IN CAMP WITH THE AUSTRALIAN YOUTH MEN’S SQUAD

Following the first week of competition at the 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC), the Australian Youth men’s and women’s squads came together for their first training camp of 2023.

Under the guidance of head coaches Andras Jo-Kovacs (men) and Taryn Woods (women), the squads put their rivalries aside in  a training camp environment as they continue to work towards the 2024 World Aquatics Water Polo Youth Championships.

Jo-Kovacs said although it was a big week of training and he’s proud of the determination and hard work he’s seen from the group.

“The boys are pretty exhausted, but they are not losing focus and I’m really proud of them for that,” Jo-Kovacs said.

“They are putting in 100% effort and improving day by day, so it’s been a great camp as we continue to build the future of the Aussie Sharks.

“Camps like this are good for the boys to experience high performance environments, pick up new skills and learn from each other,” he said.

Jo-Kovacs said it’s also been great to have Aussie Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill and Junior Men’s Head Coach Vedran Cirkovic in camp.

“It’s possibly one of the most important things for the boys, they can show themselves to the Aussie Sharks coaches,” Jo-Kovacs said.

“It’s been great to have Tim and Vedran visiting our sessions and getting involved. The boys have been so happy to have them around.Tim talking to them individually as well means a lot to the boys,” he said.

Australian Men’s Youth squad members Rex Palazzi (NSW) and Lucas Young (NSW) said it’s been a great opportunity to continue to learn and develop.

“It’s been tough and strenuous, but it’s been good to keep the training load up,” Young said.

“Especially coming off a tournament that we just had at the AYWPC, it’s pretty hard to keep pushing but we’re getting it done,” Palazzi added.

“It’s good to come back together after playing against each other last week, we’re all mates and it’s a good group that we have,” Young said.

“You’re always mates out of the water, there’s always going to be rivalries in the water but whatever happens in the water stays in the water,” he said.

Young and Palazzi said it’s also been a good opportunity to get to know and learn from new Australian Youth Men’s Head Coach Andras Jo Kovacs, as well as Aussie Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill.

“Andras is a very experienced coach, it’s good working under him - he knows a lot and I’ve learnt a lot of new things from him this week,” Young said.

“It’s good to be coached by different people, who show us new ways to play water polo too,” Palazzi said.

“Tim (Hamill) being here too is a big help, it really makes you work harder towards the goal of playing for the Aussie Sharks,” he said.

“Having him (Tim) around shows that he cares about the development of juniors and getting us ready for that senior level,” Young added.

Looking to the future, Palazzi and Young said there’s plenty of goals to work towards, including the 2024 World Aquatics Youth Water Polo Championships and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

“It’s an amazing opportunity - to play at an Olympic Games is a goal for a lot of the boys in this camp and getting to play at a home Olympics would be an amazing achievement and opportunity,” Young said.

“We’ve also got a World Youth Championships coming up next year, so that’s a big goal to work towards,” Palazzi added.

“We’ve got plenty to keep training hard for so we can always be ready,” he said.