Scottish Water Polo

🎉 A GREAT START FOR THE ACADEMY! 🤽‍♂️🤽‍♀️

The Scottish National Water Polo Academy (SNWPA) officially launched yesterday at Carnegie Leisure Centre! It was fantastic to see a full pool of young athletes bringing so much energy to the water for Session 1. ⚡️

The session also doubled as a practical assessment ground for coaches undertaking the Scottish Water Polo Coaching Course—a brilliant example of bringing player and coach development together under one roof! 🤝

⚠️ WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP THIS GOING!

While our athlete spots are full, we urgently need more coaches to join our SNWPA Coaching Team. At the moment, we do not have enough coaches signed up to sustainably run the upcoming sessions.

If you are:
✅ An experienced coach looking to contribute to the national pathway, OR
✅ A developing / assistant coach eager to gain hands-on experience alongside SNWPA & Scottish Boys U18 Head Coach Ali Campbell…

WE NEED YOU! 🙌

Help us keep this momentum going for our young players!

📍 Next Session: Saturday, 12th September

📲 How to Sign Up: Tap the link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWYR_UAAt50oj-JJoZvyNP3nJpDNwYeNegYHoZgpo50mpk8w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117147056591571671210
📩 Questions? Drop us an email at [email protected]

🏆 CALLING ALL WATER POLO COACHES! 🤽‍♂️🤽‍♀️

Following an incredible response from athletes across Scotland, our first block of the Scottish National Water Polo Academy (SNWPA) is 100% FULL! 🎉

To support our young athletes and deliver top-tier development, we are now building our Academy Coaching Team—and we want YOU to be a part of it.

Whether you are an experienced coach looking to work at a national level, or an assistant/emerging coach at the start of your coaching journey, the Academy offers a fantastic platform to grow, gain experience, and shape the future of Scottish Water Polo.

✨ Why Join the SNWPA Coaching Team?
• Work alongside Ali Campbell (SNWPA & Scottish Boys U18 Head Coach).
• Develop your skills within a collaborative national pathway environment.
• Take learning back to strengthen your home club structure.
• Help raise coaching and playing standards across Scotland.

📍 Venue: Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline

📅 Block 1 Dates: Starts this Saturday, 29th August 2026 (7 sessions total through December)

📲 How to Apply:

Scan the QR code on the attached flyer or tap the link below to express your interest:

👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWYR_UAAt50oj-JJoZvyNP3nJpDNwYeNegYHoZgpo50mpk8w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117147056591571671210

📩 Questions? Contact the Academy team at [email protected]

🤽‍♀️ U16 Girls NDS Trials 2027 Announced! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Born in 2012 or later? Come represent Scottish Water Polo!

📅 Trial Dates:
• Sat 12/09: 09:00 - 12:30

• Sun 13/09: 13:00 - 16:45

💻 Online Info Session: Mon 8th Sept @ 21:00

💶 Cost: £5 / trial

🔗 Sign-up link in bio / description: https://forms.gle/kxmN1qSJuEQUxd8i9

(Players must attend a minimum of 1 session for squad selection).

LAST CHANCE TO BOOK: Level 1 Water Polo Table Official Course! 🤽‍♂️📊

Got parents, players, or volunteers looking to get involved or deepen their knowledge of the sport?

We’re hosting a Level 1 Table Officials course at the BMC Cup U18 Girls event in Dunfermline this September! Having qualified table officials is crucial for keeping our Scottish League and Scottish Cup fixtures running smoothly, and this hands-on course lets you complete the classroom and practical elements all in one weekend.

📅 Dates: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September

📍 Venue: Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline

👤 Tutor: Mike Hesketh

⏱️ Format: Mandatory classroom session (Sat 9am–12pm), followed by flexible practical game assessments across the weekend.

Secure your spot on JustGo by searching for "Water Polo Regional Table Official" or click the link below to sign up:

👉 https://scottishswimming.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=2C0FF9E7B5CA82F87AE57BFFD9A21E9D0E1B2EDA

🚀 BIG NEWS FOR SCOTTISH WATER POLO! 🤽‍♂️🤽‍♀️

We are thrilled to launch the brand-new Scottish National Water Polo Academy (SNWPA)! 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✨

Designed to boost early-stage player development and build a clear path to elite level representation, the Academy offers young athletes extra high-quality national training to supplement their club sessions, build foundational skills, and make lifelong teammates.

Led by U18 National Development Squad Head Coach Ali Campbell, sessions will run out of Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline.

📌 KEY DETAILS FOR PARENTS & PLAYERS:

👥 Who is it for?
• Primary focus on U14 athletes (born in 2013 or later).
• Must be able to swim 100m & tread water for 1 minute unaided.
• Dedicated goalkeeper coaching included!
• Born before 2013? Case-by-case places available—get in touch!

🗓️ When & Where?
📍 Venue: Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline

⏰ Time: Saturdays, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (2:30 PM arrival)

📅 Block 1 Dates (7 Sessions): Aug 29 | Sep 12 | Sep 26 | Oct 24 | Nov 14 | Nov 28 | Dec 5

💳 Cost & Payment:
• £112 for the 7-session autumn block.
• Flexible payment option: 4 monthly instalments of £28!

🎟️ READY TO JOIN?

Spaces are limited! Register your athlete today via the link in our bio or directly here: https://forms.gle/eutUfxEQ65mB6BLbA

📩 Questions or interested in coaching/committee involvement? Email us at [email protected]

Supporting the Future of Scottish Water Polo: Help Our U14 Girls Squad Reach Leiden

At grassroots level, keeping young women engaged, active, and confident in sport requires a strong community effort. Our U14 Girls National Development Squad represents the future of Scottish Water Polo, demonstrating exceptional dedication and work ethic in every session.

This October, the squad has a landmark opportunity to travel to Leiden in the Netherlands to train alongside Dutch club Girls Only. For many of these young athletes, this represents their first international developmental trip.
To ensure this opportunity remains accessible to every player on the squad, we are raising funds to subsidise travel costs.
Your support directly impacts:
• Grassroots Development: Investing directly in the growth, confidence, and retention of young female athletes.
• International Experience: Providing foundational elite-level training that builds lifelong skills both in and out of the pool.
• Coach Education: Equipping our Scottish coaching staff with tactical knowledge from Dutch coaches to benefit current and future generations.
Every contribution—regardless of size—makes a meaningful difference. If you are unable to donate at this time, sharing this post with your network is greatly appreciated.
👉 Donate or share the campaign here: https://gofund.me/e250f42b9

⏰ Only 10 days left to book! ⏰

Looking to take your first step into coaching? Bookings for the Level 1 Water Polo Coaching Course close on Friday 24th July! 🤽‍♂️✨

Whether you’re a player looking to give back, a parent wanting to help out on the poolside, or an active volunteer, this course is the perfect starting point. You'll learn:

Core "how to coach" skills 🏊

Technical water polo basics & how to spot common faults 🧠

How to run fun "mini polo" games! 🎮

Help your club grow and build your confidence on the poolside.

👇 Click the link below to get all the details and secure your spot on the Scottish Swimming website:
https://scottishswimming.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=BF7EB07626EB3C0E1E94AB61DA72BC99DAE65C3D

The Scottish U16 Girls have returned home from Division 1 Inter Regions in Liverpool with a well earned bronze medal 🥉 👏

The girls got off to a great start on Saturday, winning their 1st match 8-5 vs North East Steelers. This was followed by 2 more wins; 9-7 vs South West Sharks and 15-1 vs East Angels, meaning they topped their group 💪

This then set up a semi final vs South East on Sunday which finished 5-5 after normal time. Unfortunately the girls luck wasn't in on the penalties lottery, but still gave them the opportunity to compete for the bronze medal. Their opponents were South West, a team they had previously beaten the day before. The girls took confidence from that result and finished their weekend off strong to come away 10-8 winners and bring the bronze back to Scotland 🔥 well done girls! 🙂

Full team list:

1. Ellie Gardner (Warrender)
2. Jasmine Cornish (Portobello)
3. Phoebe Shaw (Menzieshill)
4. Hali Farah (Dunfermline)
5. Ailsa Duncan (Menzieshill)
6. Molly Oswald (Dunfermline)
7. Lily O’Neill (Menzieshill)
8. Zoe Nimmo (West Edinburgh Stingrays)
9. Isla Edwards (Dunfermline)
10. Rosie Hookham (Dunfermline)
11. Ellie Thornton (Dunfermline)
12. Emily Lake (Warrender)
13. Sophie Mitchell (Stirling)
14. Rosie Illes-Brooksbank (Menzieshill)

Head Coach: Hannah Luke
Assistant Coach: Holly Corkill
Team Managers: Lorcan Halstead & Leanne Farah

We’ve got a fantastic opportunity coming up for anyone looking to get qualified as a table official. For the third year running, the BMC Cup will be hosting a Level 1 Water Polo Regional Table Official course alongside the U18 Girls event this September.

As you know, having qualified table officials is absolutely vital for keeping our Scottish League and Scottish Cup fixtures running smoothly. It’s also a brilliant way for parents, players, or volunteers to deepen their own understanding of the sport, as seeing the game from the table gives you a fantastic insight into the rules and tactics.

Dates: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September
Venue: Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline
Tutor: Mike Hesketh

How it works:
Classroom Session (Mandatory): Saturday 5th September, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Practical Session: Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. After the classroom session, candidates will be allocated games across the tournament weekend to get their practical experience.

To gain the qualification, candidates need to be assessed officiating a minimum of 3 games. You only need to be at the pool when you are actually officiating, and the team can be super flexible with game assignments to accommodate individual availability outside of Saturday morning's classroom slot.

How to Book:
Spaces can be booked directly through the Scottish Swimming JustGo system. You can either search for "Water Polo Regional Table Official" on the platform or use the direct link below:

Book Your Place on JustGo:
https://scottishswimming.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=2C0FF9E7B5CA82F87AE57BFFD9A21E9D0E1B2EDA