WINNIPEG — You can’t see it from the surface but deep in the blue, a battle has broken out.
Creating all the commotion is underwater football. Yes, football played in a pool.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said John Bruce, a 20 year veteran of the little-known game.
“It’s a workout. I didn’t know I can sweat underwater.”
The made-in-Manitoba sport was first played in 1967. It resembles rugby more than it’s stadium sibling. There’s five swimmers per side equipped with masks, snorkels and fins. Teams score by placing the ball on the edge of the pool.
“It’s one of the only three dimensional sports I know of,” said the Manitoba Underwater Council’s Keith Peters. “You can pass up, down, right, left, back and forth.”
But here’s the wrinkle…er…ripple. The ball can only be played under water meaning communication can be challenging.
“You’ve got to remember which position you’re playing, who you’re going after and try to play as a team,” said Megan Wollman, who first picked up the sport last year.
Underwater football has made a small splash since it started. There’s two clubs in Winnipeg plus a few others across the continent. Thanks to it’s non-weight bearing environment, it pulls into the pool athletes of all ages.
“If your joints are starting to hurt, this is a great way to get cardio and not hurt yourself,” said Peters.
Games are played in Winnipeg every Monday and Thursday from fall to spring. The city also hosts a major tournament in February.
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