Growth goals for water polo club

A TWO-year-old sporting association, Ballarat Water Polo is making a splash at the Aquatic Centre each Monday night.

Running skills development sessions over the coming weeks, president Melinda Childs said new players of all ages are invited to try out the game.

“The sessions are targeted at swimmers who want something more out of swimming,” she said.

“We’ll cover the basics of throwing the ball and shooting. It’s a strategic team sport that’s lots of fun.”

Ballarat Water Polo has experienced an increase in enquiries in recent weeks, with the Olympics shining a spotlight on the sport, and broadcasting it into family homes.

Still building the club, which has had an “enthusiastic” core group of 10 members since it launched in 2019, Childs hopes to attract enough players to grow two teams.

Before moving to Ballarat, she was introduced to water polo in her late-20s while living in Melbourne and said giving the sport a go was one of the best decisions she ever made.

“I was an average netball player and an average swimmer, but when I play water polo, I can bring all of those skills together. It was a great sport to find and try. I’ve never looked back,” she said.

“Some of the women in the Olympic team are in their early 20s, and some are in their mid-30s. I play with people who are in their late-50s.

“It might look like a rough sport under the water, but it doesn’t hurt you too much. Juniors and adults, men and women love it.”

The side hosted the 2021 Victorian Country Championships in Ballarat, and regularly plays Geelong, looking to form more competitive and collaborative relationships with other clubs.

Contact 0400 719 211 for more information or to express interest. Visit facebook.com/ballwaterpolo.