Report on visit to Scotland GB Water Polo Staff - June 2006

 by The Club was well represented at the Meeting held on Wednesday 14 June 2006 with Nick Hume, GB Performance Director, Craig Figes, National Development
Officer & Sarah Dunsbee, National Administrator. All three also visited the Club on Thursday 16 June 2006 and reported a very positive response from the Management at HMS Cochrane.

At the meeting Nick outlined the current plans to move GB Water Polo forward as they seek to become more competitive as the London Olympics come closer
and discussions took place in particular the following issues -

>>> The creation of R.T.C.'s in Scotland is a fundamental requirement to bringing Scotland into the GB Development set-up which will offer the only route for young players to progress through the squad system. It would be a GB run course running for two / three blocks of ten weeks per year and would essentially be self-funding, the probable venue would be at Rosyth in the first instance. Alan Donaldson has offered to be the main Coach however an Administrator is urgently sought - the requirements are not
excessive and full support is provided by the GB Office. Age groups are likely to be National Academy, Youth & Junior although that has not yet been determined. The proposed start date is October 2006 and ultimately if we cannot get our act together NOW we run the high risk of their being no future funding for the sport in Scotland.
Currently applications are also being invited from prospective Coaches / Managers for Millfield in August .

>>> Elite players have to be identified early, supported and ultimately they would have to consider relocating to the proposed National Performance Centre at Manchester where support can be centralised and Players can live and work together. Applications for a Senior Men's / Ladies' coach are currently being processed.

>>> The current competitive structure within Scotland (what there is) will have to be revised with the Scottish WP Budget directed primarily towards grass roots and supporting identified elite players in the GB Squads.

>>> Money for a Senior team is unlikely to be forthcoming as the current Budget is mostly ring-fenced towards Development and is too small in any case - Senior men's players will have to realise that they will not be given a budget for them then to look at spending - they would have to organise themselves, self-fund sessions etc. formulate a programme then seek funding for it. The Ladies have been doing this for some years it is about time that the Senior Men took some positive action as a group, If they want
International Polo they have to do it themselves!

>>> Getting through to anti-waterpolo Swimming coaches was discussed but no solution was offered

>>> A Development Officer is still planned for some time in the future and Scottish Swimming plan to launch a water polo initiative later on this year with Local Authorities.

>>> A Development plan is being prepared although concern was raised that no Clubs have either been involved in the process or been provided with information on it to date.

Most of the issues raised were discussed during Nick's last visit a few years ago - it is vital that action is taken NOW by all involved in Scottish Water polo.
 

Brian Campbell