These drills support Session 1 of Level 1. The goal is to help new players become comfortable enough to participate in a simple game of Underwater Hockey.
Equipment and water confidence should be covered briefly. The main focus of the session is getting players moving the puck and playing.
Foundation Badges Supported:
Mask & Snorkel Control,
Dive Control
Coach Note: Spend around 5 minutes checking confidence with equipment and diving. Once players are comfortable, move into hockey activities.
¶ Mask Flood and Clear
Objective: Help players stay calm if water enters the mask.
Execution:
- At the surface, allow a small amount of water into the mask.
- Clear using steady nose exhalation.
- Return to calm breathing before repeating.
Coach Eyes:
- Panic reactions
- Rushed clearing
- Players not fully resetting before repeating
Objective: Build confidence clearing the snorkel after surfacing.
Execution:
- Submerge briefly and allow the snorkel to fill.
- Surface and blow clear before breathing in.
- Take a few calm breaths before repeating.
Quick Tip: Keep a small reserve of air to clear the snorkel before breathing in.
Coach Eyes:
- Snorkel removal
- Head lifting too high
- Fast or panicked breathing
Objective: Confirm players can reach the bottom and return calmly.
Execution:
- Inhale calmly.
- Tip forward and dive to the bottom.
- Equalise if needed.
- Touch the bottom.
- Return immediately to the surface.
- Reset breathing before repeating.
Rules:
- Short dives only
- Surface early
- Do not continue if ears are uncomfortable
Coach Eyes:
- Rushing descent
- Not equalising
- Staying down too long
Foundation Badges Supported:
Passing
Once players can clear their snorkel, touch the bottom, and return calmly, move into puck work.
¶ Push and Recover
Objective: Introduce controlled puck contact.
Execution:
- Dive to the puck.
- Push it 1–2 metres.
- Stop the puck if possible.
- Surface and recover.
- Repeat.
Rules:
- Push only, no hitting
- Keep the puck close
- Surface before tired
Coach Eyes:
- Slapping the puck
- Puck too far ahead
- Players staying down too long
Objective: Help players move with the puck while staying in control.
Execution:
- Place markers 2–3 metres apart.
- Player dives to the puck.
- Pushes the puck towards the next marker.
- Surfaces and recovers when needed.
- Continues after recovery.
Coach Cues:
- Small pushes
- Keep it close
- Control before speed
Coach Eyes:
- Puck being knocked too far ahead
- Players rushing
- Poor recovery between dives
Objective: Introduce simple passing and sharing the puck.
Execution:
- Players work in pairs.
- One player pushes the puck to their partner.
- The partner stops or controls the puck.
- Return the pass.
- Surface and recover as needed.
Coach Cues:
- Push, don't hit
- Pass gently
- Control the receive
Coach Eyes:
- Players hitting too hard
- Puck missing the partner
- No recovery between dives
The goal of Session 1 is to get players playing Underwater Hockey as quickly as possible.
Objective: Let players experience a simple game of Underwater Hockey.
Setup:
- Small playing area
- Small teams (3v3, 4v4, or 5v5)
- Use cones or markers as goals if needed
Simple Rules:
- Only the stick may move the puck
- No holding, tackling, or pushing players
- Surface whenever you need air
Coach Focus:
- Keep play moving
- Minimise stoppages
- Encourage everyone to touch the puck
- Praise effort and participation
Success Looks Like:
- Players understand the basic objective
- Players move the puck intentionally
- Players dive, help, surface, and recover
- Players are enjoying themselves
Session 1 is not about perfect technique. It is about helping players feel safe, understand the game, touch the puck, and play their first game.
If players leave excited to return, the session was successful.