Dear water polo players, officials, and stakeholders,
We now have a couple of welcome mats (literally) outside the office door. Please do feel free to drop in and say hi. For those that did not know, we share an office with the great team from Paddle WA.
Clubs’ forum
More details will follow shortly, but we will be hosting a clubs’ forum to be held at the WAIS office from 6-8pm on 16 September. Club and Association Presidents will receive invitations and further details early next week.
AGM
The Water Polo WA AGM will take place 29 October. Information will be circulated within the next week or so regarding elections etc.
Water Polo WA Charity Quiz Night
We’ve checked out the venue and it looks very smart and has capacity for 220, in tables of ten. Look out for booking instructions soon and start thinking about getting your tables together!
New Wave Water Polo Club
Another club has joined the ranks! Based in South Perth, New Wave Water Polo Club was established by a passionate group of parents with the desire for all children to have the opportunity to play water polo in a supportive club environment.
They are seeking players aged 8-16, with registrations opening soon. Visit their website or contact admin@newwavewaterpoloclub.com.au to find out more.
Performance Pathway Program Review
A meeting will be scheduled soon with the partners to the Performance Pathway Program (WPWA, WPA, WAIS Conference Centre North and Conference Centre South) where review findings will be presented and discussed. I am very excited at what this collaboration can achieve into the future.
What has been clear to me to date, is that a great deal of effort is being put into the pathway program but that we can do more to clarify to members what each of the partners bring and how everything fits together.
Staff
Mia and Renee have started in their respective roles of Manager and Officer Growth and Participation.
Renee will be working remotely until 22 September with her current focus being on the necessary planning and networking. All clubs and associations can expect to be contacted at some stage regarding participation and growth opportunities.
I am also very pleased to introduce Warren Kyte as our new Coordinator Competitions. Warren will be known to many of you through his background and involvement in water polo, but I have provided a short introduction below. You can now view all staff profiles on the website here.
Warren was born and raised in South Africa and has played water polo for the past 25 years across various levels in South Africa and Australia, achieving full state colours at school level and has achieved best and fairest together with top goal scorers for a few consecutive year playing at Phantoms water polo club. Warren is excited to be a part of the Water Polo WA team to support the growth and development of water polo across WA. He has been coaching water polo for over 10 years for U14 and U16 teams from school to national levels. Warren is a passionate sportsman and coach and believes in giving each player the opportunity to succeed and achieve their goals with hard work and dedication. Warren is looking forward to the upcoming season and being actively involved with the games as well as coaching and growing the sport together.
Go Polo
There is an idea brewing to form a water polo team comprising Board and Staff members. Watch this space and be prepared to receive a challenge at some stage during the season!!
WPWA State Teams
We are at the pointy end of preparations for our eight teams and the managers are now taking over with the final details ahead of the groups heading off to the Gold Coast and Melbourne. Just a reminder for players/parents to now communicate directly with the relevant team manager as he/she will be across all the necessary details. My thanks in advance to the leadership teams for their efforts and to Michelle Sayer and Steph Neesham for their support.
I will be attending the event on the Gold Coast before participating in the National Hockey Masters Championships that are also taking place on the Gold Coast from 24 September. I am really looking forward to seeing our teams in action and to providing any support that I can.
Please note that every player/guardian needs to read and sign a few documents before being allowed to compete. Please follow the links below for the relevant information pack and forms.
The team managers will be following up on the necessary forms to be completed.
Reflection
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”
Guess who wrote this.
Kevin Knapp
GM Water Polo WA
SEP
2022