Underwater Hockey: Great Fitness, Great Fun
It is a fine Friday afternoon sitting by the Gold Coast campus Aquatic Centre with Max Campbell having a chat about underwater hockey. Max is the president of The Griffith University Dolphins Underwater Hockey Club, which runs games Friday afternoons from 4.15 to 5.45pm.
Underwater Hockey Team
Yes you read right, underwater hockey has its own club and they are always inviting new people to join – so I decided to find out what it’s all about!
“It’s a mixture of physical fitness and teamwork with, a great sense of achievement” Max said. I can sense Max’s passion and enjoyment of the game in his words.
I have learnt that underwater hockey is a game where goals are placed at either end of the pool, and six players in each team pushing a puck underwater into their team’s goal to score. Players hold their breath and push the puck against the opposite team, pass it to a teammate, before swimming to the surface for air.
“It is good if you can hold a breath for 10 seconds underwater with intense movement, which makes linking with other players important.” Max explains, “This makes underwater hockey a great team game.”
“Everyone has to pass the puck, you have to work as a team to score, and you have a sense of achievement after the game, whether you win or lose.”
Max recommends beginners spend some time on the surface and watch the play before they get involved, as it is a good way to learn. “Unlike touch football, you will not feel you are a liability to the team if you are not very skilled,” he said.
“It is very easy to join in, we just add you in a team and have a go, it is great fitness and great fun, that is the best thing about underwater hockey.”
The club always welcomes new members to join them and share the fun.
“Just bring your fins, snorkel, a mask, and $5, come and have some fun with us. We have spare gear too!”
If you like the sound of underwater hockey, feel free to check out the club and the activities on: https://www.facebook.com/underwaterhockey/
Written by Enoch Cheng