WHAT IS UNDERWATER RUGBY? IT’S LIKE TRADITIONAL RUGBY — BUT IN WATER! Rugby is a popular sport played professionally and recreationally. But have
you ever heard of underwater rugby? It’s popular in Europe but is gaining popularity in the U.S. Here’s everything you need to know about the aquatic sport. The History of Underwater Rugby Ludwig von Bersuda from Cologne, Germany, invented the sport in 1961. Bersuda was a member of the German Underwater Club, and they played “Cologne Discipline,” now known as underwater rugby, as a warmup before practicing their dives for a different sport. It quickly became popular in Nordic countries under the name UW-Polo in 1970. The Confédération Mondiale de Activités (CMAS), which oversees underwater sports, officially declared underwater rugby a sport in 1978. The first World Championships were held in Mülheim, Germany, in 1980 and continue to be held there every four years. How do you play? Underwater rugby has six players on each team and three positions: two forwards, two defenders, and two goalie/left wings. The objective is to place the ball in the opposing team’s basket. The players wear fins, a diving mask, and a snorkel. The game
is played in a deep pool, about 11–16 feet, and the length of the pool is
about 40–72 feet. The ball is plastic and filled with saltwater so it doesn’t float. For offensive players, the forwards’ goal is to gain possession of the ball and score. Defenders try to take the ball away or prevent opponents from approaching the goal. Goalies sit on top of their basket and block attacks on the goal. The rules are simple: The player possessing the ball is allowed to attack other players. But opposing players can only attack the individual with the ball. Offensive and defensive players are prohibited from grabbing opposing players around the neck or head, twisting limbs, kicking, and hitting. Each half of the game is 15 minutes, and each team can request one 60-second timeout per half. There are three referees — one on the edge of the pool keeping track of time, a scuba referee underwater observing the game, and a free diver who watches the match. The sport is physically demanding and can improve your swimming, endurance, teamwork, and strength! Some U.S. states have underwater rugby teams you can join. Check your area to see if any are near you.
GREEN BEAN AND EGGPLANT STIR-FRY
INSPIRED BY THEPLANTBASEDWOK.COM
PUZZLE BREAK
In just 30 minutes, turn a pile of summer veggies into a Chinese-inspired dish.
INGREDIENTS •
2 Chinese eggplants, cut into 1/4-inch strips
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1/2-inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced 1 red chili pepper, thinly sliced 1 tbsp vegan stir-fry sauce (like Lee Kum Kee Vegetarian) 2 tbsp soy sauce
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Salt, to taste
3 tbsp vegetable oil, divided 6 oz green beans, trimmed 6 cloves garlic, minced
•
1/8 tsp pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, add the eggplant and coat with salt. Cover the eggplant with water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain and pat dry. 2. In a wok over medium heat, warm 2 tbsp of oil. Add the eggplant and fry for 4–5 minutes. Remove and set aside. 3. Add the remaining oil and green beans to the wok. Fry for 5 minutes, then remove and set aside. 4. Add garlic, ginger, and chili before stir-frying for 1 minute. Return the green beans and eggplant to the wok and add the soy sauce, vegan stir-fry sauce, and pepper. Toss to coat, then serve over rice!
(SOLUTION ON PG. 4)
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