1. AIM

1.1. The aim of Canoe Polo is a competitive ball game between two teams, each of five players.

Players paddle polo kayaks, on a well-defined area of water, attempting to score goals against the opposition. The winning team in a game is the team that scores the most goals.

2. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

2.1. All competitions announced as international shall be held in accordance with the regulations

of the ICF. Competitions arranged by national federations or their clubs are considered international if teams of a foreign country are invited to participate.

1. International competitions must be controlled by at least one accredited official in possession of a valid discipline related International Official card.
2. The official categories recognized by the ICF are the following: Men, Women, Under-21 Men, Under-21 Women, Masters Men, Masters Women.
3. Mixed competitions in which male and female competitors take part, either in the same competition or in a category with each other, are not permitted.
4. A player may only play in one category in any one competition. Once a player has been listed on the final application (allowing for changes to be accepted up to one hour prior to the commencement of the competition), that player may not play for any other team in that competition, in any category.
5. For competitions, where the Organising Committee is unable to fully comply with the ICF Canoe Polo regulations, a variation to the rules in chapter 2 may be allowed.
6. COMPETITORS

1. Only the members of clubs or associations affiliated with an ICF member Federation have the right to participate in an international competition.
2. A competitor is always allowed to take part individually in an international competition but must in each case obtain special permission from his/her national federation.
3. A competitor may take part on behalf of the federation in a foreign country in which he/she is domiciled, if he/she obtains the authorisation of his/her federation of origin. This authorisation has to be sent before the 30^th November prior to the year concerned to the ICF Headquarters

with a copy to the Chairperson of the Committee concerned.

1. If he/she lived for 2 years or more in this foreign country, the approval of his/her federation of origin is no longer required.
2. A competitor may not compete for more than one federation in any calendar year in the sport of canoeing. This rule does not apply in the case of a competitor who leaves his/her

country of origin to marry in another country. He/she can, in this case, compete for his/her new federation without awaiting the delay of two (2) years.

1. The first year an Under-21 competitor can compete is in the year that his/her fifteenth (15^th) birthday falls in and the last year he/she can compete is in the year that his/her twenty-first (21^st) birthday falls in.
2. The first year a master competitor can compete is the year that his/her thirty-fifth (35^th) birthday falls in. There will be age categories which are in 5 year groups; ie. 35-39, 40-44,

45-49 etc. The last year he/she can compete in a particular age group is the year in which his/her birthday falls in. (ie. First age group the 35th till 39th birthday).

1. Documentary proof, such as passport, will be required at the time of competition to confirm eligibility status.
2. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION CALENDAR

4.1. Before the 1st August of each year all national federations shall send, one copy to the ICF

Headquarters, and one to the Chair of the Committee concerned, their proposed Programme of international competitions for the coming year.

4.2. Federations may complete or modify the calendar till 30th September. Beyond this date the calendar shall be considered finalized and published.

CHAPTER 2, ORGANISATION OF THE COMPETITION

CHAPTER 2 ORGANISATION OF THE COMPETITION

1. FORM OF COMMUNICATIONS

1. All communications should be in writing (Letter, Fax, E-mail, Telegram, Telex, etc.). Where verbal communication is used, it must also be confirmed in writing by the given deadline (midnight on the due date). In the eventuality of conflicting information, the information with letterhead and/or signature will take precedence.
2. INVITATIONS

2.1. An invitation to an international competition shall be sent out a minimum of 12 weeks prior to the competition and shall contain the following information:

2.1.1. Type of competition; Categories of the Competition; Proposed programme or system of the competition draw or minimum number of games per team; The Clubs or Federations invited to send teams; The number of teams invited from each Club or Federation for each category; The process of elimination or selection that will be used to reduce the number of teams at Competition, to the required number if the competition is over subscribed; Time and place of the competition;

Details of Venue(s) – for example Indoor or Outdoor; Amount of entry fee (if any);

2.1.2. The invitation shall contain a preliminary entry form with: The address to which entries and competitors delegation details must be sent;

The final dates and times for entries, for declaration of delegation details, for declaration of final team lists, for declaration of player lists.

1. Information regarding accommodation should be sent with the invitation if possible.
2. Information regarding publicity, progress, and details of entries received or indicated etc. must be provided on request.
3. ENTRIES

1. The National Federation must endorse preliminary application for Entry of national teams. Clubs must endorse Preliminary applications for Entry of club teams; state for state teams etc.
2. The Organising Committee must receive preliminary applications for entries at least 8 weeks prior to the competition. Late Applications for Entry cannot be accepted.
3. A Preliminary application for Entry shall, contain as a minimum the following details for the competitors delegation and all the teams entered in the delegation: The name of the Club or Federation which the competitors delegation is representing; The full name and contact details of the delegation leader; The name of each team; The category in which each team wish to compete; Where the entry of one team is conditional upon the acceptance for entry of another team, this must be clearly specified in the Application for Entry.
4. The National Federation must endorse final applications for Entry of national teams. Final applications for Entry of club teams must be endorsed by clubs, state-by-state etc.
5. The Organising Committee must receive final applications for entries at least 4 weeks prior to the competition. Late Applications for Entry cannot be accepted.
6. A Final application for Entry shall, at least contain the following details for the delegation and all the teams entered in the delegation:

3.6.1. The full name and contact details of the delegation leader;

Details of Team Leaders and Other Team Officials, last name, first name and function; Details of Players, last name, first name, date of birth, gender, player-number;

CHAPTER 2, ORGANISATION OF THE COMPETITION

Details of team identification, colours; The names and qualifications of the referees who will accompany the delegation.

1. The Organising Committee must acknowledge final applications for Entry within 48 hours of receipt. Any problems with the Final application for Entry must be notified at this time.
2. The withdrawal of an entry or Application for Entry at any time after the close of Applications for Entry is final.
3. The Organising Committee can charge an entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable once the Application for Entry has been accepted. If teams cannot be fitted into the competition, their Application for Entry shall be refused and the entry fees shall be refunded.