Sydney Northern Beaches 14&U Boys team didn’t let the holiday season stop training for the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) which begin in Brisbane this Saturday 12 January.

When their local pool hours changed due to Christmas holidays, the team led by head coach Scott Schweickle pushed ahead with preparations and turned to the great outdoors for their training needs.

“We have conducted lots of our sessions at Manly Dam at the back of Manly Vale, but have also trained at Freshwater Beach rock pool.

“We took an inflatable goal with us, did a lot of leg work and swimming during these sessions,” said Schweickle.

The boys had a great attitude and managed to keep their humour alive too.

“There are lots of mangroves beneath the surface at Manly Dam, so there were a couple of squeals when the boys saw an eel or when they saw people were reeling in fish.

"The boys did play a few tricks on each other too,” he said.

Training since the start of October and with a top eight result at the Water Polo New South Wales State Championships, these outdoor sessions have brought the team even closer together.

“The boys have loved it, it has also given the parents an opportunity to get heavily involved.

“We have followed a couple of our sessions at Manly Dam with a BBQ which has been good for team bonding,” he said.

For a team full of colourful characters which has overcome this major hurdle before AYWPC competition begins, Schweickle will keep his message to the team simple.

“I will tell them that they’re going to go through a range of emotions over the week and learn a lot about each other personally and as a team,” he said.

BE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE

Join us at the AYWPC Welcome Functions – click here for tickets.

Pre-purchase your merchandise – click here.

Teams will have free entry to the first test match between Australia and Japan. Want to come along to the second test match? Purchase your tickets here.

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Find out what else is happening outside the pool as part of the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships. clikc here to see What's On.