and Amended Kayak Polo Rules For Newer Saturday Night Players at NY Kayak Polo
Kayak polo is played 5-on-5 (each team can have subs)
The aim is to get the ball in the net – the team with the most goals wins (but who counts on Saturdays?)
To start – teams line up with the stern (rear) of their boats on their goal line
The ball is thrown onto the mid-line
One player from each team sprints to gain possession of the ball
Whoever gains possession of the ball is in attack
Whoever does not have possession of the ball is in defence
After a goal is scored, the game restarts at the mid-line with each team’s players on their own side; the attacking team holds the ball in the air and play begins
When the ball goes out of bounds (side lines or goal lines), play resumes at that point with the team that last touched the ball in defence; the attacking team holds the ball in the air and play begins
Breaking the game rules (see below) leads to fouls – this means a stop in play and change of possession
Simple Defence
One player under the goal with their paddle up – this is the goalie
Anyone can be the goalie and the goalie can change throughout the game
Three defenders sit in front of the goalie – the 2 wings (right and left) and the center
Their job is to maintain a zone and not let attackers get through the zone
Defenders need to talk to each other – call positions, call when they need help, call when it makes sense to switch positions, etc – it helps if the goalie calls some instructions too
One defender sits in front of the zone – the chase
Their job is to plug holes that form in the defence and stop drives on goal from attackers
All 4 defenders jostle attackers with their boats to keep them out and can put paddles up to block shots
Simple Attack
Can’t hit people with your paddle blade – absolutely no hand chopping – paddle blades have to be out of arms reach (very important when players are reaching for the ball on the water)
No pushing people over on Saturday nights – so that means no hand tackling the opposition players
No driving your boat into another player’s cockpit area, riding up on their sprayskirt or hitting their body with your boat
No T-boning – driving a boat hard at 90 degrees into another boat
Other Important Game Rules
No attacking player can touch the goalie’s boat with their boat or push a defender into the goalie
No attacking player can prevent someone who is trying to be goalie from getting to goal
Have to get rid of the ball within 5 seconds – pass to another player or dribble to yourself (has to
move 1m horizontally if dribbling)
Can’t touch or lean on the other team’s boats – you can reach across the bow or the stern to get the
ball, so long as you don’t touch the boat
Can’t block the opposition getting to the ball so that one of your team can gain possession
No paddling with a ball on your sprayskirt or under your arm
