What is SUP Polo?
SUP Polo is like football/rugby on the water, with the ultimate aim of scoring goals.
Being water based, you have specially adapted paddles, that allow you to pick up a ball and throw it around, whilst paddling around the pitch, to outwit and outplay your opponents.
It is a fast and furious game, that gets the blood pumping and is super fun, so is well suited to team building events, regular weekly match play or just friendly get togethers.
SUP Polo Rules in brief
Two teams of 4 (maximum) |
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Only 4 Team boards in the water | Each team can only use 4 nominated i-SUP boards for any given game. Boards cannot be swapped once a game has started unless the player on the board is also being substituted. |
Only 4 Team boards in play | Swapped players must either use the same board that the original player started the game on or if also changing boards, the original board must come out of the water before the new board is put into the water. |
Swapping Players | Players can be swapped with “pre-registered reserve players” by the Team Coach at any time during the game, and as many times as the team coach decides. Only “pre-advised reserve players” can enter the game. Play will not stop while players are being swapped, so speed is of the essence. |
SUPolo area | Approximately 25m x 20m |
Ball | 18.5cm Diameter minimum weight 300g – water polo size 3 |
Two goals | Inflatable or rigid and floating Maximum size 2.5m x 1.5m – Minimum size 2.0m x 1.0m |
SUPolo Paddles | SUPolo paddles are provided. |
SUPolo Boards | Any iSUP board, the more manoeuvrable the better. |
Time | 5 minutes each way – (10 minutes total) The clock will stop after a goal has been scored, and will restart on the Refs whistle. |
SUP Polo Rules in detail
1. There will be 1 referee with whistle.
2. The referee’s decision will be final.
3. Ball to be played with paddle or head only.
4. No leashes to be worn.
5. Ball to be played only when standing on your SUP board or all body in the air.
6. No Paddle contact with opponent or opponent’s boards.
7. No Person to Person contact.
8. Ball possession
a) Opponents can only challenge the “player with possession” within the rules, i.e.
- Board to board contact is allowed, but not ramming whist challenging for the ball.
- Paddle blade to paddle blade contact is allowed, whist challenging for the ball.
- Challenging players cannot make direct contact with paddle shaft of the “player with possession” until the “player with possession” releases the ball.
9. Board to board and paddle to paddle contact is allowed, only when directly playing the ball or challenging for possession of the ball.
10. Player must be “on their feet” on their own board oe in the air to play the ball.
11. A goal is scored only if the ball crosses the goal line.
12. Teams are permitted a goalkeeper.
13. Players / Goalkeepers must not deliberately position themselves or any part of their board within their goal line.
14. It will not be deemed “Hand Ball” if a goalkeeper saves a goal with their paddle and the ball contacts their hand, so long as the hand is gripping the paddle at the time of contact.
15. A penalty will be awarded against a player if they deliberately put the ball out of play and or deliberately fall on an opponent’s board to gain advantage.
16. It will be deemed as a foul if a player in the water blocks or interferes with an opponent.
17. Paddles must not be raised above shoulder height unless playing the ball.
18. No traveling the ball on the board.
19. No handling of the ball.
20. Teams to change ends at half time.
21.To Start The game:
- Each player must have the tail of their board touching their own goal / base line to start the game or as directed by the referee.
- The ball will be thrown to the centre of the pool by the ref to start the game or play on.
22. After a goal is scored, the ref will ask the teams to go back to their respective ends of the pitch, and the ref can restart the game when there is a clear space of approximately 5 meters between the opposing teams or at the Refs discretion.
23. If the ball goes out of play, a replacement ball will be thrown back into the centre of the pool without delay by the Ref or a line ref to re-start the play.
24. If a player infringes one of the game rules, the Ref may direct that player into the Sin-Bin for a maximum of a 60 second period.
25. Players may not use their hands to save a goal. If a player uses their hand to save a goal, the ref can award a PENALTY GOAL or an OPEN GOAL penalty shot.
26. Taking a Penalty: –
- The team taking the penalty shot must appoint a single penalty shooter.
- The penalty shot must be taken from within the penalty takers half.
- The target goal will have a goalkeeper who must stay within 1 metre of their goal until the penalty is taken.
- All players must be behind the penalty taker .
- The penalty shot must be taken the moment the referee sounds their whistle, and the game will re-start immediately from the moment the penalty shot is taken whether a goal is scored or not.
