Canoe or Kayak Polo is a team game played in kayaks with a water polo ball in a swimming pool or lake. A team consists of 5 to 8 players. However only 5 players are allowed on the court at any given time, substitutions are allowed at any time during the match. The idea of the game is to outscore your opponent as in soccer or basketball. Canoe Polo games consist of two, ten- minute halves. Strategies such as zone defense, full court press, fast break and half court offense are typical in Canoe Polo. Goal nets are suspended 2 meters above each goal line. Paddlers move the ball by throwing (with their hands or paddles) dribbling it, passing it to a team member, or shooting it at the opposing team's goal. A goalkeeper is usually in place underneath the net to try and block shots by extending a paddle up in front of the goal frame. A player may have possession of the ball for only 5 seconds before he must dribble pass or shoot. Canoe Polo is a contact sport. When a player is in possession, an opposing player may hand tackle him with an open handed push on the upper body or kayak tackle their boat to upset balance. The object is to force the player in possession to lose control of the ball. The opposing player can also choose to block passes and shots with a paddle, as the ball is being passed or shot. A foul will be called on any player who strikes (with boat or paddle) an opposing player.