🏊‍♂️ Northern Suburbs Schools Water Polo – Secondary Competition

Term 2, 2026 Season Overview

The Northern Suburbs Schools Water Polo Secondary Competition is one of the longest‑running school water polo competitions in New South Wales. Over many decades it has provided a pathway for thousands of young athletes — including numerous Australian representatives and even a handful of Olympians. For many of them, this is where it all began.

While the sport has evolved and more children are now entering water polo at younger ages, the Schools Competition continues to play a vital role in player development. It offers something unique:

• the chance to play alongside school friends,

• opportunities for leadership,

• and the experience of mentoring younger or less‑experienced teammates.

These are skills that extend far beyond the pool.

📅 2026 Competition Timing

The 2026 Schools Competition will commence in Term 2. Below are the current proposed dates, noting that the competition structure is under review and dates may be subject to change.

🏊‍♂️ School & Individual Entries – 2026 Northern Suburbs Schools Water Polo

In previous years we’ve welcomed teams from Riverview, Forest High, Balgowlah Boys, Stella Maris, St Luke’s, Pymble Ladies’ College, Redlands, Pittwater House, and St Andrew’s Cathedral School. Many of these schools have been long‑standing contributors to the competition’s success, and we’re excited to continue building on that tradition.

If you know of any other schools — public, private, boys, girls, or co‑ed — who may be interested in joining, please feel free to pass on my details or forward theirs to me. We’re always keen to open new conversations and expand opportunities for students across the Northern Suburbs.

Register Teams by clicking on this link - 2026 Northern Suburbs Schools Competitions Team Entry - "The Water Polo School" - revolutioniseSPORT

👥 Individual Registrations & Composite Teams

For 2026, we are also opening individual registrations for students whose schools:

• do not offer water polo as a sport, or

• do not have enough players to form a full team.

These players will be placed into composite/grouped school teams, ensuring everyone has the chance to participate.

Eligibility Notes

• Students from schools that already offer water polo and compete in another competition — such as Shore, Riverview, or Monte — are not eligible to register as individuals.

• However, if those schools wish to enter an official school team into this competition, they are absolutely welcome.

• Club representative teams will not be accepted.

• NAGP athletes may only participate if they are playing with their school team, not in a composite team.

• The focus remains firmly on school‑based, participation‑driven water polo.

📝 If Your School Isn’t Entering a Team

Students whose schools are not entering a team but who still wish to play are encouraged to register individually. We will ensure they are placed in an appropriate composite team so they can enjoy the season.

🤝 Let’s Rebuild the Competition Together

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please reach out at any time. I’m committed to bringing the competition back to its pre‑COVID strength, and that only happens when our community works together.

Looking forward to a fantastic 2026 season.

Proposed Competition Structure - subject to review

Options for consideration are:

1.  Keep the same as in previous years

• Opens on Fridays - Term 2
• Inters on Mondays - across Term 2 & Term 3
• Year 7 on Fridays - Term 3
   

2.  Move "Opens" to Wednesday evenings  and keep Inters and Juniors as is
    
3.  Remove the "Opens" competition altogether
    
4. Change Year Groups - Keeping Inters on Monday's  across Term 2 and Term 3 and Juniors on Friday's in Term 3
       Inters - Years 8, 9 & 10
1.  Div 1 - Experienced (in larger pool - 7 in the water at any one time - 6 field + 1 GK)
2.  Div 2 - Beginner -  (in smaller pool - 6 in the water at any one time - 5 field + 1 GK)
   (Note - If we do divisions we need a maximum of 4 boys teams and 4 girls team for each division = 16 teams that fill the timeslots for each pool, each evening.) 

 

As you can appreciate the running of these competitions and programs takes a lot of work and we have many people involved behind the scenes and on pool deck.

Whilst i have done everything in my power to keep all the fees down, as over the past few seasons, we have not met our target entries, which subsequently has meant, The Water Polo School has been subsiding the running costs of the competition, which we can no longer provide.  In addition, we have had big increases in insurance, staffing and pool hire and for this season, we are introducing an annual membership joining fee of $25 per player (+ processing fees we are charged) to assist with covering our insurance component of the fee, which has previously been absorbed in the competitions and program fees. 

This once a year fee, will be due and payable at the time of renewing your membership as a "RETURNING MEMBER" or for those signing up as a "NEW MEMBER".  Schools who register their players, will be invoiced this $25 levy per player separately.  On registering your team to enter the competition an invoice will be generated.  Please note, if players are already register with "The Water Polo School" from competitions and programs in Term 4, 2025 they will not be required to pay this fee when joining their school team.  Click on the link below to RENEW membership or register as a NEW member:

Membership - Registration - Northern Beaches Water Polo Academy - - revolutioniseSPORT

Depending on the number of team entries, will determine the actual number of rounds for each competition.

Please contact Paula Woolley, should you have any further questions, queries or concerns.

M:  0409905501

E:  nbwaterpoloa@gmail.com