Training and Skills

11/24/07

Home
Training and Skills
EXPO-FEB07
Tournaments
Photo Gallery
Feed Back

 

Under Contruction! Really!, I mean it, check back soon!

Rules of the game.

Playing The Game
 

The pool should be 25m x 15m and 2m deep all the way across, but anything will do, even slopes (just change ends at half-time). Lead weights and 3 meters of rope can be used as goals, though the sound of the puck thunking into the back of a metal goal is very satisfying and should be experienced! Start with the puck in the middle of the pool and the teams lined up at either end (play also starts this way after a goal is scored). "Teams ready, Sticks Up, GO!" starts the designated players racing to get possession of the puck. Teams generally play zones, as in basketball, with forward offensive players and back defensive players.
  • Center: Tries to get initial possession of the puck. Is an offensive player and generally positioned directly on or in front of the play.
  • Wings (right and left): Score goals and steal the puck from the other team's defense. Both are offensive players that stay in front of the play for forward passes. When stopped from advancing, they pass backward to the halfbacks. Watch that the weak side wing (on the side the puck isn't) doesn't drift too far onto the strong side - your halfbacks will be trying to feed the puck up the weak side (where the other teams defense isn't) and need someone to score the goal.
  • Halfbacks (right and left): Stop the other team and feed the wings. Strong side (the side the puck is on) follows behind the play closely, weak side is last man back, guarding the goal. Careful - strong and weak side can switch quickly so halfbacks have to do a lot of swimming up and down the pool to stay in position.
  • Swingback: Defensive player, second to last player back. Backs up the halfbacks especially when the play is moving from one side of the pool to the other. Plays the "pivot point" that the whole defense is based on.

 

Equipment

Each player uses the following equipment:
 

 Mask - small volume free diving masks are best, but any diving mask will work fine. Swim goggles are not recommended. A mask doubles as a nose plug and face shield and doesn't fog as much as goggles.
 

 Snorkel - you want to be able to breathe while scanning the bottom of the pool for the puck and your next position. Large bore (to get air quickly), streamlined designs are best.

Fins - softer free diving fins allow you to maneuver quickly and with speed. Heavy scuba fins are okay, but will beat up other people and your feet.

Stick - about 12 inches long, made of wood and painted black or white to distinguish the teams. It has a dog bone shape at one end with one straight side. It is usually about 2 cm or less thick and up to 12 cm wide at the tip. It narrows to a handle 2-5 cm wide and 1-4 cm thick.

Glove - standard practice is to buy a heavyweight gardening glove and cover it with aquaseal ©, shoegoo, hot-melt glue or some other hard glue. This also pads your hand when someone hits your hand instead of the puck (OOPS).

Water Polo Head Gear- required at tournaments. Getting hit in the ear with a fin may pop your eardrum if done right. Water polo caps work well.

Mouth Guards - An exterior or interior mouth guard is now required at all sanctioned tournaments.

Swimsuit - any kind of swimsuit will do

Home | Training and Skills | EXPO-FEB07 | Tournaments | Photo Gallery | Feed Back

This site was last updated 11/24/07