Underwater rugby is a low impact contact sport where two teams of players wearing snorkeling gear hold their breath and try to get a ball into a basket at the bottom of a pool.
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 rugby?
Underwater rugby is played in over 21 countries globally, in every continent except antarctica.
In Canada underwater rugby is played in Brantford, Montreal, Timmins and Toronto. A complete list of Clubs, practice times and contact information for clubs for Canada can be found here.
What equipment is needed for underwater rugby?
Full rules and regulations for underwater rugby equipment can be found here
Equipment
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.
Ball
An underwater rugby ball is around 16 cm in diameter. The ball has a plastic shell with a smooth treated surface that allows it to have grip while gliding smoothly underwater. Balls must be negatively buoyant but sink slowly which means they are often filled with a saline solution.
Basket
A metal bucket or basket with a diameter of about 40 cm. It’s weighted so it sinks to the bottom of the pool.
How long is a typical game?
A regulation underwater hockey game is two fifteen-minute halves with a five minute half time. Each team gets one, one-minute timeout per game. Depending on the practice, tournament or type of game, game lengths may vary.
How many players play at once?
The sport is typically played 6 on 6 with 6 subs on each team. Like in ice hockey, players sub on the fly meaning that a player may enter the sub-box at any point in the game and a substituting player takes their place.
When was underwater rugby created?
Underwater rugby was invented in 1961 in Köln Germany.