New season - junior sessions
Information on the new season including registration, training times, matches, communication, and club gear.
Meeting for junior parents
We are having a meeting for junior parents on Thursday 9 September at 7.15pm – 7.45pm in the Falls Leisure Centre.
The topics covered below will be discussed and it will be an opportunity to ask questions about these or any other matter. Coaches will be in attendance.
If you cannot attend but would like to discuss a matter please contact us.
Registration
Swim Ireland require us to register all members at the start of each season. The form is online and will be circulated in WhatsApp groups. It can be accessed on the download and links page. The deadline for registration is 30 September 2021.
Training
Training resumes on 9 September 2021 and will run this term until Thursday 23 December.
Times for Thursday night training this term are as follows:
FUNdamentals, U9s and U11s: 7.00 to 7.45
U13s and U15s: 7.45 to 8.45
U17s and U19s: 8.45 to 9.45
On Thursday 9 September for FUNdamentals, U9s and U11s we will be assessing ability for the purposes of delivering more focused swimming lessons.
If you are unsure what session your child should attend, please contact Ronan or Joe. Alternatively, attend the session your child has attended previously on the first training session back.
U13s and U15s
This term we plan to offer swim improvement sessions in BRA School Pool on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 to 8.30. These sessions will be led by a Swim Ireland qualified swimming coach and the primary focus will be on developing swimming ability and fitness. The sessions are open to children who can swim at least 25m front crawl. We would particularly encourage junior players in the U13 and U15 groups to attend.
There is no additional charge, provided that you pay on a monthly basis. When we have confirmed the pool booking we will let you know the start date.
U17s and U19s
U17s and U19s are invited to train at senior sessions in Lisnsharragh Pool on Tuesdays at 9pm to 10pm and the Grove Pool on Wednesdays at 8.00pm to 9.30pm. The junior players will take part in senior training but will perform drills and matches as a group, so far as possible; their coach will be in attendance.
Matches
National leagues and cups are organised by year of birth depending on when the match is played or competition begins. Ulster competitions tend to follow the relevant year of birth for Irish Cups taking place each season.
For example, in the 2021 / 2022 season the U13 Cup takes place in June 2022 and is open to players born 2009 or later (i.e. players who are aged 13 or under at the time). Given this, Ulster will arrange matches for players born 2009 throughout the 2021 / 2022 season.
The below are indicative dates for competitions / matches. When these games have been confirmed we will contact the relevant squads.
WhatsApp groups
Parents will be invited to join WhatsApp groups for the group in which their children train and compete. if you have not been invited, please contact us and let us know.
Volunteering opportunities
We have a number of positions that are traditionally occupied by parents of juniors. No prior experience (or understanding of the game) is necessary. Time commitments are minimal and training will be provided, where required.
Club children’s officer
Team managers
Covid officers / parents rota
If you would like to get involved please let us know.
Club gear
We will be organising a club order towards the end of September. Order forms will be distributed and clothing will be available to try (for size) on 23 and 30 September at the Falls Leisure Centre between 7.30 and 8.00.
Training - Summer 2021
Details of training over the summer period including a two week break in mid-July.
Seniors and juniors will take a two week break in July. Normally we break for longer (term time for juniors) but given the lack of time in the pool this year we are continuing sessions over the summer.
Juniors
The final session before the break is Thursday 8 July (Falls). First session back is Thursday 29 July (Falls).
Seniors
The final session before the break is Tuesday 6 July (Lisnasharragh). The first session back is Tuesday 27 July (Lisnasharragh).
When training resumes, the coaches will hold a meeting with all senior players to determine availability for the coming season. This is open to any player who has or would like to play senior water polo.
Open water summer activities for juniors
Information for open water events for juniors over the summer months including: an introduction to open water swimming; stand up paddle boarding; Camlough Lake Water Festival; and organized club swims.
This summer we’re offering a range of activities based around the open water. They are aimed at our junior members from ages 11/12 up to 18.
Our goal is to build confidence in the open water and develop it as an offering within our club over the summer months.
You can sign up for one of the activities or all of them, although we recommend that everyone attends the opening two sessions - an introduction to open water swimming.
Planned activities
An introduction to open water swimming at Crawfordsburn (late June / early July)
Standup paddleboarding - 19 July
Club swims (throughout August)
Camlough Lake Water Festival (13 to 15 August)
A visit to the Let’s Go Hydro Waterpark (late August)
Introduction to open water swimming
We start off with two one hour sessions in late June / early July. These will be delivered by the team from wildswim.ie . They’ll provide relevant info prior to sessions including their leaflet for participants: “what to expect & what to bring”. The sessions will include briefing, mixed swim/ games session, exit and debrief delivered by the two coaches.
12 to 18 years old
2 x 1 hour sessions
Crawfordsburn Country Park Beach
Tuesday evening, first session late June and second session early July
£5 per person for both sessions
The details above are provisional and subject to change depending on weather, temperature and tides.
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
Our SUP activity will take place on Monday 19 July at 6.30pm. It’s being delivered by SUP Hub NI who are based in Bangor. It will be a structured lesson with a bit it team building and completion thrown in. All equipment is provided, all you need is your togs, a towel and some sunscreen!
Interested?
If you’re interested in taking part we need to know by Tuesday 1 June.
If you have any questions then please give us a shout. You can contact us, email cuchulainn.waterpolo@gmail.com or drop Rónán or Joe a message.
When we have confirmed numbers we will be in touch with firm dates / times and ask people to commit to attending at that point.
What about the other activities?
We’re working to finalize details for the other activities. Some of this depends on government relaxing restrictions and some is dependent on events being organized (like the water festival at Camlough Lake).
If you want to stay informed, get in touch and we’ll make sure that the information gets to you when we have it!
Autumn blitzes
Information on autumn blitzes including dates and times.
Ulster Water Polo will be running the next round of junior Blitzes in the Grove Wellbeing centre, Shore road Belfast
The dates for the Autumn Junior blitzes are as follows
U9 mixed Born 2010 or later -8th Nov 7:30 - 9:00
U11 mixed Born 2008 or later -15th Nov 7:30 - 9:30
U13 mixed Born 2006 or later- 22nd Nov 7:30 - 9:30
U15 girls Born 2004 or later - 6th Dec 7:30 - 9:30
U15 boys Born 2004 or later- 13th Dec 7:30 - 9:30
When we have details of match times, we’ll post them here and on the relevant WhatsApp groups.
If you have any questions, contact us.
Fixtures just around the corner!
Information about the release of the 2019/20 fixture list, cup competitions and qualifying games.
Fixture list
The National Water Polo Committee has announced that the fixture list for the 2019/20 season will be announced on 1 September.
Key dates and venues
The following information has been announced regarding the Irish Cups, interprovincial games and invitational tournaments:
U15 Bridgestone Tournament - 28 and 29 September - Belfast (Falls and Grove)
Interprovincials - 2 and 3 November - Bangor (Aurora)
U19 Cup - 22 to 24 November - Limerick (University)
U17 Cup - 17 to 19 January - Belfast (Lisnasharragh)
Brother Philip Knockout Cup - 22 and 23 February, Limerick (University)
Irish Senior Cup - 23 to 25 April - Bangor (Aurora)
U15 Cup - 2 to 4 May - Galway
U13 Cup - 30 and 31 May - Dublin (NAC)
Irish Cup Competitions
Where there are more than 8 teams entered in a cup competition qualifier games will be played to select the final 8 teams. The four semi-finalists from last season will automatically qualify. This applies to U15, U17 and U19 Cups. There is no change to the qualifying process for the Irish Senior Cup.
Irish Senior Cup qualifying
Group A: Clonard, Drogheda, Half Moon
Group B: Cú Chulainn, Corrib
Boys U19 Cup qualifying
Group A: Cú Chulainn, Clontarf, Sandycove
Croup B: North Dublin, Cathal Brugha
Boys U17 Cup Qualifying*
Group A: Cú Chulainn, Cathal Brugha, Clontarf
Group B: Athlone, Drogheda
*Round Robin (single group of 5 round robin qualifying tournament)
Brother Philip Cup groups
Group A: Half Moon, Corrib, Cathal Brugha, Drogheda
Group B: Vincents, Sandycove, North Dublin