How to Play - Underwater Hockey
Also... See "How to Get Involved" below

UNDERWATER HOCKEY, getting started...
Underwater hockey is a "breath-hold" sport. Players wear a mask, snorkel, fins along with a 12 inch hockey stick and padded glove. It is a "real" sport, with regional, national, and international tournaments. In these tournaments there are refs, timers and athletes with serious intent, but during "friendly" games and practice sessions, it is more like any other sport where people just get together and play without the formality and time structure of a tournament.

There are quite a few athletes playing underwater hockey. There are a lot more "wish I was an athlete" players. The water is an equalizer so newer players, men and women, young or old can play in the same game with the "jocks". Virtually all of the clubs/teams are coed. Underwater hockey is a great cardiovascular workout and a lot of fun. Some clubs are more competition oriented and some are more "'recreation" oriented. Even in a competition oriented club a "non-athlete" can still have a good time and stay in tip top shape for diving and other sports.

The Game...

STRATEGY:
The primary objective of underwater hockey is to push, pass, and shoot the puck into the opponents' goal as often as possible while preventing the other team from scoring in your goal. A good way to start is to have three players designated as "forwards" and three as "backs". As in basketball, a goalkeeper is not necessary. The puck is pushed along the pool bottom with the side of the stick and a pass is accomplished by a combined motion of pushing, swinging the lower arm from the elbow, and flicking the stick with the wrist. A good pass for beginners is 4 to 6 feet. World class players shoot 10 to 15 feet.

Time on the bottom is not long but is repetitive. Timing and pacing can do more than one long burnout on the bottom which leaves you on the surface for longer periods of recovery.

A successful offensive play is to dive down, receive a pass from a teammate and complete a pass to another teammate. Passing advances the puck faster than swimming or pushing it. A successful defensive play is to steal the puck from an opponent and complete a pass to a teammate. It is very important to remember that you may take the puck away from an opponent, but you may not take an opponent away from the puck.

a Shot or Pass...

Try the "Shot Clinic" page for more detailed video clips and Marcomedia Flash objects that are interactive!

BASIC RULES:
Six players (more or less for informal recreational play) on each team. One team has black sticks, the other team has white. Teams line up at opposite ends of playing area with the puck centered between them on the pool bottom. At an agreed on signal "White-Black ready, Go!", team members race to the puck and try to control it with their sticks, passing to team members or taking it away from opponents. A score or goal is made when the puck passes completely through or into the designated goal area.

After a goal, teams line up and restart (within 30 sec. in tournaments). Nothing should contact the puck except the playing area of the stick. No body to body contact (unless your stick is on the puck). Only one hand is allowed on the stick (use hand protection) and the free hand may only be used for swimming, to protect yourself from flying fins, or to push off the bottom. It is illegal to obstruct an opponent in any way while not in possession of the puck.

EQUIPMENT:

• Pool - An ideal pool for underwater hockey would have a flat smooth (tile or fiberglass) 25 yard long playing area 7 to 9 feet deep.
• Goals - Official goals are 3 meters long. The best are formed metal trays with back walls. Anything as simple as weight belts or weighted PVC pipe will do for practice.
• Puck - 3 pound lead disk coated with plastic 30mm thick, 80mm diameter.
• Sticks - Wood or plastic (they must float). White or Black denotes the team.
• Gloves - See specs. In a pinch any glove covered with duct tape or padded with wet suit material will do, but it is important that new players have good hand protection.
• MASK, SNORKEL AND FINS:
  A low volume mask, a large barrel snorkel, and a strong pair of full foot pocket fins are probably best, but any will do for starters.

STICK DETAILS:
A typical underwater hockey stick is approximately 12 inches long, made out of 3/4 inch thick wood and painted either black or white for team identification. All underwater hockey sticks must adhere to a basic set of dimensions. Their size and shape may vary over a wide range within those dimensions to fit personal tastes and needs. The primary aim is to have a stick that provides the best puck control and the longest shot. Players make their own sticks or a team makes a set of them.

(Black or White)
Front or passing side of stick / playing area
Handle
Back or hooking side

The stick shall not be capable of surrounding, encapsulating or locking the puck to the playing area by the incorporation of holes, cavities and/or deep recesses.

GLOVE DETAILS:
An underwater hockey glove should protect the stick hand from scraping on the pool bottom and protect from blows from opposing player's sticks and hard contact with the puck. An inexpensive cotton garden-type glove may be used if covered with hot-melt glue from a glue gun or Shoe Goo or Aquaseal or automotive Goop. Apply the protective material to cover the backs and tips of the fingers, the tip and side of the thumb, the back of the knuckles, and a little spot at the heel of your hand that somehow seems to always get scraped on the pool bottom. Players design their own gloves by adding neoprene inserts and shaping the glove to conform to a hand holding a stick.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:
Join us to try Underwater Hockey! Bring a mask snorkel and fins. Goggles will do. We have extras of some items in a locker at the pool. We have sticks, gloves and head gear for newcomers. If you just want to watch a game, you can come anytime. Get into the water on the sidelines. Goggles or a mask will allow you to see the action.

WHEN AND WHERE:
Our main pool for play is the Mission Beach Plunge, but we sometimes change to Bud Kearns for Saturday games in the summer. Check our schedule for up to date play times and pool location information.

FEES:
First timers are free. Members pay a small annual fee ($20.00 in 2007) and a small nightly fee ($7.00 in 2007) to play.