The LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy is an excellent opportunity to showcase top level water polo in Manchester.

 

The legacy programme, made possible through a contribution of £10k of support from Kellogg’s has been designed to enthuse young people who would not normally have become involved in water polo and raise the profile of the sport in the North West.

 

The Kellogg’s legacy programme is focusing on three strands;

A nine-team mini-polo! tournament will take place on the morning of Friday 10^th July to mirror the different nations that are competing in the actual tournament. The teams will consist of local primary school children, some of whom will have never played mini-polo! before but others are coming back to play again after competing in a similar tournament arranged during the Men’s European Nations Trophy held in 2007. Six of the teams selected to play in the tournament will qualify from three Manchester partnership finals played on the 4^th June, whilst three will be sourced from other entries from Community Activity clubs and schools in the Northwest area.

 

The three area finals will be played at the Aquatics Centre in early June and be held in conjunction with the Partnership Development Competition Managers in north, central and south. The finalists will then receive a block of after school training throughout June before the final competition.

 

As part of the Kellogg’s legacy programme for the LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy, Volunteers from the Youth Sport Trust will liaise with event volunteers to help direct the Partnership area finals and the Grand final. This will take place under the guidance and mentoring of Manchester Leisure’s Head Water Polo Coach and Development Officer, mini-polo! community coaches and British Gas National Water Polo Team players. These volunteers will help to manage the Kellogg’s legacy tournament during the LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy where they will be exposed to some high quality international water polo as well as practicing and developing the skills they have learnt. Other training opportunities will be available to them throughout the year including secondary school tournaments, community after school sessions as well as the block of coaching for the area finalist winners.

 

This year, as part of the Kellogg’s legacy programme from these Championships, City of Manchester Water Polo Club are taking the lead on launching a Junior National League to help bridge the gap in the current National Programme for Water Polo. During the LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy there will be a1990 born competition held for a number of teams from around Britain, with the intent of using the competition to kick start and sustain the idea of a Junior National League.

 

The Kellogg’s legacy programme has been developed in partnership with Manchester Leisure Sports Development, Swim Northwest, the ASA and the Partnership Development and Competition Managers in order to continue with sustaining and improving a programme which will continue after 2009.

 

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “Kellogg’s are pleased to be supporting the legacy programme for the LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy water polo. We’re passionate about promoting the ongoing benefits of physical activity and hope that through the legacy programme for this event many more people will be able to take part in water polo and other aquatic activities.”