UNDERWATER HOCKEY Underwater hockey originated

UNDERWATER HOCKEY

• Underwater hockey originated in England in 1954, when Alan Blake (Eng. Alan Blake), the owner of the newly formed in the seaside resort of Southsea, Hampshire, England, Club Sub-Aqua Club, invented the game and called it Octopush - to preserve members club with an interest in outdoor activities in the winter months, when diving in the open sea unattractive. Currently, this play hockey around the world, and the first World Championship was held underwater hockey in Canada in 1980. In 1984 was held Women's World Championships in this sport.

• During the game, passing in the pool, two teams competing athletes, each of which consists of ten players, equipped with fins, mask, snorkel and clubs. Six players participate in the competition, and four are for replacement. The goal - to score a goal, moving her stick on the bottom of the pool to the gates of the enemy. The game continues as long as the goal is scored or the referee stops it (because of the foul, the timeout period or the end of the game). The competition consists of two periods of duration, usually ten to fifteen minutes (at the world championships - 15 minutes) and a short interval for rest between periods, usually three minutes. Judged game two referees in water (diving gear) and one - the surface referee.

• Outfit of players includes: a breathing tube (snorkelling), water polo cap, scuba mask, fins, stick, puck and gloves. • Gates having a width of 3. 36 meters, made of aluminum or stainless steel, are located on the bottom of the pool on the opposite sides of the playing field and have a recess in which should be goals scored. Behind the gate there is a wall. If the puck gets into it and bounces without sinking into a depression as a goal is scored. • It is interesting that there is a kind of underwater hockey - subglacial hockey competition which takes place on a frozen pond or swimming pool.

• In the Austrian town of Weissensee was played the first World Cup for underice hockey. Won the Finnish team. Match held in a special tank having dimensions of 6 × 8 meters, the surface of which is covered with ice. Players dressed in padded suits, dive into it through the hole. Using hockey sticks, they should throw the puck under the ice floating in the opponent's goal. The duration of each period of no more than 10 minutes for a break is given the same amount of time. Viewers can watch the exciting spectacle through special monitors. • Athletes need to have healthy lungs, because Players are not provided with breathing tanks. Every 30 seconds, players must surfaced to breathe air. To ensure safety at the bottom of work for at least four divers, supplying oxygen athletes who have lost sight of the hole in the ice

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