SASAC – St Albans Sub-Aqua Club

What is Underwater Hockey?

Underwater Hockey (UWH), originally known as Octopush, is a globally played limited-contact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing team’s goal by propelling it with a hockey stick (pusher).

History

It originated in England in 1954 when Alan Blake, a founder of the newly formed Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, invented the game he called Octopush as a means of keeping the club’s members interested and active over the cold winter months when open-water diving lost its appeal.

Underwater hockey is now played worldwide, with the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques, abbreviated CMAS, as the world governing body. The first Underwater Hockey World Championship was held in Canada in 1980

How is it played?

Two teams of up to ten players compete, with six players in each team in play at any one time. The remaining four players are continually substituted into play from a substitution area, which may be either on deck or in the water outside the playing area.

Before the start of play the puck is placed in the centre of the pool, and the players wait in the water whilst touching the wall above the goal they are defending. At the start-of-play signal members of both teams are free to swim anywhere in the play area and try to score by manoeuvring the puck into the opponents’ goal.

Players hold their breath as they dive to the bottom of the pool. Play continues until either a goal is scored, when players return to their wall to start a new point, or a break in play is signalled by a referee (whether due to a foul, a time-out, or the end of the period of play).

Games consist of two halves of typically ten to fifteen minutes and a short half-time interval of usually three minutes. At half time the two teams switch ends.

A typical playing formation is 3-3 (three offensive players or forwards, and three defensive players or backs) of which 3-2-1 (three forwards, two mid-fielders and a back) is a variation.

Often players who are most successful in this game are strong swimmers, have a great ability to hold and recover their breath, and are able to produce great speed underwater while demonstrating learned skills in puck control. It is also important that they are able to work well with their team members and take full advantage of their individual skills.

Equipment

Testimonial – Diver and Under Water Hockey member

Underwater hockey is a great mixed gender team game that is suitable for a wide age range. I gave it a go 33 years ago, and I have not looked back since. Today I only play at a casual level on a Wednesday club night but in the past played in a regional competition which was a great experience.

It really pushes me and keeps me fit likely because the sport is a fanatastic form of high intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise that does not stress your joints. I find it especially beneficial in terms of my breathing and lung capacity. I thoroughly recommend UWH and really look forward to my Wednesday night game.

How do I get started?

St Albans Sub Aqua Club welcomes new players and those wishing to give it a go.

We have players in their teens, families and more mature players who have played for over 30 years

We have sessions at Westminster Lodge swimming pool on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings. An assessment of your current skills and training required takes place on a Thursday evening and we play games on a Wednesday evening.

Fill in the Contact-Us form below and either Ali or Tim will get in contact or answer your question or explain how to join us as a Underwater hockey player.

We look forward to welcoming you

Playing Underwater Hockey (Octopush)

Have-a-Go Sessions

The St Albans Saints Underwater Hockey Club, part of SASAC, runs regular “have‑a‑go” sessions for anyone who’d like to try the sport and see whether they’d like to become a member.

Session Times

• Older children (15+) and adults: Wednesdays, 9–10 pm
• Junior children (ages 9–14): Thursdays, 7–8 pm

We will provide all the equipment you need for your initial have‑a‑go session and, if you enjoy it, you can continue with a free three‑week trial.

You’ll need to be a confident swimmer and ideally (though not essentially) have some snorkelling experience.

Underwater hockey is a great, fun activity for confident swimmers looking for something a bit different.

Watch the short video clip above showing four of our under-15 players competing with some adult players.

If anyone — whether taking part or not — has spare children’s full‑foot fins in sizes 1 to 5, we would gratefully accept them for use in our have‑a‑go sessions.

If you would like to attend a have‑a‑go session, please fill in the form below and either Tim Leicester or Ali Humphrey will contact you to confirm the joining details.