When:

• Saturday 3 January - Monday, 5 January 2026
• From 8:30am each day

Where:

• Dawn Fraser Baths,
  Elkington Park (Fitzroy Avenue) Balmain

Who can play?

• Children born 2013 to born 2018. No water polo experience needed! (we will grade you)
   
• Groups/Clubs/Schools/Associations can enter a team (or multiple teams)
  • Teams can have 8-10 players.
  • There can be boys, girls or mixed teams.
     
• Individuals can enter and will be placed in a Barbarian or Harlequin team.
  • UTS BWPC will provide coaches for the Barbarian and Harlequin teams.
  • All individual players not registered with a Club will be registered with WPNSW through UTS BWPC as a Flippa Ball Player - part of their registration fee.

How are teams set up?

• Teams will be placed in divisions dependent on gender, age and experience.
  • Generally a boys, a girls and a mixed and younger division. (Younger teams - Pandora Division)
     
• Divisions will be decided by committee after the registration closing date.
   
• Teams will play round robin games and finals.
  • Each team will play a minimum of 7 games.
     
• Results and notifications will be available through the UTS BWPC 12s Carnival Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/utsbalmain12s/

Junior Referee Mentor Program:

• • For the older kids (Born 2012 and earlier), there is also an opportunity to learn the skills of refereeing and table official
     
  • Supported by Water Polo NSW Referees Association
     
  • Referees registration: $130  Closes 25 November 2025 unless sold out before
     
  • Includes a tournament Officials’ t-shirt .

And...

• There will be talks for competitors and their parents 
  Optional skills clinics run by Australian Waterpolo League players will be offered on Friday
• Each child will receive an online participation certificate.
• The Draw will be available for download on the website and Facebook page after 20 December

Cost:

• Team Entry 
  • $900 early bird discount (by 15 November 2025)
  • $950 (after 15 November and by 25 November 2025)
• Individuals wishing to be placed in a Barbarian/Harlequin team
  • $150
• Junior Referee Mentor Program
  • $140 - includes a t-shirt 
  • Please note - there are limited spaces in the Referee program. Registrations will close when capacity is reached

Entry Costs Cover:

• Pool entry for all 3 days for players & 1 official to Dawn Fraser Baths
   

• Referees & table officials
   

• Access to workshops for players & parents
   

• Program to download available online
   

Register Online:

There is a cap on total numbers. Make sure your club does not miss out. Register early and take advantage of early bird registration discounts until 15 November 2025.

Early Bird Registration closes (automatically) at midnight on 15 November 2025

Registrations close 25 November 2025 unless limits are reached earlier.

• •  
• Balmain Club Member Registrations

  • Register as a player (born 2013 to 2018), referee or coach >>  OPEN SOON

Payment:

• You can pay by credit card at registration. 
   
• You can pay by EFT and instructions for this are clearly stated at registration and on the generated invoice. 
   
• Payment must be made by the registration deadline. To be clear, registration is not complete until payment has been made.
   
• Priority will be given to teams by order of registration and payment.

Merchandise:

• Carnival Souvenir T-shirts
   
• Referee whistles & card sets
• Referee cards
   
• Size 3 and 4 balls
   

Timeline:

• 15 November - Early Bird Registration discount ends – $900 per team
   

• 25 November - Team /Individual/Referee Registration deadline - $950 per team, $150 per individual, $140 per referee
   

• 30 November 2025 - Team Lists due (we will email a team template spreadsheet for you to complete)
   

• 20 December 2025 - draw will be available online and on Facebook
   

• 3 January - 5 January 2026 - Balmain Water Polo Club 12s Carnival

Rules:

Short version:

• Playing field 20 metres length
• Size 3 ball

• 8-10 nominated players per team - 6 playing at any one time. Rotating goalkeeper. (Minimum of 8 players)

• Shot clock - 35 second possession time

• Exclusions - swim to exclusion zone then return to play

• No shot at goals from behind halfway

• No shots at goal from a free throw

Updated and more comprehensive version from the :

• Water Polo NSW rules with the following modifications...
• Pool length 20m – 2 fields to be used
• 6 players in the water – one goalie and 5 field players
• Ball size 3 used
• Maximum 10 players to be used per game, Minimum of 8. In the case of insufficient players, additional players will be allocated by the Carnival director.
• No player to play for 2 teams unless under the direction of Carnival director.
• Players and/or teams may be regraded at the discretion of the Carnival director
• Divisions may be mixed
• Any changes to players, cap numbers etc must be lodged with Control before games
• 35 second shot clock
• No 5 metre penalties
• No goals scored from free throws or from the defending half.
• Exclusion - move to allocated corner, touch marker & return to play
• Round games to be 7 minute halves with 2 minute break between 1st & 2nd halves.
• 4 minutes between games. Teams do not change ends at the end of halves. Referees do.
• Grand Finals to be 4 minute quarters with 1 minute break between 1st & 2nd Quarter and 3rd & 4th Quarter. 2 minute break at half time. 5 minutes break between games. Teams change ends at half time.
• Teams must be ready to start at allocated time. Both pools start simultaneously.
• Players must use the same number cap as in program for whole carnival i.e 2 -11.
• Goal keeper must be rotated. Goalkeeper’s Field cap number must be recorded on score card.
• First team mentioned on draw to wear white/light caps and start at pontoon/deck end of field.
• Teams to provide their own caps.
• All balls must be returned to crate at the conclusion of the game
• Each Team must nominate a MVP for opposition at conclusion of each game. 3 points & 1 point. Record under the opposing team list.
• All teams to play minimum of 7 games
• Carnival Officials will be in officials’ shirts
• The referee is always RIGHT !!!!

Contact:

• Carnival convenors: Ann-Marie Miranda & Cara O'Neill
   
• Email: 12s-carnival@balmainwaterpolo.com.au
   
• Official web page:https://sites.google.com/balmainwaterpolo.com.au/12scarnival2026/home
• Results and notifications: will be available through the Event website, Revolutionise &UTS BWPC 12s Carnival Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/utsbalmain12s/

Sun Safety:

• Pool is outdoor, sea water
• Shade is available
• Teams are encouraged to bring team 3 x 3m shades
   
• Unlimited sunscreen
   
• Water available

First Aid:

• Trained first aid staff at Dawny

Food and Catering:

• Breakfasts (bacon & egg rolls, fruit salad)
• Healthy lunch - chicken wraps, sausage sandwiches, sushi
• Snacks - homemade cakes slices etc, fruit juice ice blocks etc (and some fun food too – lollies !!)
• Pool kiosk also open offering coffee, cold drinks, slushees, hot chips, ice cream
• Coffee Cart - espresso coffee

Supporters:

The sponsors for the 2025 12s Carnival are:

DELFINA Sports - MAJOR SPONSORS

Referees program & Prizes

Our in-kind supporters for 2026 include

• Balmain Sports Medicine - workshops
• The Trophy Store - Awards
• Inner West Council - Dawn Fraser Baths