U12 Water Polo Program – 2025 Season

Welcome to the U12 Water Polo Program for the 2025 season! This program offers a fun and exciting way for players to meet new friends, build teamwork skills, and enjoy water polo in a positive and supportive environment.

Players born on or after January 1, 2013, are eligible to participate in this age group.

For more information, please contact our Under 12 Coordinator Beth Kyd at  taurangawaterpoloU12@gmail.com

Programme Overview

The Under 12 programme combines training sessions, practice games, and opportunities to participate in three tournaments throughout the year. We encourage players to complement their water polo training with regular swimming to build stamina and confidence.

At this level, our focus is on teaching foundational water polo skills in a fun and engaging environment. This is where many young players first join our club and begin their water polo journey. Our aim is to help them improve, gain confidence, and develop a lifelong love for the sport—all while balancing their busy schedules and family commitments.

The success of our program relies on the support of our community. Whether it’s assisting at tournaments, volunteering for events, or helping in other ways, your involvement is invaluable and greatly appreciated.

Registration Details

• Registration is open from February 5th. Please click here to register.
• Fees Payable at Registration:
• $200 Club Registration Fee: Covers general club operating expenses.
• $50 Age Group Fee: Supports age-specific activities and resources.

Tournaments in 2025

Players have the option to participate in three club tournaments. Attendance is optional, but we ask families to indicate their availability at the start of the year to assist with planning.

• Tauranga U12 Tournament: Saturday, April 12 – Monday, April 14 (Tauranga)
• U12 Rowan Brown Jelly Belly Tournament: Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22 (Auckland)
• U12 Festival of Olympic Hopefuls: Saturday, October 25 – Monday, October 27 (Hamilton – Water World)

Tournament Fees

• Additional costs apply if your child wishes to play in these tournaments. 
• A tournament fee is payable for each event. This fee covers the team entry fee and a contribution toward coaching expenses.
• In 2024, this fee was approximately $150 per player per tournament. The actual amount for 2025 will depend on entry fees set by the hosting club.
• Parents are responsible for organising their child’s travel, accommodation, and attendance.

Under 12 Squad Training Program

The U12 program runs during Terms 1, 2, and 3, finishing at Labour Weekend.

Training Details

• Day/Time: Saturday evenings (3:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
• Location: Baywave
• Players will train for 1.5 hours within this time slot.

Note: Baywave pool availability may occasionally necessitate schedule changes. Any adjustments will be promptly communicated. Additional training sessions may be offered if capacity allows.

Regular attendance at Saturday training sessions is essential for tournament preparation. Players must be enrolled in the term Squad programme and training with the club to be eligible for tournament selection. 

Training Fees

• $18.00 per week for each 1.5-hour session
• $13.50 per week for any 1-hour sessions

These fees cover:

• Pool hire
• Coaching costs
• $4.50 Baywave Squad Entry Fee (now included in the session cost)

Note: If your player has a Baywave aquatic membership, please provide the membership details. The $4.50 squad fee can be removed from the session cost if the membership is active for the entire term.

Billing Details:

• Squad training fees are charged at the beginning of each term.
• Fees apply regardless of attendance, as the club incurs fixed costs.

Optional Activities

Optional clinics, special events, additional tournaments, and training sessions will be invoiced separately.

We’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead! If you have any questions or need further details, please don’t hesitate to reach out.