SHEET I : THE BASICS OF OCTOPUSH

UNDERWATER HOCKEY

INTRODUCTION

You don't have to be super fit but a basic level of fitness helps as with any sport. This exciting and skilful team game is played on the bottom of a swimming pool. The players of each team flick or push a 'squid' (or puck) along the pool bottom using short wooden sticks, their aim being to flick the puck into the goal. The sport began in Southsea in 1952 as a form of activity for divers to keep fit during the winter, consequently the season runs from SeptemberApril. All the original terms are related to the sea such as Octopush, the puck is officially called a 'squid' the goals are 'gulleys' into which a 'gull' can be scored. However, the game is known around the rest of the world as underwater hockey. The governing body for the sport in the UK is the British Octopush Association (BOA) which is affiliated through BSAC to the international underwater governing body, CMAS. Other countries that play include New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, South Africa, France, Holland, Belgium and Colombia.

The following gives you detailed information on equipment required and the game. If you want to know more, Sheet 2 provides information on warmingup and some practices to begin with.

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT

Mask preferably a low volume mask, tempered or toughened safety glass; made of soft, comfortable rubber or silicone with a double seal and a wide split strap at the back.

Snorkel soft, comfortable mouthpiece made of malleable material with a smooth and flexible 'U' shaped tube, often with a valve.

Fins boot type Fins without buckles for safety reasons, longer and more flexible than normal scubadiving fins.

Sticks generally home made out of wood (pine or hardwood) which conform to official dimensions and specifications. This allows the player to produce personal variations to suit. Each player owns one white and one black stick. (See the copy of the dimensions and an outline of a favoured shape). The stick is held in one hand only with the ringers coiled around the handle below the demarcation line.

Gloves It is advisable to wear a glove with

protection over the fingers as pool floors can be

rough and it is easy to hit the puck with your knuckles instead of a stick. Nylon or cotton gloves are easily coated in silicone sealant or rubber gloves lined with finger width strips of neoprene.

Waterpolo hats worn to protect your cars and to identify team members. One white and one black (which in reality is blue because they do not make them in black).

Team Colours to identify a team all either use white or black sticks with matching white or black (dark) hats. Matching costumes and trunks are also worn for competition.

POOL EQUIPMENT

The Goals are 3m wide metal gulleys usually made out of aluminium.

The Puck is a covered lead disk.

The Playing Area is ideally 25m long, 12m wide and 2m deep. In larger pools the playing area can be reduced to the correct dimensions cutting out the dramatic slope or a very shallow end (1 m deep or less). Many pools have a slope but by changing ends at half time both teams have the same advantage.

The Gong = metal tubing that hangs into the water which is hit by the chief referee for game start, infringements and goals.

THE GAME

The Format the game is 30 minutes long with a two minute break at half time when the teams change ends. The idea is to flick or push the puck along the bottom of the pool whilst holding your breath, to a team member moving towards the other team's goal. Once out of breath you surface to recover. The teams comprise of six in the water at any one time with up to four substitutes on the side. You use the straight edge of the stick to flick the puck and the curved edge to hook the puck and to help with turning in front of your opponent.

The Start the puck is placed in the centre of the pool, each team member must be touching the end with one hand and when the whistle or a buzzer sounds both teams race to the middle. Referees in an official game there are two referees in the water and a chief referee on the side who responds to the water referees signals. They wear a yellow shirt in the water and a red hat which makes them easy to identify.

TEAM FORMATION

The six team mates in the water can use any combination of forward, midf'ield and defensive players depending on the strengths of the people playing. Within this six you can decide on the formation of your team. A simple option is two at the front, two in the middle and two at the back, however, this can leave a vulnerable hole down the centre. Another popular formation is to leave a central pivotal player, two at the front, two to the sides and one full back. See illustrations below. There are endless options

Subbing of up to four players on the poolside can occur at any time during the game, not just when a goal is scored. Subbing during play is know as subbing 'on the fly'. The person entering the water must not do so until the person getting out has both fins clear of the water.

FOULS

It is a noncontact sport but fouls do occur. Examples include using your hand to push the puck (even by accident), obstructing a player of the opposing team from getting to the puck when you are not in possession, an incorrect start, deliberately holding another player back, having more than six players in the water and standing on the bottom.

As a result of a foul the opposing team can get a 'free puck' based on the same principles as a free kick. The opposing team has to be 3m away. If the referee cannot decide who fouled first then an equal puck is awarded. This means that both teams go for the puck at the same time once the whistle is blown. For really serious fouls near the goal. a player can be sent out and the opposing team can be a given a penalty. In this situation there are two attackers versus one defender which should result in a goal. Further details can be found in the Rule Book.

AN EXAMPLE OF A FAVOURED STICK SHAPE

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  

The authors: Marion Wheeler is an ex-international player and Head Coach of the Great Britain Womens Team who won the bronze medal at the 1994 World Championships

Clare Straiton has played at three Word Championships, was the BOA's Development Officer for several years and set up the Farnham & Guilford Underwater Hockey Club.