GSWP 68 – Some good water polo news from the East

To all water polo complainers… Please note this good news story from the East Rand.

Ms Helen Keller, was once asked what the worst thing was, in her opinion, besides the blindness that she was suffering from… her answer…”To have perfect sight but no vision”

She might have been referring to constrained persons who see things as they are and ask why? Why do we not get money from SSA for development? Why do we not get TV coverage of water polo? Sound familiar?

In direct opposition unconstrained persons see things as they could be and ask …why not. Like the story below…Well done William, Bones and Jonel! Keep up the good work!

Yours in polo
Marius Buys
Chairman Gauteng Schools Water Polo
7 November 2008
076 800 6983
buysm@stdavids.co.za

The new dawn of flipper / splash polo.

Stingray aquatics and Olympian water polo joined forces at the start of the season. Both our clubs were on the point of extinction. Most of the swimmers left due to the Boksburg indoor heated pool not being heated and very green during winter. Olympian water polo got to the stage where the average age of the players in our side was 57 years of age. We started the swimming season off with 5 swimmers and no old men down to train. (Old men say they don’t train… they just play). “Now what?”

After hours of soul searching between Jonel Enslin ,swimming coach, and myself, me being the polo thinker, came up with the idea of flipper polo. Now as we all know water polo and swimming coaches are not the best of friends. We treaded around each other for Sep / Oct. No plan to put into action. Still 5 swimmers no old men.

So unbeknown to her, I got hold of the local newspaper and did a press release about flipper polo, swimming and the history of Brakpan to both forms of the sport. (No 1 water polo team in S A in the 80’s 9 springboks in the side).

Last Friday in October, I sat down after work, picked up the local Brakpan herald, and, as most males do, turned to the back sports page. Walla! Flipper polo took up the whole back page! Naught was left to do but wait for a million kids to phone and join.

We started off with 5 kids on our first day which was disappointing to say the least. 3 training sessions later we are now at 19, with 3 more hopefuls and six little youngsters from the local informal settlement. We have 3 coaches, Bones Loyd, his water polo assistant and Jonel on the swimming coaching side. The response from the kids was: “I have never had so much fun Sir! Can I bring my friend, brother and sister tomorrow?” And so began the phenomenal growth in our regenerated club.

We started off with all age groups playing apart. It soon came to our attention that you can’t leave a few 7/8 year olds alone in the pool as they all want the ball. Stop. NEW PLAN! We joined all the age groups together. Older boys (10 to 12) have a better idea of spreading the ball wide and finding the openings. The little ones quickly picked up on their game plan. By the end of the fourth practice a fair game of water polo was being played by all.

Swimming coaching is done during practice, 4 at a time, with the rest of the competitive, grown up, swimmers. We would love for other clubs and schools to follow our example, so we can start a little league between clubs and schools. We are also thinking of having a 2/3 day swimming /water polo camp at our pool in December for interested kids (Age 7 to 12) to grow the sport.

Flipper polo anyone? We would gladly like to interact with any other interested people. Costs involved to date in setting up the club.

1: 15 mini balls R 20 each
2: 15 yellow swimming caps R49 each.
3: whistle x 3 R 21
4: PVC goals of 1900mm x 700mm for about R400
5: A set of water polo caps with numbers on.

And so… In the spirit of Christmas to come….what we are looking for is sponsors. Our funds are quite limited and we will take anything toward the ideal of R500 per child per month that is set out in the cost breakdown below:

1) TAXI TO AND FROM POOL. PRESENTLY WALKING.
2) SUPPER AFTER GAME. PARENTS ARE NOT WORKING.
3) CLUB SUBS.
4) SWIMMING ATTIRE.
5) A BIT OF A LIFE IN AN OTHERWISE DISMAL WORLD.

REGARDS WILLIAM TEMPLETON. 082 569 5975.
JONEL ENSLIN 072 348 0793.