This is an extreme and spectacular sport. An interesting story is the appearance of underwater hockey. 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 in the winter, when open water classes are not popular. Initially, the game was used by divers as an additional training. But gradually she grew into an independent sport. Divers praised 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 World Underwater Hockey Championship for men 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 worldwide. The game is very democratic and has no age restrictions. To start classes, only ordinary diving equipment and special protective gloves are required.
rules
The rules of underwater hockey are similar to the rules of ordinary 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, flippers, snorkels, hats, gloves and clubs. During the game, six players of each team are in the pool. The rest are located in a special area and go for replacements. Athletes do not use scuba gear. During the game, they constantly rise to the surface of the water, so underwater hockey there is no clear division of athletes into goalkeepers and defenders.
Players devote a lot of time to breath holding exercises. Many athletes have experience playing water polo. The goal of the game is to score a puck into the opponent’s goal with a short putter. 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. The puck must be lowered into it. For convenience, teams use clubs of different colors. Just like in regular hockey, athletes use different gears and combinations. Players claim that they can feel partners in the vibration of water.
Violations
Compliance with the rules is monitored by three arbitrators. 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 goal until an abandoned puck or projectile is thrown from the attack zone. Any grip on hands and club is prohibited. Washers can only be touched with a club. Hockey players practically do not get injured during the competition. Hockey players' hands are protected by gloves from hitting a club.
The game consists of two periods of 15 minutes of pure time. The stopwatch stops at each pause. Teams can take one minute timeout during the game. Underwater hockey is a very entertaining game. This is one of the most popular underwater sports. Television broadcasts of this game attract a large audience.
Ice hockey
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 in a frozen pond. At the same time, the ice is the playing ground. Hockey players play, being in a position upside down. The washer is made of light polymers, so it is always pressed to ice. The gates are triangular ice-cuts cut out in ice. Athletes use special insulated wetsuits and fins with skates at the ends. The game takes place at low speeds. Most often, competitions are held in a one-on-one format. The game lasts three periods of ten minutes.
Interesting facts about underwater hockey
Hockey players must swim to the surface of the ice every thirty seconds. Novice athletes often lose their orientation in space. The safety of athletes is monitored by a rescue team equipped with oxygen tanks. For viewers, a live broadcast from underwater cameras is organized. In Russia, a more common kind of game in which scuba gear is used. The first World Ice Hockey Championship was held in Austria in 2009.