Whats Happened:

Autumn Tournie

Stingers showed up for a melee at our welcome to winter Medieval Fayre! Start of season tournies like these are a perfect way for the club to mingle, prepare and impress, showing off all the hard work coaches put into us. Stingers thank thee folk Beck, Hollee and Fletch for setting an order and decree for the days doings, and Sir Kirkwood for the team photo. We'll let you know when the website has been finished with its updates!

Whats On:

Support the Sydney Stingers – Become a Donor Today!

The Sydney Stingers are one of the most recognisable clubs in both the LGBTQIA+ and water polo communities. We proudly compete all year round, promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport, and host community events with our amazing partners. But to continue doing all this — and more — we need help from those who can.

As you may know, we’ve partnered with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) to launch a new donations program. This means any donation you make to the Stingers through ASF is tax deductible* and directly supports our programs, competitions, and community outreach.

To guide this initiative, we’re introducing donation recognition levels — giving our supporters clarity on how their contributions make an impact. This program is designed for those in our community (including friends and family) who are in a position to help and want to champion the Stingers’ mission. However, donations outside of these recognition levels are always welcome and enormously appreciated.

To show our appreciation, we’ll be offering non-material gifts and regular updates from our Treasurer about the positive impact your support has had. The program kicks off in FY25, just in time for donors to claim tax benefits ahead of the 2025 financial year-end!

Let’s secure the future of the Sydney Stingers together - visit us at https://www.revolutionise.com.au/sydneystingers/donate to donate today!

*You should consider obtaining your own tax, legal and accounting advice - the Sydney Stingers Inc do not provide tax or legal advice and this document does not constitute such advice

Sweat with pride

This June Rainbow Giving Australia is launching Sweat with Pride – a campaign where getting sweaty means saving lives. Funds raised support ACON, Minus18, and Rainbow Giving Australia’s national community grant program (you can see our recent grantees here).

It’s simple: teams commit to 21 minutes of movement a day for 30 days during June (Pride Month), raise money for vital LGBTQIA+ health and wellbeing services, and have a whole lot of sweaty fun along the way. Any form of 'sweat' counts! It could be swimming, waterpolo, walking, dancing, walking, whatever! Join our Stingers Team and get sweating.

Winter Season Starting

Winter Metro is starting up 20/21st May. Team allocations have been emailed out, and you should added to your teams chat group if you have accepted. Saturday’s during winter will not be run as team trainings but as specialised skill sessions with guest coaches. Watch our FB page for details/

Intra will be starting back with Round 1 on 25th May. Playing at Intra is a perfect opportunity to build up your skills, especially if you've just graduated bootcamp. The comp brings a wide range of the club together to develop the game and keep us all together through the winter. And a bevvy & schnitty at the pub after :)

Rainbow Grudge Match - Perth is Closer then DC!

The next Rainbow Grudge Match will be hosted by Perth on Saturday 22nd November. On Sunday 23rd is Perth Fair Day, stay the week then march with Perth White Pointers in the Pride Parade on 29th November. Why not a cheeky drink with Margaret in between? Fill out this EOI form if you're keen for any part of the trip. 

Something Helpful

Cozzie Livs is pinching the nation but don’t let it hit you! You can save almost 20% on the cost of entry into both Ryde and Gunyama pools by buying a 20 visit multipass. Talk to the front desk to purchase. 

Stingers On Tour

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:

• IGLA Washington DC, 2nd-6th June 2025 (during World Pride).
• Rainbow Grudge Match - 22nd November, 2025 - Perth
• Valencia Gay Games 2026, 27th June - 5th July 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
• Grab exclusive merch available on the Stingers Shop at bargain basement prices!

May Swim Set

Starting up for the new season again might bring a shock to your cardiovascular system. Remember our player-coach treaty: coaches reduce the swim set at training so we can focus on skills, but that means you're responsible for your own swim fitness.  Get in at least 1 session a week to keep up in your counterattack.

Total Time: 50min

Total Distance: 2.1km

Warm Up:

100 Free, 100 IM, 100 Free

400 IM Drill/Kick.

Main Set:

Times are for a 50m pool (times for a 25m pool in brackets). Choose start time so you using 75% effort with no more then 10 sec rest. Then decrease time by 5sec each 100m, by the 4th you should only just make the time.

Repeat 3 times:

4 x 100m Free

-1st on 1:55 (1:45sec)

-2nd on 1:50 (1:40sec)

-3rd on 1:45 (1:35sec)

-4th on 1:40 (1:30sec)

-1min rest, back to the start x 2.

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.