15&U SET TO GET FIRST TASTE OF NATIONAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 15&U and 17&U Female National State Championships will kick start the return of the National State Championships on the Gold Coast as juniors from around the country prepare for their first taste of representative water polo.

With the age groups modified for the one-off Summer Slam earlier in the year, the 15&U age divisions present an opportunity for the next generation of water polo players to represent their state.

Having had limited access to interstate competition, South Australia 15&U Female Head Coach Sarah Fleming said her team are looking forward to the trip to the Gold Coast.

“The team is very excited to be traveling to the Gold Coast to compete in the National State Championships,” Fleming said.

“This is a competition the girls have been working very hard towards, and they are thrilled to be getting the opportunity to play as a team for South Australia.

“For many of these girls, it will be their first National Championships, as some of them were unable to compete at the last one due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

After weeks of training in South Australia, Fleming said her team are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

“Training preparations have been going very well, and for this competition we also set up a new structured training with the 15&U boys,” Fleming said.

“This has allowed us to break down tactics and allow the athletes to play games against one another and build team skills.

“We are looking forward to hopefully some warmer weather in Queensland, and for many of us this will be a first time playing water polo on the Gold Coast so we’re looking forward to playing at a new pool,” she said.

Also making the long trip up the east coast will be Tasmania, but 15&U representative Keeley Saunder said her team are excited for it.

“Travelling for competitions is very rewarding for us, as we are able to learn new tactics and approaches to gameplay from other states,” Saunder said.

“Our last national competition was very challenging, both physically and mentally, which motivated us to train harder so we can face these nationals confidently.

“Our team has also been lucky enough to have been in contact with some of the Aussie Stingers, who inspired us to alter our mindset in order to have a positive time on the Gold Coast,” she said.

In terms of toughest opposition, Saunder said there are a few but they’ll be ready for it.

“The Queensland teams were our toughest competitors at the 2022 Summer Slam, and will undoubtedly be a tenacious team once again,” Saunder said.

“Western Australia are a team we are yet to face, which is both nerve wracking and exciting as they will bring a new style of gameplay for us to learn from,” she said.

15&U ACT Head Coach Don Cameron said the National State Championships will be a good check in for his team to assess their off season progress.

“We’re excited to be able to play some challenging opponents to gauge the progress the team has made,” Cameron said.

“There has been a strong commitment of a core of very motivated players who have really stepped up their conditional and technical preparations.

“The girls have been working consistently hard over winter and we’re looking forward to putting that into play on the Gold Coast,” he said.

When it comes to rivals, Cameron said he believes that they’re toughest opponents are those closest to home.

“We believe our greatest rival is ourselves,” Cameron said.

“We must keep positive, follow our game plans, maintain our skills standards and not get too caught up with who we’re playing against.

“We’re hoping for a very competitive event, to be played in good spirits and enjoyed by everyone, including parents, spectators and officials,” he said.

The 2022 15&U and 17&U Female National State Championships gets underway on the Gold Coast from Saturday Saturday 24 to Tuesday 27 September.

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KommunityTV - Broadcast Schedule for the 15&U and 17&U Female National State Championships

Saturday, September 24

9am: U15s, NSW Blues v Victoria Navy

10am: U15s, WA Gold v QLD Gold

11am: U15s, QLD Maroon v WA Black

Midday: U15s, NSW Waratahs v ACT

1pm: U15s, QLD Gold v NSW Blues

2pm: U15s, Tasmania v Victoria Navy

3pm: U15s, ACT v QLD Maroon

4pm: U15s, South Australia v WA Black

Sunday, September 25

8am: U17s, Barbarians Blue v TAS/ACT

9.10am: U17s, NSW Blues v QLD Gold

10:20am: U17s, South Australia v NSW Waratahs

11:30am: U17s, QLD Maroon v WA Gold

12:40pm: U17s, WA Black v QLD Gold

1:50pm, U17s,  Barbarians Blue v NSW Blues

3pm: U17s, Victoria Silver v WA Gold

4:10pm: U17s, South Australia v QLD Maroon

Monday, September 26

8am: U15s, WA Gold v Tasmania

9am: U15s, QLD Gold v Victoria Navy

10am: U17s, WA Gold v South Australia

11.10am: U17s, NSW Waratahs v Victoria Silver

12:20pm, U15s finals, 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B

1:20pm, U15 finals, 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A

2:20pm: U17s finals, 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B

3:30pm: U17s finals, 1stt Pool B v 2nd Pool A

Tuesday, September 27

9.30am: U15s bronze medal: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2

10.30am: U15s gold medal, Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

Midday: U17s bronze medal, Loser SF1 v Loser SF2

1:10pm, U17s gold medal, Winner SF1 v Winner SF2