Some of the most common questions that we get asked:
Q: What kit do I need?
A: Mask, snorkel and fins (snorkelling gear, not SCUBA gear) plus a short wooden playing stick and a glove. The club has plenty of spare sticks, a few spare gloves and a couple of extra pairs of fins, but if you're keen to play and don't have your own gear or anyone from whom to borrow, please contact us in advance: we should be able to get you kitted out.
Q: Do I need to be a good swimmer?
A: Not especially - you just need to be confident in and under the water. And even if you've never used a snorkel before, it's a skill that is quickly mastered, and once you've got the hang of that, the other skills quickly follow. But equally, it's a sport at which you never stop learning - you're always going to come up against someone with a range of skills that are different from your own. It's also low impact, great fun, and for fitness and general conditioning there's nothing better!
Q: Do both men and women play?
A: Yes! It is very much a mixed sport, all the way from club level right up to world championship level, at which the divisions are labelled "Women" and "Open", so women can play in both the Women's divisions and in the Open divisions of all three categories - "Elite" (the twelve best players in the country), "Masters" (M: over 35, F: over 32) and "Under 19s". Because it's a non-contact sport that revolves around teamwork coupled with individual skill and technique, rather than just brawn, it is one of the few physical sports in which men and women can compete on completely even terms. It is not at all uncommmon for all-mens teams to be beaten by all-womens teams that are more skilful and better organised.
Q: What are the age limits?
A: There's no upper age limit: a great many players around the world have been playing since before this site's webmaster was born! Because the game involves pushing and flicking a plastic-coated lead puck that weighs approximately 1.2kg, very young players tend to find it too heavy to propel effectively, but all teenagers upwards should have no problem with it. However, we also have 800g junior pucks, so literally players of any age can take part.
Q: Where and when do you play?
A: The Zürich club plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Hallenbad Oerlikon in Zürich (200m from the Hallenstadion and Messe). Both sessions are from 8pm to 10pm (20:00-22:00). 20:00-20:50 is warm-up, 21:00-22:00 is skills training and play.
Our previous session at Hallenbad City in Zürich (by the "Sihlstrasse" tram stop) is no longer active.
There are also clubs in Basel and Geneva. For more information please contact
in Basel,
in Geneva or
in Zürich.
Q: How do I find out more?
A: Look around the rest of this website or send us an
.
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