Brian DeVal

The Swimming Trust has donated £5,000, which, in partnership with Swim England, has been allocated equally among the selected schools – which will now set about creating new teams and growing the sport.

The initiative is part of the Swim England Water Polo strategic goal of doubling the number of registered players in the sport in the next five years.

Equipment such as balls, hats, and goals can be purchased or the money may be used to pay for the hire of swimming pools, for example.

The successful schools and recipients of the funding are:

• Applemore College, Hampshire
• The Astley Cooper School, Dacorum
• Avon Valley College, Wiltshire
• Bradley Stoke Community School, South Gloucestershire
• Braeburn Primary and Nursery School, Scarborough
• The Marlborough Science Academy, Hertfordshire
• The John Warner School, Hertfordshire
• Westfield Academy, Yeovil
• Coombe Wood School, Croydon
• Elizabeth Woodville School, Northamptonshire

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The Swimming Trust has agreed to fund the training of four tutors to help develop the grass roots of water polo.

The courses will be delivered by the Institute of Swimming with candidates being recruited from across the Swim England Regions.

The Swimming Trust recognised that the shortage of fully trained tutors was a pinch point in the development of coaches at all levels. This meant that clubs were often not able to provide the players with the best opportunities and that the development of new talent was being missed.

This new programme will provide new opportunities at all levels of the game.

Recruitment to the programme will be announced by the Institute of Swimming