Gungahlin Dragons Water Polo Club

Statement from Water Polo ACT President about ACT representative teams:

I would like to clarify WPACT's views on the selection of representative teams to national and state championships.

National championships:

WPACT has regional entry rights which means that regardless of how many teams and seeding of teams, we will always have a spot at all junior age national championships. This applies across all age groups from unrestricted entries (14/under) to restricted team entries (18/under) where only 12 teams are allowed to compete (i.e. 12 male and 12 female). At the current time WPACT feels that it is appropriate to send representative teams and not nominate club teams to these championships to preserve our entry rights. This also provides an elite pathway for those athletes with ambitions for national identification and the opportunity for ACT to achieve good results at the national level (as the 16/under girls achieved this year).

State level (NSW championships):

In alignment with the development pathway, WPACT sees this as an opportunity for clubs to aspire to enter teams at both the state and country championships. This decision has been made with the interests of both club and player development. As part of our strategic vision and in cooperation with WPNSW, it is envisaged that for all NSW  championships, WPACT will endeavor to encourage club teams to enter where possible. The over-riding  factor is that if a club can enter a team, that it will not impact too detrimentally on players from other clubs. If a club is in a position to enter a team but it leaves the other ACT clubs without enough players or with players that are sub-standard for the level of competition, then in the best interests of all concerned, the club entry will not endorsed and an ACT team will be entered. If however there is the option for the other clubs to combine and form a competitive team, then this is the preferred option. This has been the case with the 16/under boys for the upcoming NSW championships. Besides providing opportunity for those players who might not otherwise have made the representative team, it also gives players more pool time and the chance to play more minutes against quality opposition.

Please understand that this model is preferred to entering two ACT teams. Besides giving the clubs an identity at state competitions, it is also less of a strain on resources whereby two rep coaches and managers  would need to be appointed. It would be assumed the club entered would have these officials in place to administer their own team. Note that this model already exists and has been in place for a long time with senior competition.

Fears that players from one age group and gender will all leave to join the stand-alone club which had entered the competition are unfounded. The survival of our competition and the clubs relies upon the integrity of clubs to not 'poach' players with the sole intention of perhaps winning a NSW title. This would decimate the local competition and ultimately negatively impact upon player and club development. We are also invited to play in NSW tournaments and their competitions committee has the right to accept or refuse our entries. If we were to send strong ACT teams when we could be sending club teams, we could well find that all ACT teams would be prohibited from entering future NSW competitions.

As always myself and members of the WPACT board are willing to listen and provide answers to any comments and concerns regarding representative teams.

John Fox
President, Water Polo ACT