Underwater football is a low impact contact sport where two teams of players wearing snorkeling gear hold their breath and try to place the ball onto the opposing team’s side of the pool. Players must be fully submerged to possess the ball.
Underwater rugby introduces a level of three dimensional play unseen in other sports because players have to breathe at the top of the water while the play is going on at all levels of the pool. Strategies require careful coordination of timing in order to orchestrate successful offensive and defensive maneuvers with 2 or more players maneuvering the ball at varying depths while allowing some players to rest and recover oxygen on the surface.
Where can I play underwater football?
Currently there are three active clubs in Canada, two in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and one in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Information about these clubs and practice times can be found here.
What equipment is needed for underwater football?
Full rules and regulations for underwater football equipment can be found here.
Mask
Masks are the same as those typically used for snorkeling. To ensure that masks won’t break, masks are typically a two lens design and must be made of shatterproof materials. Players choose masks which offer them good visibility while being comfortable to wear.
Snorkel
Snorkels are used to let players watch the game while breathing. Snorkels come in a variety of shapes and sizes and must be made flexible so as to not hurt other players.
Fins
Fins allow players to propel themselves through the water quickly and efficiently. Fins come in many shapes and sizes with preference varying from player to player. For example, some players prefer fins that provide them with more straight line speed while others prefer fins that allow for more agile movement.
Water Polo Caps
These are the same caps that are used in water polo. These caps are used to protect players from possible ear injuries. Additionally, cap colour is used to identify which team a player is on.
Balls
The football is a sanded down size 4 basketball filled with either corn syrup or a saline solution. Footballs must be negatively buoyant and soft sided.
How long is a typical game?
A typical game contains two ten minute halves with a 3 minute half time.
How many players play at once?
The sport is typically played 5 on 5 with 8 subs on each team. Substitutions may only be made in a natural break in play (when a goal is scored or at half time).
When was underwater football created?
Underwater football was created in 1967 by the University of Manitoba Scuba Club to train in the winter. As far as we know, this makes it the oldest underwater sport club in North America.