StoryUnderwater hockey was invented in 1954 by English diving instructor Alan Blake for game variety sports training. The popularity of this sport has increased significantly after its activation in British Columbia (Canada). The first game took place in 1962 in Vancouver, and 10 years later the British Columbia Underwater Hockey Union was formed, which received great support from the then state authorities. In England, South Africa and New Zealand, underwater hockey also aroused great interest and acquired its development and forms in these countries. Since then, underwater hockey has become one of the most popular underwater sports on all continents.

Purpose of the game- hit the opponent's goal at the bottom of the pool with a short stick, maneuvering a puck weighing 1.2-1.4 kg the size of a regular ice hockey puck. The washer is made of lead and coated with plastic.

playing field. Underwater hockey is played in a 25m x 15m pool with a depth of 1.8-3m.

Game progress. This is a team game, it consists of two periods of 15 minutes with a three-minute break for changing goals. Each team is entitled to one 60 second time-out per period. The game clock is stopped for any infraction committed during the course of the game.

Each team has 12 players, 10 of which take part in the game, 2 substitutes. There are 6 players in the pool and 4 players in the exchange area. In a typical configuration, a team has 3 forwards (1 forward in the center and 2 on the sides) and 3 defensive players (2 midfielders and 1 defender).

The game is judged by 2 referees in the water (in diving equipment) and 1 surface referee. The officials in the water ensure that the puck is played with a stick and that no player interferes with the game by tackling, holding or similar actions against an opponent. The surface referee from the side of the pool controls the game. With the help of a special signaling device or blows on a metal tube lowered into the water, as well as hand signals, the referee communicates with the players during the game.

Before the game begins, the puck is in the middle of the pool, the players wait in the water against their wall, touching it over the goal they are defending. At the sound of the signal (usually a buzzer or gong), both teams start the game by rushing towards the puck. Members of both teams swim freely anywhere on the playing field and will try to score the puck into the opponents' goal. The game continues until a goal is scored, then the players return to their walls and continue the game again at the signal of the referee. Penalty time, free throws and shootouts are assigned for violations.

Equipment. Along with a mask, snorkel and fins, the underwater hockey equipment includes a stick and a glove with silicone protection. The glove protects the hand from impacts on the floor of the pool, from puck strikes and other impacts. A white or blue water polo cap serves to identify the team during the game and also protects the players' ears. If necessary, a cap is used.

Hockey stick has a length of 30 cm, its thickness is 1.5 cm, the maximum width is 4 cm (at its widest point). Wooden sticks are mainly used, according to the rules, the stick should not sink in water, but should hang or float. The stick has a handle, straight in the front part and curved with inside. The front side of the club hits the puck, and it can fly off to a distance of up to 4 meters in length and up to 1 meter in height. Usually one team plays with white sticks and the other with black sticks.

Gates. According to the rules, the gates have a width of 3.36 meters, made of aluminum or stainless steel. The gates are installed on the floor of the pool on opposite sides of the playing field and have a slightly raised structure, ending at the back with a "trough". If the puck hits this trough, a goal will be scored. Behind this trough rises a 20-centimeter wall of the goal, if the puck hits it, a goal is also counted, even if the puck does not fall into the trough.

Basic rules of the game.

1. The sport is completely non-contact. Capturing and delaying an opponent is prohibited.

2. The puck can only be maneuvered with a stick.

3. When substituted, the player must be “completely” out of the water before the substituted player enters the playing field.

4. In the event of a shootout (11m), two players must attack the net until a goal is scored or the opposing goaltender releases the puck from the offensive zone.

5. A free throw is awarded from the place where the infringement occurred.

Competitions in underwater hockey have the rank of club, national and world championships. The World Championship takes place once every 2 years around April or May. With a frequency also 1 time in two years, in the interval between the World Championships, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa compete in the Tri-Nation Cup. Team categories: teams under the age of 19, open class of men's and open class of women's teams, as well as teams of the masters class (men over 35 years old, women over 32 years old) /

World and European Championships of past years:

Underwater hockey is a sport for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. Many of the athletes have been playing for over 10 years. It is a sport that does not cause injury from racing or sudden collision during play. And most importantly, you will never fall. This is a sport that continues to evolve. There are no identical games, each game is unique in its own way, each player has his own way of playing to beat the opponent, move in the water and control the puck. Teamwork is a necessary condition, so the participants communicate a lot before and after the game, discussing the results of the matches.

Based on materials from the open press

In the world today there are many sports, some of which are quite ordinary and familiar to any person. However, among them there are very impressive and unconventional sports, one of them is underwater hockey. This is a relatively young sport, the official date of its creation is 1954. This game was first hosted by Alan Blake, a diver. He wanted to diversify his underwater training and thus came up with the new kind sports. the first official game held only 8 years later in 1962 in Vancouver. Since then, underwater hockey has become quite a well-known and popular hobby.
The pace of development of underwater hockey is really amazing. Of course, when a person first hears the name of this sport, he has a variety of questions. It is quite difficult to imagine how exactly this game is played. In fact, underwater hockey is a variation of regular hockey, the difference lies only in the place of training and competition: all the actions of the game take place at the bottom of the pool.

Let's talk a little about the structure of the team. Underwater hockey is usually played by two teams, the standard number of participants in each of them is ten people. Six players directly take part in the game itself, and the remaining four people are in reserve. Each player is equipped with special equipment, consisting of a mask, fins, breathing tube, swimming cap, gloves and a small club. The puck during the game should not pop up and rise. That is why its weight is about one and a half kilograms. An interesting fact is that the participants in the game are not allowed to dive underwater with scuba gear. During the game, they hold their breath for a sufficiently long period of time and then constantly emerge to get oxygen. That is why, in addition to bottom training, athletes often practice holding their breath.

The main goal of the game is to hit the opponent's goal. To do this, you need to move the puck along the bottom of the pool, and thus throw it into the opponent's goal. The competition consists of two periods, each of which lasts fifteen minutes. Two referees help to judge the game at once. One of them is under water in full diving equipment and constantly monitors what is happening at depth. The second referee watches the game from outside, he is called the surface referee.
As already mentioned, the main goal of the players is an abandoned goal into the opponent's goal. What do these gates look like? In fact, they are very similar to the usual hockey goal, only their sizes are much larger, they reach three meters in length. They are made from stainless steel for maximum durability. The gate is installed at the bottom of the pool at its opposite ends. They have a small recess where the puck should actually fly into. Behind the gate is not an empty space, but a wall. That is why, if the puck flies into the goal and bounces off the wall, the goal is also counted.

This sport is becoming more and more popular among guys. However, many girls are also fond of underwater hockey. Unfortunately, the competition between exclusively women's teams not yet carried out. However, given the speed at which this sport is spreading around the world, it can be assumed that such competitions will also begin to be held in the near future. In fact, underwater hockey is great way diversify your life and test your sporting abilities.

It's extreme and spectacular view sports. The history of the emergence of underwater hockey is interesting. It was invented in England in 1954. The first rules of the game were invented by the owner of the diving club Alan Blake. His main goal was to attract new members to the club during the winter, when classes are open water are not popular. At first, the game was used by divers as an additional training. But gradually it grew into an independent sport. Divers highly appreciated the new game. It quickly spread throughout the world. Underwater hockey is especially popular in Canada and Western Europe.

World Championships

In 1980, the first Men's Underwater Hockey World Championship was held. A similar competition among women was organized four years later. World Championships are held every two years. The first underwater hockey competition in Russia was held in 2010.

Currently, more than 220 clubs of this type of hockey are registered around the world. The game is very democratic and has no age restrictions. To start classes, you only need ordinary diving equipment and special protective gloves.

rules

The rules of underwater hockey are similar to the rules of regular hockey. The game takes place in a pool 25 meters long and 2.75 meters deep. Two teams consisting of 10-12 players compete with each other. Athletes are equipped with masks, fins, snorkels, caps, gloves and clubs. During the game, six players from each team are in the pool. The rest are located in a special zone and come out for replacements. Athletes do not use scuba gear. During the game, they constantly rise to the surface of the water, so in underwater hockey there is no clear division of athletes into goalkeepers and defenders.

Players spend a lot of time practicing breath holding. Many athletes have experience playing water polo. The goal of the game is to hit the puck into the opponent's goal with a short stick. The washer is made of lead and plastic. In this case, the projectile can only be moved along the bottom of the pool. The gates have a special recess in the center. It is necessary to lower the puck into it. For convenience, teams use sticks of different colors. Just like in regular hockey, athletes use different passes and combinations. Players claim that they can feel their partners through the vibration of the water.

Violations

Three arbitrators monitor compliance with the rules. Two are in the pool, one is on its surface. They communicate with hockey players using gestures and various sound signals. Violations are punishable by free throws. Two players attack the net before the puck or projectile is released from the offensive zone. Any grips with hands and sticks are prohibited. The pucks can only be touched with a stick. Hockey players practically do not get injured during the competition. The hands of hockey players are reliably protected by gloves from stick blows.

The game consists of two periods of 15 minutes of pure time. The stopwatch stops at every pause. Teams may take one minute time-out during the game. Underwater hockey is a very entertaining game. It is one of the most popular underwater sports. Television broadcasts of this game gather a large audience.

There are several varieties of underwater hockey. Ice hockey is very popular in Europe. Austria is considered his homeland. The main feature of the game is that athletes compete under a frozen pond. In this case, the playing field is ice. Hockey players play in a head down position. The puck is made of lightweight polymers, so it is always pressed against the ice. The gates are triangular holes carved into the ice. Athletes use special insulated wetsuits and fins with skates at the ends. The game is played at low speeds. Most often, competitions are held in a one-on-one format. The game lasts three periods of ten minutes.

Hockey players are required to swim to the surface of the ice every thirty seconds. Beginning athletes often lose their orientation in space. The safety of athletes is monitored by a rescue team equipped with oxygen cylinders. Live broadcast from underwater cameras is organized for viewers. In Russia, a more common type of game in which scuba gear is used. The first Ice Hockey World Championship was held in Austria in 2009.

The goal in underwater hockey is higher than in its land-based counterpart. They have a height of 3 meters, and also have a recess into which the puck must be hammered.

Underwater hockey is essentially the same classic hockey, only the teams in his case play under water. This is currently unusual view sport is a member of the World Underwater Confederation. And it was invented in England in 1954. It was invented by Sir Alan Blake, who was the owner of the Sub-Aqua Club. The purpose of the creation was quite prosaic: to keep the members of the club who were interested in outdoor activities in winter, as their favorite diving was impossible at this time of the year in the open sea.

Currently, underwater hockey is played all over the world. He gained no small popularity in South Africa, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada. But in Russia, it is still exotic and known to a few. In Canada, the first Underwater Hockey World Championship was held in 1980. And in 1984 it was held women's championship world in this sport.

The rules for playing underwater hockey are simple. The playing field is located in the pool, in which two teams of athletes compete. Each consists of 10 players equipped with fins, masks, snorkels and clubs. During the game, 6 players swim out into the pool, and four are outside to replace. As in ordinary hockey, they try to score the puck into the opponent's goal by moving it with a stick along the bottom of the pool.

By the way, the puck weighs 1.2-1.5 kg. It is made of lead, covered with a plastic shell, and has negative buoyancy, so it is always pressed to the bottom. It is allowed to touch the puck only with sticks no longer than 30 cm. Sticks have different widths. Defenders are wider than attackers. A silicone glove is put on the hand with which the player holds the stick. The glove protects the hand from hitting with a stick, puck and other injuries.

The goal in underwater hockey is higher than in its land-based counterpart. They have a height of 3 meters, and also have a recess into which the puck must be hammered. There is a wall at the back of the goal, from which the puck bounces if it accidentally hits it. However, a goal in this case counts. Game over at goal scored or if the referee sees fit to stop her. As in regular hockey, underwater hockey consists of two periods, but their duration is 10-15 minutes. The game is judged by two referees in the water and one on the surface.

Underwater hockey is a non-contact sport. Since, unlike the classic version, it does not have protective equipment, then captures, holdings or any other influence on the opponent are strictly prohibited.