What is Underwater hockey?

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Underwater hockey is a real sport and it's lots of fun to play.

It's a bit like ice hockey but the puck lies on the bottom of the pool.  You and your team mates swim underwater and pass it to each other with your hockey stick in order to score a goal. You come up for a breath whenever you need to!

• Two teams, each of 6 players, start at either end of the pool. Players are equipped with a mask, snorkel, fins, a hand-held stick, and protective glove and cap. 
• On the starting call, both teams rush to be first to reach the puck in the middle of the pool.  All play happens on the bottom of the pool, with a weighted puck. Players hold their breath while underwater and come to the surface to take a breath whenever they need to.  
• The primary objective is to push, pass, and shoot the puck into the opponents' goal as often as possible while preventing the other team from scoring in your goal.
   

•  Underwater Hockey has local, national and international tournaments. 
• Our local competitions in SA are held every week. 
• The National Tournament is held once per year.  There are also other competitions held during the year around Australia where teams from various states come compete.
• On an international level it is played by approximately 15 countries including England, France, New Zealand, South Africa, U.S.A. and of course Australia. 
• Underwater Hockey is not yet an Olympic sport, but who knows - maybe it will be by the time Brisbane hosts the Olympics in 2032!

 Underwater hockey originated in England in 1954 as a game called "Octopush" and was created to keep divers fit during the off season.  It spread to South Africa in the late 1950s, Canada in 1962, Australia in 1966 with the first Australian UWH competition in 1975 in WA. 

 Most people have never heard of Underwater Hockey and don't even believe it exists. If you are into the unusual, if you love the extraordinary, this could be the sport for you.  

Here are some of the things that make Underwater Hockey the world's most exceptional sport:

• Team spirit - you can only hold your breath for so long. So, you absolutely rely on your team      mates and no-one can be a puck-hog.
• All over fitness - you'll build up both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. It's a great work out for all of your body - arms, legs and core - though you won't even notice getting fitter.
• Fun - humans trying to do things in an environment they are not built for is inherently amusing. 
• Challenging - humans trying to do things in an environment they are not built for is inherently difficult.
• Weightless - that wonderful feeling of being suspended in water makes you feel so free.
• Silent - this might be the only team sport in the world that you can't talk to your team mates or hear spectators during play.  (It's not much of a spectator sport). 

Sounds fascinating? It is.  Come along and embrace the exceptional!