As Guilly suggested, here is a new thread for us to discuss ways to open up the game.

Suggestions have included reducing the number of players and/or increasing the minimum depth allowed. There have been other ideas tossed out there as well but I don't remember most of them or don't want to encourage them so I won't post them. But you all are more than welcome to. Keep in mind that this idea is for the high level games.

Depth increase: May or may not solve the problem. Certainly you could go deep enough to have an affect but that would probably slow the game down too much and it would go back to the old game where the free diver with long bottom time had the advantage rather than those with skills and teamwork. So assuming 3M as the limit for the minimum you won't get much better. As Sheffield videos will verify there were still many times that 6 or more players were within a couple of meters of the puck. With stops in play you will get a regrouping of players with a bit of rest which allows for more scrums around the puck. At times it will be more open. But will it be enough?

Reduction of players: May or may not solve the problem. As with the increased depth you could decrease to the point that the game just ends up having someone wait out their defender and then you have a quick 3 on 2 or 2 on 1 (note there is no 4 on 3 in this example). Not the best for the game and also reduces the number of players that can compete. But if you drop to 5 a side, there is one less player to pass to and one less to shut you down. Will this create different strategies or just refocus players roles to continue with the same old same old?

First thought that comes to my mind is to combine the two. You will still end up with huge bunches at the goal and sometimes along the wall but in general that should make the game more open. Players would have a bit more time, okay a bit of time, to look around and make a play. Perhaps easily finding the best option rather than the first option. And the depth wouldn't have to go to 3M. It could be 2.6M or 8 feet or whatever the most common depth is in that range.

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