¶ Description
An underwater hockey player needs to have certain gear in order to play; such as a glove, stick, mask (swim goggles are not allowed), cap, ear-guards, snorkel, mouth-guard, and fins. When learning new skills the terms Stick-Hand Side and Free-Hand Side are used often. As can be seen in the player image below the terms are self-explanatory with the side of the body that the player grips the stick being the stick-hand side, and the opposite is the free-hand side.
A well-rounded player will have mastered the individual fundamentals that are the building blocks for many of the evasive and tackling maneuvers used during play. The individual drills help a player develop the techniques necessary to build confidence in using the various maneuvers.
These maneuvers are used in different situations based upon many different criteria; such as where the play is within the court, whether or not the player is in possession of the puck, how comfortable the player is performing the maneuver, and the player's role and responsibilities within their team's formation.