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luckyloveWhy don't you try Octopush? Known as Underwater Hockey to those not in the UK, Octopush is played at the bottom of a swimming pool. All you need is a mask, a snorkel, a pair of flippers, a glove to protect your hand and also a pusher.
The pusher is a small bat, which is held in one hand. This is used to push and flick the puck to other team members and also to tackle and catch flicks from the opposition. Most people also wear gum shields to protect against impacts to the face. Finally a squid and gulleys are needed. The squid is a circular lead puck covered in plastic and the gulleys are the goals, which are 3 metre long metal troughs. The puck needs to be pushed up a lip into the trough or flicked into the trough. A metal back prevents damage to pool tiles and rebounds normally fall into the tin.
Underwater hockey was invented in 1954 by a Southsea diver called Alan Blake. Originally it was called octopush, 8 players pushing a puck or squid as it is normally known. Now a days it is normally known as underwater hockey although the term octopush is still common throughout Britain.
Octopush was designed in a bid to keep diving clubs occupied during the British winter and it rapidly spread throughout the UK mainly through interactions between diving clubs. Alan Blake also travelled and during his travels introduced the sport to many different people and countries. Changes then started to take place and octopush soon started to become a sport in its own right. Non-divers started playing and leagues and tournaments were soon set up. The British Octopush Association (BOA) was founded in 1976 to act as a governing body for the sport. It was decided to change the number of players in the water to six with up to four substitutes and new rules were set up. It is now a worldwide played sport with about 2000 people in the UK playing. There are 42 countries that play throughout the world with it being especially popular in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, USA and Canada to name a few places. South Africa for example has around 8000 players with Australia and Europe having similar numbers.
Come along and try it for yourself.
The Edinburgh University Club
Every Monday night at 8:30 - 9:30 for a game of octopush. All you need is a snorkel, mask, fins, and one of the club's bats.
The Edinburgh Club
Every Friday night at Dalry Pool from 7.45 till 9.30. This club has a fair amount of kit that can be borrowed for the night but it's best to bring your own.
The pusher is a small bat, which is held in one hand. This is used to push and flick the puck to other team members and also to tackle and catch flicks from the opposition. Most people also wear gum shields to protect against impacts to the face. Finally a squid and gulleys are needed. The squid is a circular lead puck covered in plastic and the gulleys are the goals, which are 3 metre long metal troughs. The puck needs to be pushed up a lip into the trough or flicked into the trough. A metal back prevents damage to pool tiles and rebounds normally fall into the tin.
Underwater hockey was invented in 1954 by a Southsea diver called Alan Blake. Originally it was called octopush, 8 players pushing a puck or squid as it is normally known. Now a days it is normally known as underwater hockey although the term octopush is still common throughout Britain.
Octopush was designed in a bid to keep diving clubs occupied during the British winter and it rapidly spread throughout the UK mainly through interactions between diving clubs. Alan Blake also travelled and during his travels introduced the sport to many different people and countries. Changes then started to take place and octopush soon started to become a sport in its own right. Non-divers started playing and leagues and tournaments were soon set up. The British Octopush Association (BOA) was founded in 1976 to act as a governing body for the sport. It was decided to change the number of players in the water to six with up to four substitutes and new rules were set up. It is now a worldwide played sport with about 2000 people in the UK playing. There are 42 countries that play throughout the world with it being especially popular in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, USA and Canada to name a few places. South Africa for example has around 8000 players with Australia and Europe having similar numbers.
Come along and try it for yourself.
The Edinburgh University Club
Every Monday night at 8:30 - 9:30 for a game of octopush. All you need is a snorkel, mask, fins, and one of the club's bats.
The Edinburgh Club
Every Friday night at Dalry Pool from 7.45 till 9.30. This club has a fair amount of kit that can be borrowed for the night but it's best to bring your own.
