Paddle Australia advises the canoe polo community of new arrangements to deal with disciplinary issues arising from canoe polo competitions.
Canoe polo is a dynamic form of paddling based on competitive match play. Competition rules apply to all competitors, coaches and officials to keep the sport safe and fair.
Under the new Canoe Polo Competition Discipline Procedure, a player, coach or official who engages in any proscribed behaviour may be charged with a reportable offence (see below).
Any person is entitled to make a report; officials are required to make a report if they believe there has been a reportable offence. Reports must be submitted online within 7 days of the relevant competition.
Serious reports may be referred to a Tribunal for determination, which may impose penalties if the charged person is found guilty, including suspension or expulsion from canoe polo competition.
The full list of reportable offences are set out below.
| Offence | Description |
| Offensive language or gesture | Verbal or body language which may be considered offensive, foul, or obscene. Includes swearing. |
| Verbal abuse | Language or tone of voice which may be considered insulting, attacking, or intimidating. Includes sledging. |
| Dissent | Failing to demonstrate due respect towards an Official in relation to their official functions. For example, criticising a referee’s decision or failing to comply with the reasonable direction of an official. |
| Property damage | Intentional or reckless damage to equipment or facilities. |
| Unsporting or dishonourable conduct | Any other conduct which may be considered inappropriate. Includes serious or persistent acts of Unsporting Behaviour or Dishonorable Play within the meaning of the ICF Competition Rules. |
| Dangerous or unsafe play | Reckless or careless acts within or incidental to play which unreasonably or unnecessarily place another player at risk of physical harm. |
| Assault | Intentional physical contact, or attempted contact, with another person outside the norms of play. Includes grabbing, punching, slapping, bumping, head-butting, elbowing, kicking and striking with an object. |
| Threatening | Verbal or body language which may be considered threatening. It is irrelevant whether the threat is genuine or any other person is, in fact, threatened. |
| Spitting | Spitting on, at, towards or near another person. |
| Bringing the game into disrepute | Any other conduct which may reflect poorly on the sport of Canoe Polo. Includes serious and/or repeated breaches of the ICF Competition Rules (for example, Illegal Play). |
| Contempt | Any conduct which may interfere with or undermine the authority or performance of a Tribunal. |
