There are a number of rules players have to follow when they are competing in official matches. Games take place for two 15 minute halves with a 5 minute rest period in between halves. It is played with snorkelling gear and a short stick. Underwater hockey is an upandcoming sport you can probably play at a nearby community pool. Underwater hockey the stick rules of play cmas 2011. Clubs throughout new south wales and australia play all year round and welcome new players at any time. The gmu club is one of about 10 university underwater hockey programs in the united states. Appointment of the coaches and managers for the new zealand representative teams.
Puck handling one of the most basic and important skills you can master as an underwater hockey player. Each team can have a maximum of 6 players in the water, and 4 substitutes on deck. Participants wear wetsuits, masks and flippers, and use the underside of the frozen surface as the playing area for a floating 10 inch styrofoam puck that they try to score into nets fastened to the ice cover upside down. We recommend reading through the simplified guide to underwater hockey rules and regulations first. Players use a short stick to try and push a puck inside the goal during two halves typically of 10 to 20. The players wear fins for speed and agility, and also use masks and snorkels for air however, for the most part. Underwater hockey is a noncontact sport just like basketball and netball and is refereed by 3 in water referees and 1 out of water referee. Luckily, puck handling is a skill you do not need to be in the water to master. The british navy invented underwater hockey in the 1950s to keep their divers. Document rules of play for underwater hockey version. Underwater ice hockey s ubaqua ice hockey is a minor extreme sport that is a variant of ice hockey.
He was the founder of an aqua club, and together with companions, they played the first game in porstmouth, england. Underwater hockey overview, history, rules and facts. At no time had southsea considered the unimaginative and nondescriptive name underwater hockey, ice or grass, as an alternative to the 37 years of establishment of octopush. It is a noncontact sport in which two teams compete in a pool to maneuver a puck across the bottom and into the opposing teams 3 meter long net. Underwater hockey wonthaggi underwater hockey inc home page. Players wear fins, mask, snorkel, and a protective glove and headgear the same kind as for water polo. Underwater hockey is an underwater sport which is similar to hockey.
Ph underwater hockey team quietly brings pride to the country. Players generally cover zones rather than having positions but formations do come into play. Underwater hockey is a fun, fast and exhilarating team sport played at the bottom of the pool. Download the rules for underwater hockey octopush using the options below. The basic regulations for playing sticks outdoor field hockey game. Underwater hockey australian underwater federation. The game is played below the surface with breaks in play allowed for a goal or a foul. When you play hockey underwater there are rules for no contact and its mostly an endurance sport that incorporates all of the skills of swimming, diving, snorkelling and scoring goals as in the game of hockey. Underwater hockey uwh, also known as octopush mainly in the united kingdom is a globally played limitedcontact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing teams goal by propelling it with a hockey stick pusher. The stick is short, approximately 1 foot long and made of wood or plastic polymer. Videos of underwater hockey underwater hockey australia. We are a club sport at gmu that combines the skills of swimming, snorkeling, and team strategy into a fast paced game played on the bottom of a pool.
The swimming pool dimensions are usually around 25 meters long, 12 meters wide, and 2 meters deep. We field a competitive team during both the spring and fall semesters, and. Davidunderwater source underwater hockey sometimes called octopus was invented in the 1950s by the british. Underwater hockey nz inc welcome to uwhnz members and everyone. Stick the sticks used in underwater hockey are usually made or wood or plastic, are roughly 12 inches 30 centimeters in length, and are painted, dyed or otherwise colored either white or black. The official game rules are available in pdf format and define with illustrations a valid goal, the fouls and signals, and the dimensions of the playing area, sticks, and goals. Underwater hockey uwh, also called octopush mainly in the uk is a globally played limitedcontact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing teams goal by propelling it with a pusher. Please bring your student id with you, it is required in order to play. Sidelines will be 25 yards in length and endlines will be the shallow end wall and the opposite deep end wall. The sport of underwater hockey is played across australia and has a long history here the first australian championships were held in 1975.
In underwater hockey two teams of six members each fight against each other to score a goal under 6 to 8 feet of water 23 meters. According to the wellington underwater hockey association, the object of training sessions is obviously to improve fitness in order to improve performance in the games. Underwater hockey is a fun, fast, threedimensional game. Underwater hockey was first invented by divers in the 1950s. To find your nearest club and game times click here.
Underwater hockey wonthaggi underwater hockey inc home. Underwater hockey australia official website of the. A fast contact sport played, and fought, between two teams on an ice rink. Basic rules and conduct of an underwater hockey match page 4 of 38 version 8.
Invented in 1954, players wear diving mask, swimfins and snorkel for play. Underwater hockey uwh, also called octopush mainly in the uk is a globally played limitedcontact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck. Stick color is used to designate a players team during competition one team is equipped with white sticks and the other team with black. Rules of play for underwater hockey the british octopush. This game is also called octopush in the uk and uwh. About underwater hockey world underwater federation. Individual skills san francisco sea lions underwater hockey.
An underwater hockey stick may be produced from wood or plastic or other approved material. A concise list of weird and wonderful sports from all around the world. From the team of twelve up to ten players will be selected for any one match. New zealand had teams in all four grades and ended the competition with 3 gold medals and a bronze. Teams consist of 10 players with 6 players in the pool at all time. It was invented in the early 1950s by subaqua divers in southsea who got bored just swimming up and down pool lanes to get fit. About underwater hockey related sports news and blog.
The game has evolved into a fast, dynamic sport played in more than 20 countries. Underwater hockey australia expresses thanks to the organisations who provide generous support. There is a sport called underwater hockey and, while it has only been around for a short time, it is growing in popularity all over the world. New zealands underwater hockey teams continue to dominate the sport after winning three gold medals at the 5 th cmas age group underwater hockey world championships that were held in sheffield, england in august 2019. Sep 25, 2016 members of the george mason university underwater hockey club explain how the sport is played. If you cannot control the puck you cannot excel at hockey. Underwater hockey rules recreation brock university. Rules of play for underwater hockey pdf free download. So whether youre a newbie, someone looking to come out of hockeyretirement, or are actively playing we look forward to. This game is usually played in a swimming pool, where the players push a puck along the bottom. Final playing days for several summer college sport auckland competitions were cancelled due to covid19.
The teams have up 10 members each, with 6 playing the competition. International rules for underwater hockey seventh edition 0 description and definitions 0. Stay tunes for the full roster of the 2019 canadian mens underwater rugby team. So whether youre a newbie, someone looking to come out of hockey retirement, or are actively playing we look forward to seeing you pool side soon. And, no matter what your skill level, underwater hockey is a great way to have lots of fun, get fit, and make new friends. Underwater hockey facts octopush british navy rules.
Underwater hockey rules and regulations uk octopush. Cmas underwater hockey rules volume 01 tournament regs version 11. Underwater hockey is played on the bottom of a 612 foot deep swimming pool by two teams of six. Mask fins snorkel head cap glove mouth guard stick. Rules for underwater hockey octopush the british octopush. Underwater hockey practice at the carmody pool in lakewood. Also called octopush, the sport was started in the 50s as a means of helping scuba divers fit in the off season in the united kingdom and since then it has gained recognition. It is played upsidedown underneath frozen pools or ponds. The game came to australia shortly after and has evolved into a fast dynamic sport played in more than 20 countries. If a team commits a foul the opposing team receives an advantage puck and the culprit could be sent to the sin bin for a number of minutes. The stick must fit wholly in a box with the interior dimensions of 100mm x 350mm x 50mm.
Ballhogs or rather, puckhogs are extremely rare in this game of timing and teamwork. Underwater hockey the stick rules of play cmas 2011 materials. Underwater hockey regulations aim of the playing underwater hockey game. The game consists of two teams that try to move the puck along the bottom of the pool to get them into the net. Underwater hockey is a legitimate sport seriously, it is. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Underwater ice hockey a very different sport, in which the play is upside down underneath a frozen pool or pond. Underwater hockey is a noncontact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into goals. Three specific areas that need to be addressed include. As in ice hockey, players push a puck into goals using sticks. Although underwater hockey enjoys fame in many countries, it failed to earn a spot in the olympics and the world games. Underwater hockey was developed in the united kingdom by alan blake in the 1950s.
Octopush was devised with its own rules and original name as an underwater competitive sport for divers in its own right, not as an adapted land game. The puck must not rest on the glove or be carried on top of the bat or stopped deliberately by anything other. New zealands underwater hockey teams continue to dominate the sport after winning three gold medals at the 5 th cmas age group underwater hockey world championships that were held in sheffield, england in august 2019 new zealand had teams in all four grades and ended the competition with 3 gold medals and a. Updated the upcoming tournament page for underwater rugby. Underwater hockey uwh, also called octopush mainly in the uk is a globally played limitedcontact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing teams goal by. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Equipment players wear a diving mask, fins and a snorkel for play. Video clips showing the sport of underwater hockey. The game came to australia shortly after and has evolved into a fast dynamic sport played in. Any infringement of the rules is judged by the 2 in water referees who signal to. The british navy invented underwater hockey in the 1950s to keep their divers fit and to improve their ability to move and work efficiently under water. The portable document format may be useful once you are familiar with the basic version. An official game consists of 2 x 30 minutes halves with a 3minute break inbetween.
Underwater hockey safety regulations underwater hockey, also known as octopush, is a supreme aerobic game. Underwater hockey university of guelph fitness and recreation. Underwater hockey games,underwater hockey rules,underwater. If a team commits a foul the opposing team receives an advantage puck and the. Underwater hockey is a coed sport in which men and women compete on equal terms. However, for informal play with friends, you can make do with only the basics. In fact, at the recreational level, many players are so eager to get rid of the puck that they will often turn the puck over to the other team so they can go to the surface and breathe. Underwater hockey wonthaggi underwater hockey inc is a underwater hockey teamclub based in wonthaggi, vic, australia. Volume 1 of 2 international rules for underwater hockey tournament regulations and playing area requirements. Aug 27, 20 underwater hockey is an upandcoming sport you can probably play at a nearby community pool. There is no off side rule howevre shepherding and obstruction is not allowed. The game is played on the bottom of a pool and playing quickly builds swimming and free diving capability.
This section is for those who would like to download the official rule book we recommend reading through the simplified guide to underwater hockey rules and regulations first the portable document format may be useful once you are familiar with the basic version. It originated in england on 1954 when alan blake, a founder of the newly formed southsea sub. Underwater hockey official rules book pdf download option. This situation, and subsequently the decision made to cancel the season earlier than scheduled, is unprecedented. The club pays for pool rental, so just tell the people at the front desk that you are there to play underwater hockey they will let you in without paying. This section is for those who would like to download the official rule book. The puck is either of lead or brass, is coated with plastic, and weighs about 3 pounds. Training sessions should reflect the manner in which the game is played. Club games are usually mixed with malesfemales, junior, senior and elite players in the pool at the same time.
There is no off side rule however shepherding and obstruction is not allowed. The aim of underwater hockey is to hit the puck into your opponents goal. March 2019 added timmins underwater club info the the where to play pages for uwh and uwr. Members of the george mason university underwater hockey club explain how the sport is played. Underwater hockey is thought to have been in the philippines since at least the 80s. Basically it is a non contact sport, a player cannot interfere with another player with their free hand.
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