Also known as underwater hockey Octopush is a global sport that uses snorkels, hats and flippers to create a fast paced and physical game for the swimming pool.
Created in 1954 along the UK’s South sea, Octopush was devised to help keep divers fit over the winter period.
With its own rules and original name Octopush was a competitive sport in its own right, not as an adapted land game.
This included the creativity of new positions and the development of equipment such as a squid.
The squid in Octopush is what would be described as the puck whilst the goals are known as gulleys and players are called pushers due to the motion they use to play.
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 global sport has staged ‘World events’ every two years for international competition.
To view highlights of Octopush view the link below provided by SNTVonline.
The Game
A full game is 30 minutes long with a two minute break for half time.
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 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’ hand signals.
Team Formation – The six team-mates in the water can use any combination of forward, midfield and defensive players depending on the team strengths.
Equipment:
Mask – A low volume mask, which must have tempered or toughened safety glass and is made of soft, comfortable rubber and a wide split strap at the back.
Snorkel – 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 scuba-diving fins.
Sticks – Generally home made out of wood (pine or hardwood) that conform to official dimensions and specifications. This allows the player to produce personal variations to suit.
The stick is held in one hand only with the fingers coiled around the handle below the demarcation line.
Water-polo hats – Worn to protect your ears and to identify team members.
Team Colours – A team all either use white or black sticks with matching hats.
By Liam Curtis
@JournoCurtis
This picture was provided by U.S Department of Defense
