The Rules

The Rules Smaller, more manueverable boat, smaller pitch gave players more possibilities in playing style. English rules allowed player to pisk up the ball from the water and to throw it into goal or to pass it. In some of European coutries (led by Germany), was a rule that allowed to score only when ball was strucked by the paddle. In late 1980s International Canoe Federation (ICF) decided to codify rules that were taken in large part from English ones. Final version of rules (that is of course changing year by year) was published in 1990. Playing aera was 30 meters long and 20 meters wide, two halves 10 minutes each, 3 minutes breake, 5 players on pitch that is outdoor (today when the game in played indoor there may be only 4 players in each team), two goals 1 meter high and 1,5 meters wide. The lower crossbar of goal is hanged 2 meters over the surface of water. Scoring on a throw is also permited. There are many rules that I can tell about. Player can’t be in ball possession more than 5 seconds. When he is we can push him into water and when he’ll come out with the ball we can do it again. For breaking the rules player can be punished with green (warning), yellow (2 minutes excliding) and red (See you in next game...). There are many complicated rules like when the goalkeeper can be touched and when it’s illegal but that’s a long story... To understand the beauty of this discipline You have to see it or if you want to be a part of this game you have to (and you will) feel it (on Your fingers). First world championships were held in 1994 in Sheffield, England and they’ve been held biennially ever since.