Our vision is to provide an environment where athletes can progress to the very top of the sport, if they desire, and where they can enjoy a healthy life long affiliation with the sport whatever their aspirations. Our aim, therefore, is to develop a complete athlete: With a focus on physical preparation and a healthy mind-set alongside protecting young athletes bodies during rigorous training (as all training puts strain on the body) and doing our best to prevent injuries.

Starter Sessions: Provide an introduction to Water Polo.  Learning basic skills & techniques in exercises and game play.  Emphasis on FUNdamentals.

Mini: Following successful completion of a starter course, or an 8 week introduction period, athletes will then move into the Mini Water Polo squad.  This is based in shallow water at Henbury and deep water at Hengrove and will progress the basic skills, techniques and game play.  The transition from Mini to Junior Development is based upon the athlete’s progression.  To progress into the Junior Development squad the athlete needs to be competent in deep water.  Mini Polo squads will compete in internal games and against other clubs at a similar level where possible. Ideally, we would like athletes to complete all of the weekly sessions to enable them to progress to the Junior Development Squad.  We will introduce formal warm up techniques and more technical, as well as some tactical, development in the water.

Junior Development:  Athletes will progress from the Mini Squad based on their personal development and when the coaches feel that are able to cope with the demands of the Junior Development sessions. Thes sessions continue to develop the core skills and techniques as well as game play tactics.  Learning to play through structured game play. Junior Development squad members have 3 sessions available to them and we would like those in the Junior Development squad to be completing 3 sessions, wherever possible. These squads will incorporate a regular land warm up prior to the session and will also develop stretching and cool down procedures, therefore the athletes are required to be changed and on poolside 15 minutes prior to the session start time.

Junior Squad: Once selected to the Junior squad, there will typically be a transition period from the Junior Development squad.  The Junior squads (A & B) compete in the Bristol & West league.  There are also regional and national competitions for the club, which we will enter when we have numbers in the age group that are competitive.  As they become competent, they will be invited to attend specific senior men and women’s sessions where appropriate, with the goal being competition representing the senior teams. There will be continuing development of both the dry warm up and stretching / cool down for the Junior squad.  All sessions should be completed, wherever possible, to allow progression of both the individual athlete and the team as a whole.  The sessions will continue to develop the core skills and will focus on applying these skills in game play, including tactical awareness and implementation. Junior athletes will also be expected to complete extra swimming, land training and stretching.

Ladies Squad: Our female athletes tend to be integrated earlier, often while still juniors, into the senior Women’s
team.  Plenty of competition opportunities exist with the team competing in the local (BWWPL) league and the national British League. All sessions should be completed, wherever possible, to allow progression of both the individual athlete and the team as a whole.  The sessions will continue to develop the core skills and will focus on applying these skills in game play, including tactical awareness and implementation. Additionally, fitness and strength training sessions, as well as any maintenance / rehab sessions, are to be completed in the athletes own time.  The senior Women are competing the highest level of competition in the UK, and fitness / strength are basic requirements so that tactical and technical water polo can be focussed on in the squad sessions.

Senior Development: Junior athletes deemed to be capable, by the coaching team, of coping with the physicality of training with the Men’s squads will be invited into the Senior Development Squad.  Once out of junior squads, due to age, athletes will transition through this squad to the senior Men’s squad. Training with these squads will continue to develop / refine core skills and their application in game situations as well as technical, tactical and mental skills.  Continuing development of land training including strength development and specific Pre-Hab / Re-Hab work.

Men A Squad: The Mens A squad has a very proud history of competition in the UK, being British Champions and British league Champions many times in recent history (3^rd in 2016!) and have represented GBR in European competition on many occasions.  We have a history of developing senior international athletes and we are committed to continuing this tradition! The pathway into the Senior Men’s squad is from the Senior Development squad and we are already seeing many junior athletes make the step up to training with the men and competing for the senior squads.  The physical preparation, as detailed in the junior and younger squads, is required to compete at this level. Athletes will complete sessions as detailed below including land warm up and cool down / stretching.  Additionally, fitness and strength training sessions, as well as any maintenance / rehab sessions, are to be completed in the athletes own time.  Senior men in the A Squad are competing the highest level of competition in the UK, and fitness / strength are basic requirements so that tactical and technical water polo can be focussed on in the squad sessions.

Men B Squad: The B squad provides an alternative pathway to continue playing senior water polo, without having to follow the programme to compete in the premier UK competitions.  Therefore, the training is similar for this squad, but can be completed at a lower level and without requiring the additional sessions.  The squad competes in the Bristol & West league and cup competitions as well as any other appropriate competitions. The sessions for this squad, which still include land warm up and stretching, are enough to compete at this level.  Athletes in the B squad can step up to the A squad, when they are willing and able to make the step up to the more demanding training regime.

COMPETITION STRUCTURE: CoB currently compete in the following regional and national competitions:

British League - National level competition. Our Men’s and Women’s teams compete in this competition.

Bristol & West Water Polo league - 

• Our Men’s A and Barbarians teams compete in the Premier Men’s division.
• Our Harlequins team compete in Division 2.
• Our Women compete in the Women’s division.
• We have 2 Junior teams, our A team in the first division and B team in the second division.

National Age Groups - We also enter Junior teams into the National Age Group (NAG’s) competitions as and when we have the strength and depth in numbers to compete.

Our younger players compete in intra-club games and also games with similar level clubs / schools in order to get used to competition.