Underwater rugby is just as cool as it sounds and looks. Although it seems like it might be a totally random and new game, it’s actually been around for quite some time, since 1961.
Each team involved has 15 players, but only 12 play in the pool at a time. According to CMAS, 6 players are in the pool with 6 exchange players on the side who can be substituted at any time during the game. The players wear fins, a diving mask and snorkel, and play with a plastic ball that is filled with salt water so it sinks.
Of course, the great challenge of the game is holding your breath as long as you can in order to put the ball in the basket. The breathing obstacle is countered with the six aforementioned exchange players, allowing the game to keep going and stay competitive.
The rules, per CMAS, are short and sweet:
Basically it is a contact sport, a player can attack another player if they have the ball or if the other player has the ball. Any infringement of the rules are judged by 2 referees in the water and one deck referee.
Kicks, hits, strangling or playing above the surface can be punished by warnings, free-throw or 2 minutes penalties. If the referees judge that an almost sure goal is stopped a penalty through can be awarded.
Of course, underwater rugby is a contact sport, but due to the setting, it’s much lower impact, and won’t leave you nearly as sore as playing rugby on land would.
Underwater rugby looks like a good time, and maybe if you’re lucky enough and have the correctly sized pool available, you might be able to get a game going this summer.
[CMAS]