Water polo inspires young swimmers at Easyswim Swim School

An award-winning swim school in Wellington, New Zealand is inspiring children to learn to swim with the help of Junior Water Polo Packagoals.

Tawa-based Easyswim Swim School launched junior water polo sessions in February 2017. These ‘Splash Attack’ sessions are a form of junior water polo played in shallow school pools so all children can play.

The swim school’s founder and director Todd Morton says introducing the sport at a junior level has given swimming teachers a way to help children understand the practical importance of skills in the water and comprehend not just how to swim, but also why swimming skills are important.

“We wanted to show the kids not just how we swim, but why we swim. If we can show them that, then maybe they're a bit more motivated to learn to swim and gain the skills they need,” Mr Morton says.

Around 80 children are participating in the first season of Splash Attack, held at school pools at Johnsonville School, Plimmerton School and Rewa Rewa School in Newlands. Mr Morton says he hopes the first season is just the beginning of a flourishing interschool league.

He says Splash Attack would not have been considered without the inflatable, portable Water Polo Packagoals due to the difficulties posed by moving and storing conventional steel water polo goals.

In addition to the Splash Attack league, the use of Packagoals has also allowed the swim school to offer introductory water polo skills sessions to around 18 primary schools with swimming pools in Wellington’s northern suburbs.

For more information on Splash Attack, visit the Easyswim Swim School website>>

For more information on Water Polo Packagoals, visit the product webpage>>

Image: children enjoying an Easyswim Swim School skills session at St Theresa's School in Plimmerton