Xarifas' OCTOPUSH team play on a Monday night at Miles Platting Pool in Manchester between 8:30pm - 9:30pm.  The pool is on the James St., Varley St. junction, approximately 1.5 miles from the city centre.  Follow Oldham Road (A62) - from the city centre, after about a mile Varley St. is on your right. The Miles Platting facility features 3 pools, the 2-metre deep full-sized pool is ideal for Octopush. OCTOPUSH (Underwater Hockey) OCTOPUSH is an international sport which was originally played in this country in 1952.  Octopush  is a lively, active sport and a fun game in which anyone who is keen can take part. You don't need to be fit, although you should be able to swim and experience of snorkelling is an advantage. We play, on a regular basis, with several other teams throughout the North-West of England. We have had the opportunity to play teams from as far apart as the Isle of Orkney, Wales and Cornwall. We are always on the lookout for new teams to play. Our team mainly caters for adults. However another local club runs teams for under 16's and under 13's. Click here for contact information Game Play The game is played on the bottom of a swimming pool and uses the full length and width. Our pool is ideal for this purpose as it has a uniform depth of 6 feet - pools that have a shallow end can get very crowded. The 2 teams (10 players with only 6 in the water at any one time), start from their own end of the pool. A puck made of plastic coated lead is placed in the centre and a goal (shallow tin tray - see photos) is placed at either end of the pool. The object of the game is to push, pass or flick the puck into the opposing teams goal. Rules - yes there are rules !! (Download) Players must have one hand on the pool side at the start of play. The puck may only be played with the playing area of the pusher (stick). Substitution of players may take place at any time. OCTOPUSH is a non-contact game, so obstructions and infringements will result in a 'free puck'. A full copy of the OCTOPUSH (Underwater Hockey) rules can be supplied, currently in its 10th edition, or down loaded from the above link. Equipment There's no need to rush out and purchase anything, we can lend equipment, so that you can try it FREE - just  Contact Us. You could bring your own snorkel, mask and fins, if you've got them. You will also need a hat (the type they use for water polo), in either white or blue to denote which team your on.  Each player also has a pusher or stick, usually made of wood (although there are some plastic ones), this is shaped to make flicking and hooking the puck easier and coloured to match the team hats.  A glove is also worn (often a rubber gardening glove) to protect your fingers. Referee's wear similar equipment (different colours) and have additional equipment for signalling. Team talk The nearest we get to Team talk or debriefing is the 'coaching' which takes place later over a pint, back at a local club, where sandwiches are laid on.  Most of these sessions usually end up as discussions of near misses, etc. How to find us Contact us first so that we can arrange equipment or avoid disappointment if we have arranged an away match.  Or, just turn up at the pool at 8:15pm on a Monday night.  Contact Us - Xarifa Octopush Please feel free to contact one of us if you should have any questions. Email : Phil Thompson : phil.thompson@ngbailey.co.uk or Phil Lawrence : phil.2.lawrence@bt.com   More Information We have some information leaflets to hand out which explain some of the detail that has been left out of this write-up.  Alternatively try these links: - Underwater Hockey Tourist - a gateway to the rest of the world Octopush Discussion Group - join here. British Octopush Association (B.O.A.) - Temporary Website Octopush Central - More links and information Grab-A-Game - Very important list of Who, Where and When, Don't hesitate to come and try it. Just get away from that computer screen for an hour or two and try it. Manchester Octopush is an amalgamation of some of the following teams.  A dedicated web-site is under development.  Links to web-sites are included where possible. Xarifa Octopush (That's us!) Trafford Octopush Manchester Diving Group (Chorlton) Sale Seals Rochdale Tameside Snorkelling & Octopush (Ashton-Under-Lyne) We use the new Manchester Aquatics Centre, built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, on Thursday evenings (9pm).  opposite Geoffrey Manton Building, All Saints Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University For Juniors Xarifa would like to have a junior team if there were sufficient support.  There are other local junior teams for under 13's and under 16's to play against.   Junior teams can be found at Rochdale Octopush, Sale Seals and until recently Tameside. (See the links above)