Underwater hockey- the perfect family sport

Underwater hockey the perfect family sport.

There are not too many other sports where the whole family can meet and compete in the same arena. I have been playing underwater hockey for 6 years now and my children all started playing about the same time as I did. My youngest was 8 and my eldest was 12. Over the years I have seen them grow in skill and ability. When they started playing they were the only kids in the club the adults were super encouraging and supportive. Slowly they increased in skill and ability. My eldest is now 18 and my youngest is 14, they have all competed for their state with all 3 of them winning medals. Mostly they are better players than me.

I grew up in New Zealand but sadly even though it is a pretty popular sport I never heard of it. I discovered it in the search for some exercise that wouldn’t break further my already pretty damaged body. Being a keen spearo it was a great fit helping me to maintain and develop my underwater fitness whilst providing a better myself and my family a great alternative to evening television 4 nights a week.

If you like me are an underwater hockey tragic then introducing your kids to underwater hockey at an early age is of the utmost importance, why you ask? Research indicates that the sports your kids play as juniors become the sports they will play as adults. This means getting your kids into alternative sports will mean that down the track there is one less thing you will have in common with them as adults. If like me your kids are a large part of your life then having things in common with them as adults is a pretty cool idea.

There are many underwater hockey families out there like mine and at the last worlds I had the opportunity to watch as some ex worlds players cheered on their own kids going for international glory. As a proud parent myself there is nothing more fun than attempting to get the puck past my more skilful kids and then ribbing them about how I dominated them in the pool whilst one of them drives us all back home. Sometimes (rarely 8-) ) they give it back to me explaining how slow/old/unskilled I am etc etc.

Get your kids playing ….your never too young… or old for underwater hockey.