Swim England Water Polo Hub
Water Polo Talent Centre
November 22, 2022We are excited to announce the launch of the Swim England Water Polo Talent Centre initiative.
The talent centres will offer elite coaching to players across different age groups; U14 (players born in 2009 and 2010) and U16 (players born in 2007 and 2008).
Those selected will receive weekly or fortnightly coaching from our team of experienced international coaches. Centres will follow an agreed national syllabus designed to equip players with all they will need to thrive on the international level in the future.
Our key objective is to improve performance of England and Great Britain sides in international competition. To do that the first goal is to improve the frequency of high-quality training and coaching that is available to our youngest talent, which in turn will drive improved competitive international results.
The first four talent centres will be located in Bolton, Hucknall, Croydon and Bristol with full details of locations below.
The Jason Kenny Centre, Moor Lane, Bolton, BL3 5BN. This centre will train fortnightly on Friday evenings. Each term will consist of 2 x 5 week blocks between January and July 2023.
- U14 trial:
Saturday 7 January – Register 12:15, session 13:30-15:30 - U16 trial:
Saturday 7 January – Register 14:15, session 15:00-17:00
Hucknall Leisure Centre, Linby Road, Hucknall, Nottingham, NG15 7TX. This centre will train fortnightly on Sunday afternoons. Each term will consist of 2 x 5 week blocks between January and July 2023.
- U14 and U16 girls and U14 boys trial:
Sunday 15 January – Register 14:00, session 14:30-16:00 - U16 boys trial:
Sunday 22 January – Register 14:00, session 14:30-16:00
Whitgift School, Haling Park Rd, South Croydon CR2 6YT. This centre will train weekly on Friday evenings. Each term will consist of 2 x 10 week blocks between January and July 2023
- U14 Boys trial:
Friday 6th January – Register 18:45, pool session 19:00 to 21.30 - U16 Boys trial:
Friday 13th January – Register 18:45, pool session: 19:00 to 21.30 - U14 & U16 Girls trial:
Friday 20th January – Register 18:45, pool session 19:00 to 21.30
Hengrove Park Leisure Centre, Hengrove Promenade, Bristol, BS14 0DE. This centre will train weekly on Sunday afternoons. Each term will consist of 2 x 10 week blocks between January and July 2023.
- U14 and U16 trials:
Sunday 8 January – Register at 13:00, meeting in café at 13:15, land session 13:30-14:00, pool session 14:00-15:30
Please keep your eyes open for future talent centre updates which will be posted on this new talent centre web page.
The Swim England Water Polo Talent Team and our talent centre coaches look forward to welcoming you to our centres and helping you to achieve your full potential in our amazing sport.
The Talent Games
Following each term our four talent centres will compete at the Talent Games, a new opportunity for players to play at the highest level possible for this age group in England.
Each talent centre will select a team to represent their centre who will then compete at the Talent Games, fighting to be crowned talent centre national champions.
The Talent Games will offer our aspiring international players the chance to experience full games in all deep facilities against the best players in the country, providing players with an early taste of water polo played to international standards.
At the Talent Games weekends in addition to their fixtures players will also take part in both pool and classroom education workshops with invited deliverers.
Dates for Talent Games:
- 25 and 26 March 2023
- 8 and 9 July 2023
National Training Opportunity
As part of the talent centre initiative there will be an opportunity to attend two U16 national training weekends alongside those from the former national academy program that are not able to travel to a talent centre. Remaining places will be selected fully at the discretion of our scouting team.
Dates for U16 national training camps:
- 25 and 26 February 2023 (To be confirmed)
- 22 and 23 April 2023 (To be confirmed)
Fees
All centres aspire to offer 10 weekly sessions per school term, though Bolton and Hucknall will begin by offering five fortnightly sessions per school term.
£390 paid as £65 per month by standing order January – June 2023 (inclusive)
For this fee all players will receive:
- Starter kit pack including branded costume / trunks as well as a branded t-shirt
- 20 water polo sessions, January – July, by paid internationally experienced coaches
- Access to sports science and sports medicine education
If selected this fee will also include the below for no additional charge:
- Attendance at Talent Games
- For U16 only attendance at a national training camp
£240 paid as £40 per month by standing order January – June 2023 (inclusive)
For this fee these players will receive:
- Starter kit pack including branded costume/ trunks as well as a branded t-shirt
- 10 water polo sessions, January – July, by paid internationally experienced coaches
If selected this fee will also include the below for no additional charge:
- Attendance at Talent Games
- Attendance at U16 national training
Fees will be reviewed annually.
How to trial
Each talent centre will host an open trial in early January 2023 for players born in 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007. Please take care to make sure you select the location you wish to trial for when making payment.
The trial will cost £25 per player. The link to the payment for the open trials is below. Once you have paid you will be sent registration details. You must complete both payment and registration to confirm your trial place.
The registration for the trial has now closed.