Can you imagine combining snorkelling with a game similar to Hockey, but under water? That put very simply is OCTOPUSH.

It is an exciting and skilful team game that is played on the bottom of a swimming pool. The aim of the game is for the players to flick a heavy squid (or puck) around the pool bottom with short wooden pushers, into the gulley (or goal) at the oppositions end of the pool.

Personal Equipment

Each player wears basic snorkelling equipment - a mask, a snorkel and rubber fins, They have a pusher and a glove for the playing hand, both of which can be home made, and a cap with ear-covers, usually a water-polo cap.

Team colours are shown by the colour of players swimming trunks or costume. To further define the team during a game one team wears white caps and plays with white painted pushers and the other team does the same in black.

The Playing Area

Most pools can be used for Octopush but the Ideal size is 25 metres long by 12 metres wide, and 2 metres deep. Many pools have a slope, but by changing ends at half time both teams have the same advantage.

Each team defends a 3metre wide metal gulley along their respective end of the pool. When a puck passes over the metal lip and Into the trough behind a goal is scored.

Origins

Octopush has been played for nearly 40 years and during that time many changes have come about. The game was Invented In 1954 by Alan Bloke, a diver with the Southsea sub-aqua club, and by todays standards It was a somewhat primitive affair. The game s original Intention was as a fun way to keep divers fit during the more non-active, winter months.

Reflecting the fun of the game the divers named It '"Octopush", after the then eight players in a team. The 31121b I 1500g lead puck was called a 'squid', the goal was a 'gulley' In which a 'gull' could be scored.

The Octopush season still reflects this origin, beginning sometime in September and trailing off around May/June. Many diving clubs continue to play Octopush, but there are an Increasing number of Octopush clubs that are independent of these roots.

In 1967 the first official G.B. Octopush rules were published.

In 1968 the first National Championships were held In Great Britain.

In 1972 the National ladder was established.

In 1976 the British Octopush Association, the BOA was established to control the sport nation-wide and was recognised by The British Sub-aqua Club.

In Great Britain some 2500 men, women and juniors now play Octopush, with approximately" 120 teams nation-wide.

The International controlling body of We sport was formed in 1978 CMAS Underwater Games Commission.

The first World Championships were held In 1980 in Vancouver Canada. They have since taken place every 2 years: 1982 - Britain, Australia, 1984 - Chicago, USA. 1986-Adelaide, Australia. 1988 - Amersfoort, Holland, 1990 - Montreal, Canada (where our National Men's team won the silver medal and our Womens team cams 4th), 1992 - Wellington, New Zealand.

From small beginnings In Southsea, Octopush Is now played around the world. Chief competitors are Great Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, but the list of countries who play to some degree amounts to well over 20.

The Game

There can be up to 10 players in each Octopush team, but only 6 of them can be In the water at any one time. The remaining 4 wait at the side of the pool to substitute at any time.

The game starts with each team at opposite ends of the pool. The puck Is placed on the central point the pool bottom. Players In the pool must have their shoulders below water until the whistle Is blown; then the forward players push off from their end walls and race for the squid. Speed Is the essence. The fastest swimmer will reach the squid first and the player with the nimblest skills may keep possession of the squid for valuable seconds of the game,

Octopush is a non-contact sport.

The length of the players' passes dictates the nature of a game. For top players to flick the squid from between 12 and 15 feet is not unusual, often lifting It several inches off the ground during mid-filght. ln such a game players will position themselves accordingly to receive a pass, so they become well spread about the field of play. Youngsters and beginners to the game will pass perhaps only a few feet, the result being that these players will find themselves much closer together

An official Octopush match lasts 30 minutes with a short break at half time when the team change pool ends.

In such a match there are 2 water referees, on either side of the pool. Like the players they wear full snorkelling equipment to enable them to follow the movement of the game back and forth around the pool, If any Infringement occurs during play one or both of the water referees will hold his arm up In the air to Indicate to the Chief Referee on the side of the pool to strike the water gong, or other such sound device, Players below instantly hear the signal and surface to discover what the Infringement was and how the game Is to continue. The turn around is very rapid.

Players in a game continuously take a breath on the surface then descend to move Into the field of play to contribute their part, swimming and passing, then resurface to take another breath. With the constant passing from player to player there are plenty of opportunities to come up for air. All that one can see from the poolside is bodies on the surface looking downward, fins and bottoms splashing as players descend and heads popping up as they surface, again. We have been likened to piranha fish

Without poolside windows and video cameras, the game below can only be guessed at, but below it is vital that players support each other, knowing how to cover when team mates must go up for air. Acute timing and team awareness are essential skills for a good Octopush player.

Who Can Play

Anyone able to swim can play Octopush. Men, women and juniors (below 16 years) all enjoy the sport and average ages range from perhaps 12 - 55 years but if fit and enthusiastic there are no restriction)

As human beings are not built to breath under water they must play Octopush by holding their breath. Snorkelling Is an easy technique to learn and It Is surprising how quickly ones lung capacity lncreases, so lengthening the time one can remain submerged for the game. It Is certainly a fun and exciting way of keeping fit.

Where To Play

There are some 120 teams around the country which vary enormously In standard. Many, but by no means all of them, are related to a sub-aqua club. 70 of these teams are registered on the BOA national ladder and have regular weekly Octopush sessions. At present there are 4 all womens teams, but unlike most other sports, women can also play In men's teams, (hence making them mixed). We also have a growing number of junior teams. All clubs welcome newcomers to the game.

The best and most dedicated players around the country may also train towards a place In the men's or womens National squads.

Octopush teams can organise their own friendly matches and play In their local league. Teams can organise friendly tournaments but there are also many official tournaments to take part In throughout the season that are organised by the BOA, culminating with the National Championship Finals held in the late Spring/early Summer at the Ponds Forge Swimming pool in Sheffield.

INTERESTED?

If you are interested to learn more about our sport and give it a try for yourself we will be glad to hear from you. If there is not a club in your area we could even help you to start a new one!

For more information contact me by mailing colin.waterhouse@duffserve!blueyonder.co.uk (remove the duffserve! bit added to fool the spamers) or ringing 01454 852 395 or contact the BRITISH OCTOPUSH ASSOCIATION via their website www.gbuwh.co.uk  

Created and published by Claire Straiton for the BRITISH OCTOPUSH ASSOCIATION