Top young athletes come together for first Water Polo Talent Games of 2025

Ponds Forge hosted its first Swim England Water Polo Talent Games last weekend as some of the nations top young athletes came together in South Yorkshire.

The event, which took place at the end of March, invited athletes and coaches from each of the six water polo talent centres for two days of development and education.

Like previous editions of the Games, the first Talent Games of the year focused on educational and in pool workshops as much as match practice and experience.

The coaches joined the players for an in-pool workshop led by Great Britain’s Senior Men’s Head Coach Tim Dunsbee and former GB coach and Midlands Talent Centre Head Coach Phil Powell.

Players also took part in a session looking at the optimum athlete development framework (OADF), focusing on what makes a good person, athlete and performer led by Kerrie Slevin from Swim England’s DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) team.

Former GB Coach and the Institute of Swimming’s lead water polo tutor Sarah Dunsbee then led a classroom session that looked at what skills were needed at each stage of development for water polo players and how this linked back to the OADF.

Battle for Talent Centre titles get underway

The battle to be crowned Talent Centre champions also got underway at Ponds Forge as the U14 and U16 teams from each of the talent centres clashed in Sheffield.

Throughout the weekend each team played either two or three matches under World Aquatics conditions – giving them vital experience at the highest level in this country.

This gave the players the chance to apply the skills and tactics they’ve been learning throughout the programme in competition to help continue their progression.

You can catch up on all the scores from the weekend here with our live scoreboard which will be updated again following the remainder of the matches in June.

Commenting on the first Talent Games event of 2025, Swim England Water Polo Talent and Inclusion Officer, Andy McGinty said: “The first Talent Games of the year are always a weekend I look forward to.

“It’s really good to see so many talented players and coaches come together from across the country to not just compete but to learn and grow together.

“Last weekend was no different with a number of engaging workshops and improving performances in the pool.

“We really hope everyone learnt a lot from the weekend and we’re looking forward to seeing how much the players improve back at their home clubs and talent centres when we come back together for the next Talent Games in June.

“A huge thank you to all the volunteers and officials that supported the event and to all those that have helped bring the Games together.”

You can learn more about the Swim England Water Polo Talent Centre’s via this link.