SUPPORTIN SPORT FUND
JERSEY WATER POLO ASSOCIATION
The Jersey Water Polo Association have been awarded £7,675 in 2024 to support the provision of a three-part project: additional training sessions for teenagers and females, cross-sport conditioning sessions and an inclusion fund to provide support for low socio-economic families and underrepresented groups. The initiative is expected to directly benefit around 150 participants through the award received by the SUPPORTIN SPORT Fund.
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The Jersey Water Polo Association’s targeted projects have helped them to see an increase in the number of members from all age groups. In the last six months, 10 new female members (junior & senior) have been welcomed, as well as diversifying the school representation of their junior members thanks to five free memberships that were offered to students from Plat Douet. This has been a tremendous success, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from the families benefiting from this support. The children who have joined are developing well alongside their peers, and the initiative has played a key role in reducing inequalities by increasing participation from underrepresented groups. As a result, the club now have greater representation from lower socio-economic groups as well as Polish, Portuguese and Romanian communities.
In addition, the club were able to offer 25 weeks of free Strength and Conditioning sessions for their members at CrossFit Valliant. Training opportunities for their members are particularly limited by pool time availability, so the strength sessions were introduced to help retain players by providing an additional opportunity to train. The sessions had a significant impact on the physical development of players, shown through measurable progress from benchmarking at the start of the programme, and many players now integrating these skills into their dry-side sessions. Some members have even . This project was successful, with several members choosing to join CrossFit to further enhance their training, as well as an opportunity to collaborate and work with Jersey Swimming Club.
The new Sunday community mixed Water Polo sessions were introduced to aid the retention of their teenage and female players by providing an additional opportunity to train. The Sunday session allows many of their teenage players, who are also competitive swimmers, a more appropriate time to train, where they would previously have lost them to other sports at the age of 16. This opportunity also supports their growing female offer by providing players with more time in the water, significantly enhancing their development. The sessions have allowed for targeted skill development both individually and collectively, while also improving match experience and fitness. As a result, many players have made accelerated progress, benefiting from the club effectively doubling their weekly training time. Participation tracking has shown an increase in engagement among 15-18 year-olds, proving to be an effective ‘transition’ session, helping to tackle teenage drop-off by offering a well-timed and community-focused environment. Additionally, these sessions have been pivotal in supporting the development of female players by facilitating less experienced players to learn from players who bring valuable experience, knowledge and coaching expertise.
Indirectly, the projects have supported the growth of JWPA’s Senior Mens team who secured four wins from four in the Hampshire League, taking their undefeated streak to over two years. The Senior Womens team also continue to improve during specialist sessions and participation in off-island tournaments. Beyond water polo, these sessions have successfully engaged the wider swimming community, providing tailored land-based and water-based training opportunities. As a result, several swimmers have been introduced to water polo, further strengthening the club’s community by fostering a positive and inclusive environment, thoroughly enjoyed by all participants. Members have expressed strong support for the continuation of all initiatives, highlighting their value in both physical development and community-building within the club.
Find contact details and more information about the Jersey Water Polo Association in our SPORTS DIRECTORY: