Underwater Rugby

Underwater rugby (UWR) is a fast-paced, three-dimensional sport played in a deep swimming pool. Two teams of six players compete to score goals by placing a negatively buoyant ball into the opposing team’s basket, which is positioned on the pool floor. Players use snorkeling gear—fins, masks, and snorkels—and can move in all directions while holding their breath. Physical contact is allowed, but only the player in possession of the ball can be tackled. The game is played in short shifts due to the intense physical demands of holding one’s breath while maneuvering underwater.

Apart from Quidditch, it the closest sport to full 3D maneuverability, and is this quite interesting to play. Watching UWR matches, on the other hand, is quite hard due to the complex equipment needed for underwater video footage. Here’s what a match looks like:

I was involved in developing a web-based game management system to allow for score and time keeping through an interactive dashboard. The current time and score can then be broadcast in real-time to a video stream shown next to the pool to spectators and online. In the video above, the yellow inlays in the upper corners are fed through my system.

The equipment and services for the broadcast themselves, including cameras, gear & co are provided by Iris Live Streaming Solutions.