It will be a whole new world for the U12s UTS Balmain team coached by Lily Johnson. They all will make their national tournament debut at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) in Brisbane.
Coach Johnson’s U12s are a competitive bunch for girls, who want to win and impress on the national stage. This is the majority of the teams first time travelling to play water polo, but with multi-sport athletes in the team, they are not strangers to bigger stages.
“Keep an eye out for them all,” She said, “All of them are essentially making their debut, as none of them have played in a national tournament.”
There are some strong players in the top age bracket, a strong Goalie/Field player in Audrielle Li, along with two gun players in Felicity El Daghl and Jade Pan. One member of the U12s will also play in the first week of the tournament with the U14s.
The team also has a unique tight-knit bond. Eight of the members including coach Lily Johnson go to the same school, Meriden School in Sydney, New South Wales.
“It makes it a special experience for me, knowing that I first fell in love with flippaball at school, as they did and now I get to lead them in their first national competition at club level,” she said.
Building from an impressive run of wins in the NSW state competition, the highly competitive team are out to win games and create core memories with one another.
“Overall they are excited to play water polo, they love the sport and enjoy what it has to give them.”
The biggest goal she has for the girls is to enjoy themselves, and have fun because there is limited pressure in their age group.
The team aren’t the only ones making their debut at the championships. Lily will also be making her coaching debut at the event.
“It’s exciting to coach on a big stage like AYWPC,” she said. “Coaching in week two will be very different to playing in week one.”
It has been a year of learning for the young coach, taking on a role where she isn’t able to be fully in control of the game.
“I have learnt a lot this year about how hard it is to be a coach, not being able to get in the pool and contribute to the game is challenging to get used to.”
Perspective and personal experience has shaped her outlook on coaching. Drawing on words reiterated to her by her own coach.
“Like my coach said to me, I have done the work I had to do… now I get to see the team execute it in the pool, there is nothing more I can do,” Lily said.
Coaching these girls has been really special to Lily. She hopes that the skills and experiences she has given them will help them on the journey through the sport, and into U14s.
She is eager to see what will happen in the water at AYWPC.
The 2026 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships will take place in Brisbane from 8-18 April 2026. Bringing together over 250 teams from across Australia and internationally, the event will be a true festival of water polo for teams in the 12&U, 14&U, 16&U and 18&U events.
A select number of games will be livestreamed via KommunityTV across the two weeks. Click here for the livestream link.
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