THEY have excelled at the sport for many years.
But now an award-winning underwater hockey team in Huddersfield is on the verge of being shut down.
The Huddersfield Sharks were formed more than 40 years ago and they have won a variety of awards, including the Yorkshire League and the Yorkshire Tetley Cup in 2011.
But the team have been floundering recently because of a lack of interest in the sport of Octopush.
Team member and training volunteer Rob Mallinson said: “We used to have over 20 members, but it’s been more like six for the last few months.
“Sometimes we have to cancel training sessions because there aren’t enough people turning up.”
Underwater hockey, also known as Octopush, is popular globally, especially in the UK, Australia, South Africa, and the USA.
National and world championships are held annually around the world.
The Sharks used to compete regularly at a national level in the UK, but with team numbers dwindling they are unable to play in any major leagues.
Rob added: “Our members tended to be college students but they’ve all gone off to university now.
“Nobody else is signing up in their place. We’re in desperate need of new members so that we don’t have to shut down.”
Legend has it that Octopush was invented in the mid-1900s by South Sea spear fishers as a way to keep fit during the winter months.
The game is now played worldwide and is a fast furious and fun competitive sport with numerous clubs across the country.
Players use basic snorkeling equipment of a mask, snorkel, fins and a water polo hat. They use a small stick in a gloved hand to push a puck – similar to an ice hockey puck – weighing up to 2 kg along the bottom of the swimming pool into the opposing team’s goal, which is a three metre gully at the opposite end of a 25m swimming pool.
Underwater hockey is known as the supreme aerobic sport due to the nature of the game. All other sports allow players to breathe during play, but Octopush players must breathe through their snorkels while on the surface of the water before diving down to the bottom of the pool to take control of the puck.
With as many as 10 people in a squad, only six players from each team are allowed in the water at one time, but these numbers differ for clubs’ individual training sessions.
The Huddersfield club has appealed for new players to come forward.
People interested in taking part should go to the Sports Centre at Southgate in Huddersfield on Monday nights between 8 and 9 pm, when training takes place.
No previous training or experience is needed, as qualified instructors are available and all equipment will be provided.
