There are six players and up to four subs per team. The players wear mask and snorkel, flippers and a padded glove. They use a short wooden stick to hit a puck that weighs 1.5kg. The game is played in a pool about 2 metres deep. A good breath-hold is a must!
It's a game that Jake loves playing - the perfect combination of athleticism and thuggery.
So last Thursday we flew to Auckland with 16 players (senior and junior teams) and 5 adults, for the NZ Secondary School Underwater Hockey Championship.
What followed was four days of cooking huge meals (4 dozen filled rolls for lunch each day, roast chicken for dinner etc). The apple crumble we had for dessert one night was the size of a small apartment building. On top of that, add driving to and from the pools countless times, celebrating their victories and commiserating over their losses, taping blisters and strained ankles and rubbing down aching calves.
Of course I bellowed myself hoarse at their games - I know they can't hear me under water, but it makes me feel better.
So, how did I cope with all that food? Pretty well, I think. I ate the same food as everyone else, just smaller portions. No planned exercise, but the days started around 6.30am with waking players for early games and finished around 11pm, so I think I got my share of activity.
The scales will tell the tale at the end of the week...
16 comments:
Ok so that looks scary being underwater like that he he he and I would want to shout at my team members and cheer them on and they couldn't hear he he he... how fantastic.
Chubbymum
It does look a bit scary, and I bet it's much harder than normal hockey, like water polo. You have to be fit to play I'm sure. But then, we all know your son is a bit of a buff hottie (shhhhhh). :-) Sounds like you made great choices though with your food, so well done!
My sons would have loved that game if they had known about it. Sport events are fun aren't they, but exciting. Good luck with weigh in.
ya dun good well done girl
Thanks for that info, looks like a good game to me - love a bit of biffo!
Glad the food situation was ok, one good thing about being roped in to cater.
Interesting game!! You do sound as if you did well with coping with food choices. Best of luck!
Let me know next time they're playing in Auckland - just so I can come and check out the muscly young boys in their "uniforms"! (Ohhh, they may have come out sounding a little bit pervy!)
Sound like you have been very active even without the exercise. Although exhausting it must have been a great experience. What a good mum to do all of that for the team. Good luck with your weigh in.
You are such a devoted Mum and supporter for your Jake. I really take my hat off to you for the amount of enthusiasm you manage to muster up. Good on you.
Trust me Jodie, waterpolo is much more physically demading - Jake plays that too! But UWH is definitely more fun.
That looks like lots of fun! I always dreamed of doing water sports but my weight (and thinking) held me back. You got me thinking now....
Wow! The photo is pretty impressive. I am sure UWH is something I would not be to good at, but hey, once I am comfortable in togs maybe I will give it a try.
Congratulations on your 30+kg loss. That is so great.
wow that game looks interesting...
This is just hilarious. But looking at those bodies it keeps you pretty fit. Perhaps I'll take my swimming cap to the depths of the pool and give it a whirl ;)
Well done for sticking to smaller portions. It's a tough thing to do when making so much food.
Looks like a fun game. And well done, it's so hard being in an environment where you can't control what you eat. Sounds like you made the best choices.
Wow! I've never heard of underwater hockey! What an interesting concept! :)
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