Underwater hockey (UWH), also known as Octopush (mainly in the United Kingdom) is a globally played limited-contact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing team's goal by propelling it with a hockey stick (or pusher). A key challenge of the game is that players are not able to use breathing devices such as scuba gear whilst playing, they must hold their breath.
The game originated in England in 1954 when Alan Blake, a founder of the newly formed Southsea Sub-Aqua Club, invented the game he called Octopush as a means of keeping the club's members interested and active over the cold winter months when open-water diving lost its appeal.
Underwater hockey is now played worldwide. The first Underwater Hockey World Championship was held in Canada in 1980.
Officiating the game are two (or three) water referees (i.e. in the pool with full snorkeling gear, and wearing a distinctive red cap, orange gloves and golden yellow shirt) to observe and referee play at the pool bottom, and one or more poolside deck referees to track time (both playing times and penalty times for penalized players), maintain the score, and call fouls. The deck (chief) referee responds to hand signals given by the water referees to start and stop play, including after an interruption such as a foul or time-out, or indeed to stop play if they themself see a rule infringement.
^1. snorkel and mouth guard 2. hat with ear guards 3. mask 4. fins 5. stick 6. puck 7. glove
Swimwear
There are usually no restrictions on swimwear, however baggy style trunks or shorts are not recommended as they reduce speed and increase drag in the water. Typical swimwear is swim briefs or jammers for male players and athletic style racerback two-piece swimsuits with drawstring bottoms or one-piece swimsuits for female players. Additionally, wetsuits are not allowed.
At a club or training level, underwater hockey is not seen as particularly spectator-friendly. Very few pools have underwater viewing ports, and since the action is all below the surface, an observer would usually have to enter the water to see the skill and complexities of the game. Spectators may either put on mask, fins and snorkel and enter the pool for a view of the playing area, or possibly take advantage of the work of underwater videographers who have recorded major tournaments. Such tournaments often have live footage on large screens for the spectators. The 2006 (Sheffield, England) and 2010 (Durban, South Africa) Underwater Hockey World Championships were screened poolside and simultaneously webcast live to spectators around the world, while the 2008 European Championship in Istanbul, Turkey had excellent video coverage but no live streaming.
Underwater hockey enjoys popularity in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States, as well as to a lesser extent in other countries such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Namibia, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE and Zimbabwe, and is gaining a foothold in numerous additional countries though maybe still not in Moldova.
You're going to love this delicious banana cake, because it's our Easiest Banana Cake Ever! That's right, it's in the name! We've got those sweet banana flavors all in one, easy to make dessert recipe. When banana cake is this easy and delicious, there's no reason you can't make it again and again. Thank goodness it's our easiest ever; just one bite and everyone will want their own!
- 1 (15-1/4-ounce) package vanilla cake mix, batter prepared according to package directions
- 2 to 3 bananas, mashed (1 heaping cup)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- To the cake batter, add bananas, baking soda, and vanilla; beat until well blended. Stir in walnuts, then spread batter evenly in baking dish.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool before serving.
- Frappe coffee – a blended coffee beverage
- A frozen fruit-flavored dessert made with shaved ice
- A milkshake
- Any blended frozen beverage, including a more savory drink made with clam juice
Recipes for coffee frappes can be found in the late 1890s. These blended beverages refreshed and delighted. Adding cream gave the beverages a smoother texture. Even a blended, frozen tea on a warm day took on a whole new flavor.
HOW TO OBSERVE
If you missed National Coffee Day, make up for it with this celebration. Stop by your favorite coffee shop and enjoy a Frappe with a friend. Or, enjoy one of the recipes below.
Coffee Frappe
Godiva Strawberry White Chocolate Mint Frappe
Fresh Fruit Frappe
Pink Pineapple Frappe
Caramel Frappe for Two
