How to organise an underwater hockey tournament

Start by securing the pool and tournament date, then build the competition around the number of teams you can host. Set the rules early, open registration, and invite officials and volunteers before the schedule becomes fixed. In the final two weeks, confirm payments, dietary requirements, equipment and team details. On tournament day, allow time to set up the pool, brief officials, prepare registration and provide food, drinks and clear announcements.

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The plan, step by step

Every task with its own sub-checklist, in the order you'll actually need them.

Preparations

1
Confirm tournament date
2
Reserve pool
3
Set tournament rules
2 people
4
Draw up the match schedule
2 people
5
Invite teams
6
Open registration form
7
Invite officials
8
Recruit volunteers
2 people
9
Collect dietary requirements
10
Process registrations
2 people
11
Check payments
12
Publish the match schedule
13
Send participant information
14
Prepare officials briefing
2 people
15
Check sports equipment
2 people
16
Check the shopping list
17
Do the shopping
2 people
18
Collect prizes and medals
19
Print team assignments
20
Print registration forms
21
Set out sports bags
2 people
22
Chill drinks
2 people
23
Prepare coffee and tea
2 people
24
Prepare snacks
3 people
25
Open venue
2 people
26
Set up tables and chairs
4 people
27
Set up registration desk
2 people
28
Set up the course
4 people
29
Set up goals and lines
4 people
30
Prepare sports equipment
3 people
31
Test sound system
2 people
32
Put up signage
2 people
33
Check safety equipment
2 people

Event

34
Welcome officials
2 people
35
Register teams
3 people
36
Hand out team bags
2 people
37
Give the officials briefing
2 people
38
Welcome participants
39
Give the opening briefing
2 people
40
Supervise races
6 people
41
Keep track of match scores
2 people
42
Handle announcements
43
Refill drinks
2 people
44
Serve coffee and tea
2 people
45
Refill snacks
2 people
46
Empty trash bins
2 people
47
Check results
2 people
48
Announce finalists
49
Lead the final
6 people
50
Handle prize ceremony
3 people
51
Take team photos
2 people
52
See participants off
2 people

Aftercare

53
Gather sports equipment
4 people
54
Remove goals and lines
4 people
55
Clear tables and chairs
4 people
56
Wash dishes
3 people
57
Sort waste
2 people
58
Check changing rooms
2 people
59
Clean the venue
4 people
60
Let equipment dry
2 people
61
Return borrowed items
2 people
62
Send results to teams
63
Share photos with participants
64
Settle outstanding costs

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 40
Changing room benchesqty 8
Waste binsqty 8
Party tentsqty 2
Clothes racksqty 4
Storage boxesqty 12
Presentation table

Sports equipment

Underwater hockey sticksqty 70
Underwater hockey pucksqty 12
Dive masksqty 70
Snorkelsqty 70
Water polo capsqty 80
Earplugsqty 80
Goalsqty 4
Field linesqty 8
Competition whistlesqty 6
Stopwatchesqty 6
Scoreboardsqty 4
Spare glassesqty 10
Spare snorkelsqty 10
Reserve pucksqty 8
Material cratesqty 10
Towelsqty 30
First aid kitsqty 2
Cold packsqty 12
Waterproof first aid kitsqty 2
Emergency blanketsqty 10
Emergency blanketsqty 10
Waterproof scorecardsqty 30
Lamination sleevesqty 50
Water-resistant pensqty 20
Team bibsqty 80
Fluorescent tapeqty 6

Equipment

Laptop
Printer
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Portable speakersqty 2
Microphone
Megaphone
Rechargeable batteriesqty 12
Power banksqty 4
Socket coversqty 8
Waterproof walkie-talkiesqty 6
Digital camera
Backup memory cardsqty 2

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 120
Platesqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 100
Serving plattersqty 12
Thermos flasksqty 6

Kitchen

Coolersqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 4
Knivesqty 6
Serving tongsqty 8
Corkscrewsqty 2

Decorations

Tournament bannersqty 4
Team table labelsqty 8
Direction arrowsqty 12
Name stickersqty 100
Prize displaysqty 3
Medalsqty 30
Cupsqty 3
Certificatesqty 30

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6
Extendable string lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Mop setsqty 3
Bucketsqty 4
Cleaning glovesqty 8
Microfiber clothsqty 20
Hand soap dispensersqty 4
Floor squeegeesqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 4
Paper towelsqty 12

Catering

Groceries

Tips

Book the pool before opening registration, and confirm how many playing areas, changing-room benches and spectator or team spaces are available. Work backwards from the opening time to allow for pool setup, equipment checks and registration.
Set a registration deadline at least 10 to 14 days before the tournament. This gives you time to check payments, collect dietary requirements, assign teams and publish a realistic match schedule.
Plan matches only after you know the final team count. Include transition time between games for substitutions, scorekeeping and resetting goals, field lines and reserve pucks rather than scheduling matches back to back.
Check every team’s sticks, pucks, masks, snorkels, caps and earplugs before opening the venue. Keep spare glasses, spare snorkels and reserve pucks in clearly labelled material crates so officials can replace equipment without delaying a match.
Prepare the briefing and information pack at least 3 days before the event. Print team assignments and registration forms, charge stopwatches, microphones and megaphones, and test the laptop, printer, speakers, extension cords and power banks before volunteers arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book a pool for an underwater hockey tournament?: Aim to reserve the pool at least 8 to 12 weeks before the tournament. This leaves time to confirm the date, set the format, invite teams and recruit officials and volunteers.
When should teams register for an underwater hockey tournament?: Keep registration open for about 3 to 4 weeks and close it 10 to 14 days before the event. Use the remaining time to check payments, confirm dietary requirements and draw up the match schedule.
How much equipment do I need for an underwater hockey tournament?: Prepare one complete playing set for every active player, plus spare glasses, spare snorkels and reserve pucks. Check the equipment at least 7 days before the tournament and again when the venue opens.
When should I publish the match schedule?: Publish the schedule 3 to 5 days before the tournament, after registrations and payments are confirmed. Send participant information at the same time and keep printed team assignments at the registration desk.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.