Water polo is a team water sport that is active and exciting. With its combination of swimming and game play similar to that seen in sports like rugby and wrestling, it can be a tough sport that is not often considered for kids. However, with several options now available in Brisbane that are suitable for junior players, this sport is gaining in popularity with the younger generation.
Why water polo?
If your child is a proficient and confident swimmer, water polo can be an excellent sport of choice for them. It is an extremely active sport that provides a full body workout, so it is great for keeping kids active and healthy. It is also good for improving hand-eye coordination. Water polo is also a relatively safe sport, with the water making impact injuries such as broken bones rare. On top of that, water polo is a team sport, so kids can improve their communication and teamwork skills as well as having fun with friends. Being part of the strong water polo community is also a unique experience.
Flippa Ball for Kids
For a gentler introduction to the world of water polo, there is flippa ball. This is a modified version of water polog for children aged 12 and under. Flippa ball is non-contact version of water polo that is played in shallow water. Unlike in water polo, this means that players can stand on the bottom of the pool to rest during the game if they need to. There are other rule changes that also make the game more approachable for new players.
Flippa ball is a great way of learning the basic skills of water polo but in a more safe and controlled way. It helps new players to build their confidence while developing their love of this fun sport.
Clubs and teams
Brisbane Barracudas Water Polo Club
Brisbane Barracudas have the following options for kids who are keen water polo players:
- Panda Polo for 5-7 year olds
- Little League for 8-12 year olds
- Junior Program for 10-17 year olds
- Barras Academy for junior players 10-17 years old
Visit their website for further information.
Carina Leagues Warriors Water Polo Club
This club has several options for kids wishing to get involved with water polo, including:
- Flippa Ball for 7-11 year olds
- A mixed under 12 team
- Junior program for 12-18 year olds
You can find their website here for further details.
North Brisbane Polo Bears Water Polo Club
The Polo Bears offer water polo for kids through:
- Flippa Ball for 6-10 year olds
- Junior Competition for U12-U18 age groups
Their website has more information here.
River City Water Polo Club
River City Water Polo offers several options for kids, such as:
- Flippa Ball for 7-11 year olds
- Intro to Water Polo for ages 10+
- Juniors program for U12-U18 age groups
See their website for more information.
School clubs
The following schools also have water polo clubs, although these are available for students attending the schools only.
- All Hallows College
- Brigidine College
- Brisbane Girls Grammar School
- John Paul College
- Moreton Bay College
- Mount St Michael’s School
- Nudgee Junior College
- Somerville
- St Margaret’s
- St Peters Water Polo Club
- St Rita’s College
- Stuartholme School
Resources
The state body for everything related to water polo is Water Polo Queensland. You can visit their website for full information on water polo in our area and to find a club and more.
Water Polo Australia also offers lots of useful information and insight into the world of Australian water polo.
For more ideas of other interesting sports to try, check out our Unusual Sports for Kids in Brisbane.
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