Christmas Holidays!
Training times for Christmas are as follows.
Junior sessions
The final junior session before Christmas is Thursday 16th December. All sessions until this date are as normal.
Junior sessions resume on Tuesday 11th January (BRA) and Thursday 13th (Falls).
Senior sessions
The final senior session before Christmas is Thursday 16th December. All sessions until this date are as normal.
Senior sessions resume on Tuesday 11th January (Lisnasharragh).
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!
Return to water - Spring 2021
Information on returning to the pool in Spring 2021 including COVID-19 precautions and training times for junior and senior players.
The club will return to indoor water polo training from the week beginning Monday 24 May 2021. Below you’ll find information on junior and senior training along with guidance on COVID-19 measures, which are required by the pool operators and our governing body, Swim Ireland.
The information on training covers the period from 24 May 2021 to the beginning of July 2021. We will circulate information about training over the summer in June. At the moment it is our intention to take a short break over the July holiday and to offer a junior session throughout the remainder of July and August.
COVID-19 measures
Prior to attending the first session, senior players or parents / guardians of juniors must complete the return to water self declaration form. If a form has not been completed the player will not be allowed to participate.
Prior to attending every session and on the day of the session (no later than 3pm), senior players or parents / guardians of junior players must complete the health screening questionnaire. If a form has not been completed the player will not be allowed to participate.
Each session will be overseen by a trained club Covid-19 officer.
Players must arrive with their togs on under their clothes and change on the bank.
Players who are over the age of 13 must wear face masks when entering and exiting the leisure centre.
Players must bring their own goggles.
Players may use the changing facilities before exiting the leisure centre.
Parents / guardians are not allowed to enter the leisure at present but we are seeking clarification on this point
Seniors
Senior sessions will resume in the Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre on Tuesday 25 May 2021 at 9.00 to 10.00pm. The training is open to all players wishing to train with and compete for the senior team in the coming 2020/2021 season.
Training will be water polo focused and include a mixture of drills, tactics and match play. It’s hoped that we can organise some friendly matches over this period.
Juniors
Junior sessions will resume in the Falls Leisure Centre for all age groups from FUNdamental to U17 on Thursday 27 May 2021. The sessions will include swimming and water polo drills and may include some match play. Training times are as follows:
FUNdamental: 7.00 to 7.30
U9: 7.00 to 7.45
U11: 7.30 to 8.30
U13: 7.45 to 8.45
U15 and U17: 8.45 to 9.45.
Open water activities
We’re organising a series of open water activities for junior members this summer. More information is available on the open water activities news page.