When was octopush invented

There are no goalies -- each side uses teamwork and formations to defend and score. It is a no-contact sport, in which pulling and grabbing are not allowed. Two referees watch for fouls and goals, and players can be relegated to a penalty box. The playing field is a pool that is 25 by 15 meters 27 yards by Players wear large fins and a snorkel mask while carrying a small stick the pusher stick in a thickly gloved hand. The pusher stick dimensions have to fit within a by millimeter box about 11 inches by 4 inches.

Each game has two minute halves with a short halftime. The teams begin the match on either end of the pool, with the opening buzzer signaling a mad dive as the players scramble for possession of the puck placed in the middle at the bottom. Obviously strong swimmers are favored, but the ability to hold one's breath for long periods of time and stay underwater is equally important. Originally known as "octopush," the game was invented in Great Britain in to help train divers and British commandos.

It is now played in more than 40 countries, with an estimated 15, participants. Last year's world championships in Quebec drew 17 nations, with powerhouse New Zealand sweeping both the men's and women's elite divisions.

Underwater hockey made its debut in a multisport, international competition this week in the Philippines at the Southeast Asian Games -- a regional, smaller version of the Olympics. Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia all fielded teams. The SEA Games host gets to pick new sports outside of those usually contested in the Olympic Games to showcase strengths.

For the SEA Games, which officially opened Saturday, the Philippines picked underwater hockey to be showcased, with the strong backing of its regional counterparts. In the last 15 years, the sport has developed in Asia," Reynard said. Skip to main content Skip to navigation. There are 10 people in a team, but only six are allowed in the water at one time. This results in fast substitutions which resemble tag wrestling.

The idea is to work quickly, and then get out to recover. This increases the speed and exhilaration of the game. Just about anyone who can swim. It is easy to learn to use a mask and snorkel.

This is a stark contrast to sub-aqua diving, which can take many months to master. Many doctors agree that swimming is an excellent past-time. The problem is that lane swimming is terminally boring. Underwater hockey, however, keeps your mind alert - and your body fit! Many tall people find that underwater hockey is the best way of avoiding back problems.

If you want to find a club near you that plays Octopush, then use the Find a Club option at the top of the web site to locate and contact someone from a club near you. The British Navy invented underwater hockey in the 's to keep their divers fit and to improve their ability to move and work efficiently under water.

The game came to Australia shortly after and has evolved into a fast, dynamic sport, played in more than 20 countries. Underwater hockey is played in a 25m x 15m pool that is between 2 - 4 m deep. The game consists of 15 minutes halves and a three minutes half time.

Each team is allowed one 60 seconds time out per half. The game clock stops for any infringements in the lasr 2 minutes of the game. Each side has 12 players, 10 of who can play in any one game. During the game 6 players are in the pool with 4 interchange players on the side who can sub at any time. The players wear large fins, a diving mask and snorkel and a thick glove made from latex to protect the hand from the pool bottom and the puck.

The top players can flick the puck well over 3m and it comes off the bottom enough to go over another player. The puck is made of lead and is coated with plastic, it weighs about 1. The teams start at each end of the pool with one hand on the wall.