WHATSOC? Canoe Polo!

We caught up with canoe polo extraordinaire, Heather Crossley, from Southampton Uni Canoe Polo club to get a bit more info on the fastest-growing watersport in the WORLD.

So run us through the rules of canoe polo.

Canoe polo (or, as it should really be called, kayak polo) is a five a-side game played in a pool or outdoor pitch. The aim is to score as many goals as possible whilst also defending your goal. It’s a very fast game made up of two halves of around 8 mins each, and is a bit like basketball in that you can either pass the ball or ‘dribble’ it up the pitch. A team is typically made up of a goalkeeper, two defenders and two attackers, but you end up swapping positions frequently during a game as well as up to three subs. It is a contact sport and you can push people over (‘bin’ them) if they are within arm’s reach of the ball, although it is made safe by having bumpers on our kayaks and a requirement to wear helmets with face guards.

It seems to be a really exciting sport! So what’s your role in SUCP?

I’m the president of the Club, but I’m currently handing over to the new one – so won’t be for much longer!

What are the competitions like? Are Soton a good club?

We take part in university tournaments all over the UK, including Cardiff, London, Bath and Warwick, as well as our main BUCS tournament in Doncaster. Our ladies team have been very successful this year, taking home medals at Warwick and London, as well achieving 4th place at BUCS. Our open team managed a 10th place finish, and our beginners team also achieved 4th place (although not a BUCS league). So overall, we’ve had our most successful BUCS ever this year.

In that case congratulations! So does that mean you have to be a pro to get involved, then?

Not at all! The majority of our members had never even been in a kayak before, but it’s quite easy to pick up (especially as we train in the pool): we get people paddling and rolling pretty quickly. We’re really lucky to have guys come in and help us train who have played at the top levels of polo in this country, so there’s definitely something for everyone.

Finally, Soton Tab or Wessex Scene?

Soton Tab!

Fancy having a go? To get involved or find out more, check out SUCP’s website or like their Facebook page.