May: Blood, Sweat and Waterpolo

Winter Season Starts

The cold might be setting in but Stingers are bringing the heat this season. Metro games have started this week and team training is back on Saturday. Swim fitness might be a shock to the system this first week back, keep that in mind and have a go at a few swim sets during the season. Send a selfie to your team from the pool to keep everyone accountable.

Intra Season starts this Sunday May 24th, FB team chats will be created soon. We’ve just finished graduating the March 26’ boot camp so you’ll see some new faces this season. Please say hello and give them a hand at training and in games. 

Sweat with Pride

This June we are having another crack at Sweat with Pride! Funds support Rainbow Giving Australia and ACON. If you got some spare cash please consider donating to our team. 

Blood Donation - More Changes and National Donor Week

Fruit Juice, a queer-led blood and plasma donation team (recently featured on SBS Aus, TDA & more) that’s passionate about donor equality in Australia. With the recent changes to donation eligibility, we finally have an opportunity to help more members of our communities roll up their sleeves and be recognised as the lifesavers they’ve always been.

For years, many LGBTQIA+ people – especially gay, bi, and queer men, and trans and non-binary people – have been excluded from donating, regardless of their actual risk or desire to help. These new rules - implemented last year with the Plasma Pathways and again on April 20 with more of our community able to donate whole blood.

Fruit Juice has organised with Lifeblood a big donation day on Sunday 14 June at Marrickville Donor Center to mark both Pride Month and National Blood Donor Week. Sign up here to book your spot and give life. 

Trivia

We are looking for someone to manage Trivia night this year. Make it a night how you see, you have some flexibility and always a team of helpers. Please contact President Beck if you fit the job. 

Boot Camp

Boot camp is doneski for another season. You’ll see some graduates on Sundays. Give them a hand and drag them to the pub after :)

25 Years Celebration Night

This year is the quarter century celebration of the Sydney Stingers. We’ll be hosting a night out on the town. For now, book us in your calendar for 29 August, and more details will come. 

World Cup 2026

Sydney is hosting the 2026 World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup at Homebush between 20-26th July. Lets get together and see how the pros do it!

The Aussie Stingers beat Greece (current world cup holders), Japan and Greece again in the Division 1 rounds in Rotterdam in the lead up to the World Cup Finals held in Sydney.

Sharks scored a few wins against Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine and Singapore to Finish up 5th in Division 2. After that crackin’ performance in Malta they’ll Qualify for the World Cup Finals alongside the Aussie Stingers.

The Stingers will be there — and we want you with us.

We have been in conversation with Water Polo Australia about the Stingers having a presence at WC26. More details to come, but we’ll need Stingers volunteers to help run our space across the event week. If you are keen to be part of the crew, keep an eye out for more information coming very soon!

Stingers Key Dates.

Keep an eye out for your teammates as Stingers set out for world domination! We'll be battling it out in the pool and attending these events:

• Winter Metro - started
• Winter Intra - 1st Game 24 May
• Valencia Gay Games 2026 - 27th June - 5th July 2026
• 25 Years Celebration Night - 29th August 2026
• Rainbow Cup - September 2026

General Information:

• If you have Facebook, please join our Stingers Members Page, where you can keep up to date with announcements.
• See the Member Zone for club information
• Check out the Club Calendar for upcoming events and the training plan, you can also subscribe to the calendar on your phone using the link provided
• Make a tax deductible donation today to benefit the club.  
• If you’re interested in blowing a whistle, we’d love to hear from you! Take a look at Referee Info for next steps.

May Swim Set:

The weather is miserable anyways, may as well get in the pool.

Total Time: 45min

Total Distance: 1.6 km

Warm Up: 

100 Free, 100 IM, 100 Free

200m kick/drill

Main Set:

Repeat 3 times: 

4x50 - hard, 50 sec. 

100 - moderate on 1:50. 

30 sec rest.

Cool down: 200m

Notes:

• Adjust the times to suit you, but still aim to push yourself. Suggestions:
  • A bit easier: add 5 to 10s on the suggested times per 50m.
  • A bit harder: minus 5 to 10s on the suggested times per 50m or add 2 more distance intervals (e.g where it says 6x100m do 8 of them.)
• 50m Pool: add 5sec per 50m
• Send your team a selfie with you at the pool after your set! Be the fitspo to my DMs :) 
• Splashproof and reuse the set - write it up with crayon (or pencil) on waxy baking paper, pat dry and keep in your bag for next time.