Sports Management Issue 1 2012 - Leisure Opportunities

GRASSROOTS
Children develop specific aquatic skills
in Mini Water Polo programmes held at
swimming centres across the country
and quality of coaching through the UKCC
coaching certification programme. Interaction
between clubs is also encouraged
to offer players more water time.
Regional training
The next step is for a player to attend
one of the 14 Regional Training Centres
in England and Wales, which currently
support more than 250 athletes. After
profiling and a short series of tests to
comply with entry criteria, they begin a
30-week schedule of training – closely
aligned to the national training programme
held every month in Cardiff.
A National Academy is held every year
for around 200 regional training centre
players and coaches. Workshops on
coach education, nutrition, sports science
and team management are held and the
week culminates with a mini tournament
and selection for the players on the next
stage – the national training programme.
National training
The national training programme consists
of monthly weekend camps from September
through to the following July,
which offer bespoke training around the
principles of Long-Term Athlete Development
and Long-Term Player Development.
Half-term camps are also held and players
compete in domestic and foreign events –
all geared towards European qualification.
Support for coaches
Dutch coaching supremo Paul Metz, who
was instrumental in the gold medal success
of the Netherlands Women’s team at
2012 will see the launch of an updated regional Water Polo Table
Officials course – offering an opportunity for young people
to become involved in the administrative side of the sport
the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is delivering a
series of coaching workshops in conjunction
with the national talent programme.
With the aim of implementing a nationwide
‘unity in thoughts’ training model
for water polo players at all stages of the
Long-Term Athlete Development model,
the workshops will examine the pipeline
of athletes from clubs to regional training
centres to the national team.
The national team of coaching staff also
deliver workshops around the country for
swimming teachers, instructors and coaches
on Long-Term Athlete Development
and the use of the ASA Learn to Swim
Framework fundamentals and games to
deliver fun and innovative lessons.
Officiating for young people
It’s vital to develop a strong workforce
of young people to ensure the sustainability
of the sport, so it’s great news
that 2012 will see the launch of an updated
regional Water Polo Table Officials
course. This new interactive course offers
an opportunity for young people to become
involved in the administrative side
of the sport. Effectively engaging young
volunteers in the officiating pathway, it
will bring enthusiastic and knowledgeable
young people into the sport and
guide them through the roles and responsibilities
of a table official. Successful
candidates will develop their competence
and confidence enabling them to officiate
at regional matches.
Looking to the future
Water polo is a fun, social, interactive
game that can be played from a young age
from mini-polo to masters level. The work
to encourage participation across all national
age groups has created an upsurge
in mini-polo with large numbers now engaged
in the sport from a young age.
The exposure of the sport through the
Olympic Games will continue to enhance
involvement at the local community level
and our elite team’s performance in 2012
can also act to bolster the aspirations of
our junior, youth and academy national
teams and give the belief that Olympic
competitiveness is achievable.
The ASA is committed to continued investment
in the development of club and
coach education to provide opportunities
for coaches and players to progress along
the pathway to world class and ensure
the sustainability and success of the sport
at the highest level.
For more information visit
www.swimming.org/britishswimming/water-polo
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Issue 1 2012 © cybertrek 2012