Youngsters dive into water polo
A COME-and-try water polo clinic this Sunday is hoping to attract more Geelong kids to the swimming pool sport.
Kids aged 16-and-under are invited to take up the free clinic at Christian College’s Aquatic Centre on Thornhill Rd, Highton, this Sunday, ahead of the upcoming summer season.
“We ran a clinic last year very similar to this year,” team manager Deb Johnson said.
“The kids then decided they thought they’d go on and play in a weekend competition in Ballarat and they did very well, won several medals.
“None of them had ever played polo before or even seen a game.
“From there, they formed a mixed under-12 team that play in Melbourne from October, exclusive of the school holidays, to February.
“They were very young and inexperienced but they did well; they were the only regional team to play.”
Johnson said the club would run an eight-week clinic following this Sunday’s comeand-try day, with plans to field more teams this season.
“Our aim is to develop juniors within the Geelong-Surf Coast-Bellarine area and to get hopefully an under-14 girls and boys team and an under-16 team,” she said.
“We know that’s a good wishlist, and hopefully in the next two or three years we’ll be able to do that, but we would love to get an under-14 girls team (for this summer).
“For those that would like to come and play in Melbourne, we welcome them.
“Geelong are hosting the tristate championships in February this year … and of course it would look great if we could have a whole lot of junior teams in that.
“Our biggest aim is just to develop and give more children access to water polo in this region.”
Sunday’s come-and-try day will run from 1pm to 2pm.
For more information, contact the juniors head coach Bec on 0407 173 953.