Diverse Depths

Benson Taylor Wolf has an underwater journey spanning over 30 years.

And showcases the interconnected world water sports can provide. He has not only dedicated a lifetime to dropping into the water weekly, knocking a kilo of lead around a pool bottom but has also become a prominent figure in Underwater Hockey coaching. Benson has lent his expertise to coaching elite and masters teams for both Great Britain and New Zealand, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage of underwater hockey, with consistent success at world championship levels across around 20 different countries and over 12 world championships.

Could you briefly explain the basic rules and objectives of underwater hockey for those unfamiliar with it?

UWH involves two teams of 6 players, each using a 27cm stick to move a 1.2kg puck into a 3m slotted goal tray at either end of a 20-25m pool. As the name indicates, the sport is played underwater with the puck sitting on the bottom of a 2-3m deep pool. Players must hold their breath and swim to the bottom to interact with play.

What equipment is necessary to play underwater hockey, and how accessible is it for newcomers?

The sport is quite specialised but not expensive to get into. Masks, fins and snorkel are the basic equipment. Then players also need an underwater hockey stick, a protective glove and a water polo cap. Clubs are always happy to help out with a spare kit for newcomers. New Zealand is home to one of the world’s best kit suppliers (Hydro UWH), so good kit is easy to come by.

How can someone interested in underwater hockey find local clubs or teams to get started? Google is your friend.

Underwaterhockeynz.com has a list of clubs and contacts – pretty much anywhere there is a good pool, there will be a club. We also have the largest school competition in the world, so if you’re school-age, that’s a great way to get involved.

Are there specific age groups and skill levels that can participate, and is the sport beginner-friendly?

We pride ourselves on being open to anyone - all ages, sizes, and shapes are welcome. UWH is a sport where every body type can find a different way to be effective. Our competitions range from novice to elite levels, so the appropriate level of play should always be available. As long as you’re comfortable in the water, the sport is accessible (if you’re not fit, don’t worry – you soon will be).

Personal Experiences and Benefits

Can you recount any memorable moments or experiences you’ve had while playing underwater hockey?

Hockey has been very good to me, and I’ve been lucky enough to compete and play worldwide, making lifelong friends while doing so. Underwater hockey has a great sense of community, and being able to experience different cultures, languages and playing styles is a definite plus. This year, I watched the NZ Men’s team defend their crown as World Champions, which is going on my wall as a top ten moment.

What do you love most about playing underwater hockey, and what motivates you to continue participating in the sport?

UWH is incredibly variable. Any attribute you can bring can be effective and can be effective against you. Teams always have a range of player types – some people are fast, some are powerful, some are heavy, some are super skillful, and some can just hold their breath for a really, really long time. So you never really know what you will come up against and have to have a range of responses ready to adapt to the situation. Add in players needing to breathe regularly, the difficulty of communicating underwater and the sheer speed the game moves, and you have a sport that requires constant focus and adaptation while under physical stress. Dealing with the chaos is the thing I love most about the game.

How does underwater hockey benefit players both physically and mentally?

Hold your breath and sprint up your driveway. Now, turn around and do it again. The requirement of holding your breath even to be involved in the game stresses the aerobic systems, and the sport is excellent cross-training for anything with a heavy aerobic load. Because we have a subbing system (six players in, four out at any one time), anybody can leap into the game, go ballistic, then leap out again. The fitter you are, the longer you might stay in for.
The sport builds mental strength by requiring you to keep swimming even though your lungs might be screaming. It’s also great for building teamwork – nobody can stay down forever, and you can’t yell underwater, so you always need to be cognisant of where your teammates are, how you’re going to support or be supported by them, and their expectations. It’s a great feeling when your team pulls off a sequence of passes to score a goal without any player being able to talk to one another.

Safety, Training, and Competition

Are there any safety considerations or precautions that newcomers should be aware of when starting underwater hockey?

It’s a sport where you hold your breath, which comes with inherent dangers. Fortunately, it’s not like freediving - where competitors might be pushing the limits of that system – hockey is so fast that in most games, you’re never underwater for more than a few seconds. Ten seconds on the puck in one breath is a legendary effort. So, shallow water blackout? Not really a thing in games. Most issues around holding your breath actually come during training when people are trying to swim long distances underwater with reduced rest periods. If that’s you, then make sure you’re training with a buddy.

How often do players train and compete, and could you describe what a typical training session involves?

Like most sports, hockey has a wide player base. Younger school players might have one training session and one game per week. An international player might be pushing upwards of 20 hours of gym, aerobic skills and mobility every week. A typical pool training session will involve a mix of swimming (both on the surface and underwater) and skills work, practising moving and throwing the puck around the pool.

Can you highlight some notable events or competitions young underwater hockey players may enjoy or strive to participate in?

New Zealand has a solid record in youth underwater hockey, with numerous international titles to our credit. The New Zealand Secondary schools tournament is one of the largest sporting tournaments in the southern hemisphere. Players who do well there may be invited to trial for the regional teams nationwide. After that, there are the U18 and U23 world championships to aim for.

Teamwork and Community

How does underwater hockey foster teamwork and communication among players, especially in an underwater environment?

Teamwork is mandatory – nobody can stay down forever. Communication is nearly impossible as you can’t talk underwater. Planning becomes critical, and most teams will spend a lot of time discussing what they will try to achieve underwater and how they will support each other. Good teamwork in hockey manifests as players turning up at exactly the right time and place to do their job and being able to move the puck onto the next player. Players are forced to rely on each other – there is no choice. Relying on someone else and having them come through for you is the basis of building good team bonding.
Are there any misconceptions about underwater hockey that you’d like to address?

The first visual image people get when discussing hockey underwater is a big, 2-handed stick and somebody trying to run underwater. It all seems a bit slow and ridiculous. The biggest surprise for most people when they try the sport for the first time is just how fast it is and how much skill is required to play it well.


Broader Impact and Other Underwater Activities

What other underwater sports do you engage in?

I started SCUBA diving at about the same time as underwater hockey but soon realised that breathing is cheating. I’m now a keen spearo and have been involved in masters swimming and underwater rugby various times over the last few years.

How does underwater hockey potentially benefit or complement other activities, such as SCUBA diving, freediving or spearfishing?

Hockey is fantastic cross training for SCUBA diving. It will make you much better at maneuvering underwater, controlling buoyancy, staying calm in chaotic situations and generally being fitter for dealing with the underwater environment. With freediving and spearfishing, they adapt your energy systems in different ways. For spearfishing and freediving? UWH won’t improve your downtime very much (if at all), but it will significantly ramp up your recovery rate, allowing you to spend less time on the surface before each dive.

Encouraging New Players

What would you say to our readers who might be considering trying underwater hockey for themselves?
It’s phenomenally cool. Get some sticks.

And your most important first step is to visit Underwaterhockeynz.com. There you will find most the information required to get started, including local clubs and events!