Swim England Water Polo Hub
Aquatic Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) for Water Polo
June 11, 2021The Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) is a unique and industry-leading programme delivered by Swim England in conjunction with Loughborough College.
This government-funded programme is fully integrated into all Swim England talent pathways and offers the perfect environment for athletes to harmoniously combine their sport and education. An extensive list of DiSE alumni have gone on to enjoy continued international success on the world stage.
To find out more information about more information about the DiSE programme, click here. To find out about how to apply for DiSE if you’re a swimmer, keep reading.
Where DiSE falls on the Swim England Water Polo Talent Pathway
What does your learner journey for year one look like?
Criteria to apply
NGBs can only select learners/athletes who meet the Department for Education student eligibility criteria below.
1. To be eligible for DiSE programme funding, a student must meet the following criteria:
a. Be aged 16 to 18 (or aged 19 to 24 if they have an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan), when they start the programme.
b. Subject to paragraph 2 below, be enrolled on a state funded study programme and be studying towards an academic (e.g., A levels) or technical qualification (e.g., NVQs or City and Guilds).
c. Be on a talent pathway managed by their sport’s National Governing Body (NGB).
d. Must not be employed by their sport body or club on a professional contract.
2. The requirement in paragraph 1b. “be enrolled on a state funded study programme”, does not apply to students who attend a fee-paying school for their main study programme in the following circumstances:
a. The student is in receipt of the school’s means-tested bursary of at least 50% fee remission; or
b. The student is in receipt of a talent / ability-based scholarship of at least 50% but were this not to be the case then they would have otherwise qualified for the school’s means-tested bursary of at least 50% fee remission; or
c. At least 50% of the student’s fees are being paid by a third sector organisation but were this not to be the case then they would have otherwise qualified for the school’s means-tested bursary of at least 50% fee remission.
Athletes must also meet the following funding criteria:
- Athletes must remain in full-time further education for the duration of the DiSE programme (Sports Apprenticeships not eligible)
- Registered home address in England, Scotland or Wales.
Learners/athletes must meet the Swim England criteria below:
- Born between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2007
- Cat 2 Swim England member
- Based within an appropriate training environment and be undertaking in the region of 16 hours per week of pool/land based training (Covid pandemic will be taken into consideration).
- Eligible to represent GB and be a member of an English, Scottish or Welsh club. Additional criteria may need to be met for Scottish & Welsh Swimmers before being accepted.
Engaged on a National Talent Programme:
- National Squad
See our National Squad Selection Policy for detail on performance standards required.
Focus:
- Swimming ability testing
- Egg beater ability testing
- Ball skills – technique and accuracy
- Dryland throwing – power/distance
In addition, we will look at commitment, attitude, track record, coach ability, trainability, and wider holistic aspects of an athlete.
Discretionary Selections
All selections are made at the absolute discretion of the Swim England Water Polo Programme Lead.
How to apply
The closing date is Friday 14th July 2023 and we encourage anyone interested to apply by this date, however for Swimming, we may still consider applications until the end of the DiSE selection window.
If you have any questions, please email rachel.weston@swimming.org
Past alumni
Past alumni of athletes to obtain the DiSE qualification include:
- Thomas Manley – England Great Britain Jnr. – European Championships England and GB senior, WA World Cup
- Sophie Jackson – England Snr. GBR Jnr. European Championships, Uni. Michigan, USA
- Kathy Rogers – England Snr – GBR Jnr. – European Championships, Uni. Michigan, USA
- Joel Leighton – England Jnr. Snr, Great Britain Jnr. World Universiade
- Katy Cutler – GB senior, England, GBR Jnr European Championships
- Jordan Elliot – England Jnr. Snr. Great Britain Jnr. World Universiade England and GB senior, WA World Cup
- Anya Clapperton – England Senior, GB Senior. Jnr. European Championships
- Isabelle Dean – GBR Senior England, GBR Jnr. European Championships
- Robyn Greenslade – GBR Senior England, GBR Jnr. European Championships
- Lara Partridge – England GBR Senior
- Emily Pyper – England GBR Jnr. – European Championships
- Milly Wordley – England GBR Jnr. – European Championships
- Amelia Peters – GBR Senior GB Junior
Testimonials
Amelia Peters
“As a student studying science based A levels, I found the DISE programme gave me a valuable insight into aspects of elite sport which I would not have gained at school. The units allowed me to consider a range of ideas from tactical skills to psychological skills to enhance my water polo.
“I found the workload completely manageable alongside my 4 A levels and GB training. I particularly enjoyed the face to face workshops where I met other talented athletes from different aquatic disciplines to discuss our experiences. In a non-covid year, the training trip abroad would have been a great highlight.
“When looking at university options, the qualification allows you to demonstrate how serious you are about your sport when talking to performance sport coaches. It helped me to be awarded a scholarship at my first choice university –University of St Andrews. I am also now training in the GB Senior Women’s Water Polo squad and look forward to applying the things I learnt through DISE in my training.
If water polo isn’t your sport, you can apply to be on the DiSE programme for one of our other sports, to find out more information, click on your sport below.