Underwater hockey

Underwater Hockey (also known as Octopush or Water Hockey) is a globally played limited-contact sport in which two teams compete to maneuver a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing team's goal by propelling it with a pusher. It originated in England in 1954 when Alan Blake, a founder of the newly formed Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, invented the game as a method to keep the club's members interested and active over the cold winter months when open-water diving lost its appeal.

History

Underwater Hockey was first played as a demonstration game at the inaugural Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) Congress in Brussels, Belgium in 1954. The game quickly gained popularity and spread to Australia by 1964. The first Underwater Hockey World Championship was held in Canada in 1980.

Gameplay

The game is played in a swimming pool, typically 25m to 33m long and 2m to 4m deep. Two teams of up to ten players, with six players in the water at any one time, compete to score goals by pushing a puck using a 30cm stick called a pusher. The puck is made of lead or similar material and is coated in plastic. The game is non-contact and players wear a mask, snorkel, fins, and a water polo style cap.

Rules

The rules of Underwater Hockey are maintained by the World Underwater Federation (CMAS). The game is played in two halves, each lasting 15 minutes with a 3-minute half-time interval. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the game is declared the winner. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, it goes into overtime.

Strategy

The strategy in Underwater Hockey involves positioning, puck control, and breath control. Teams use formations and tactics similar to those in ice hockey and field hockey. The game requires a high level of fitness due to the physical demands of swimming and diving.

International Competitions

Underwater Hockey is played at the international level with the World Championships held every two years. The competition is organized by CMAS and includes categories for men, women, and age-group teams.

See Also

• Underwater sports
• Water polo
• Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques
• World Underwater Federation