Hockey has traditionally been played on grass pitches with hockey sticks. But, with time, innovative forms of the sport have originated all over the world. One such variant of traditional hockey is under-water hockey, which is popularly known as Octopush.
The game is played under water, with two opposing teams trying to score goals against each other. Proper safety protocols are followed in the sport, which means swimming fins, snorkels and other protective equipment are used.
There can be a maximum of up to ten players in a team, six of whom can participate together at any given time. The other four players are substituted if and when needed during the game. Before a match begins, the puck (Octopush equivalent of the hockey ball)
is placed in the middle of the pool, before players start maneuvering the puck into the opponent’s goal by swimming under the water. The game continues until one side scores a goal and then returns to its side of the pool for the start of the next point, or
the referee stops play for a foul or the end of the game. The game is usually played with three players defending the goal, while the other three try to score.
The rules of the game prevent players from using brutal force against others. There are usually no age limits, and younger players can compete with elders as long as they play by the rules. In essence Octopush is a non-contact sport, where any kind of physical
contact with fellow players is prohibited. Also, the puck can also be not touched with anything else except the stick. Since the sport is quite dangerous, players are not allowed to obstruct competitors and snatch or touch snorkels and fins.
The game was invented in England by Alan Blanke, who was a member of the Southsea Sub-Aqua Club in 1954. One of the sport’s first competitions was held in England in 1955 by members of diving clubs located in England. Since then the game has evolved into
a global sport. About 44 teams from 17 countries participated in the 14th Under Water Hockey World Championship held in Sheffield, UK – which is impressive for a sport that isn’t mainstream. The most recent World Championships were held in Durban, South Africa.
Today under water hockey is played mostly in developed countries, especially in Europe. The sport is popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Japan, Serbia, Hungary, Columbia and Singapore. Even though it does struggle to compete with traditional
sports, under water hockey is kept alive by enthusiasts.
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