UPDATE : BRITISH MEN'S NATIONAL WATER POLO SQUADS

As many of you know, there have been major changes made to the structure of the men’s national teams. The decision to restructure the men’s programme was taken in order to fulfil directives that directly affect our present funding and future survival.

The changes have been made in order to make British water polo stronger and more competitive. Re-admittance into the senior European Championships in 2007 as a competitive team is the main priority. Along the way there are other major events which will be used as stepping stones to achieving that goal, such as the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

In accordance with the ASFGB remit that water polo must increase the training base of its elite players, it has been decided that in 2004 there will be two main squads instead of the previous three. The two squads will be :-

1) The Youth Squad: This will comprise players born 1987 and later. The intent is to educate our young players in the technical aspects of the sport and prepare them to become elite athletes. The training of the youth squad is two fold. Firstly, players will be expected to attend weekly regional training centre sessions, at which they will be taught the core skills and training fundamentals. Secondly, there will be national team training camps organised to support and extend the work of the regional training centres and these have been planned to coincide with school holidays. This squad will be coached by Tim Dunsbee and managed by Tim Legge. There will also be an additional coach for this squad (TBA).

2) The Top Squad: This will comprise players born 1985 and earlier. It will contain both ‘junior’ and ‘senior’ aged players. The focus of this squad in the immediate term is the junior squad and ensuring that the team does well in this, the second year of their two-year ' junior' cycle. Their European Championship qualification round is in May with the finals in September. The 'senior' players that join the squad will be required to commit to the increased intensity of the training based programme through to the completion of the junior programme and thereafter to the programme currently being developed to work towards the stated goals of the Commonwealth Games and European re-entry.

For players that wish to be considered for inclusion into the ‘top squad’, the coaches Norman Leighton, Jérôme Read along with Nick Hume, the National Performance Director, will be presenting the long, medium and short term plans for this squad. The training requirements, levels of commitment, upcoming training dates and competitions will also be identified.  This presentation will take place at 9.30-10.15 am at the first round of the British Championships, Salt Ayre Swimming Pool, Lancaster – Sunday 8th February 2004.

Players wishing further details should contact Howard Cartwright by email :- envelope.gif (852 bytes) HCartwright@bjhg.co.uk

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