Water Polo

Water Polo Championships

Water Polo Secretary : Neil Green

ESSA Water Polo

The ESSA has been providing an opportunity for all schools in England to actively engage in competitive water polo since 1976. Water polo has become increasingly popular within schools for boys, and now girls since 2003, and there are now a significant number of competitions that reflect this.

Both boys’ and girls’ groups compete at U18, U15 and U13 age groups. The first phase of preliminary competitions is mostly regionalised.
Following this preliminary phase the U18 and U15 age groups split into three levels;
- the ‘Championship’, where the elite schools compete for the national title,
- the ‘Plate’ where the intermediate schools compete for their national title, and
- the ‘Bowl’ where the developing schools compete for their national title.
All schools enter the ‘Championship’ competition in the preliminary phase and it is then hoped that subsequent phases are a ‘standard appropriate’ level of competition for all competing schools. The U13 ‘Championship’ competition for both boys and girls is regionalised during the preliminary phase of competition.
The second phase of this competition takes into consideration the results from the preliminary phase, whilst still providing an opportunity for all competing schools to qualify for the ‘Championship’ final and compete for the national title.

Cadet competitions aim to attract new players into competitive water polo and to retain them. A school cannot enter a Championship team, and also a Cadet team, with the same pupils that have already competed in the Championship competition. There are now two age groups for the Cadet competition – U11 (Year 6 and below) and U13 (Year 8 and below). Teams can be single sex or mixed.

Duke of Cambridge Cup is a one-day tournament for the best 39 boys and best 39 girls, nominated by schools and England Water Polo, from a specific age group (identified as at the start of the academic year by the ESSA Council). To be considered for this competition a pupil must attend School in England.

International honours can be achieved following selection by the ESSA Head Coach, usually at the Duke of Cambridge Cup one-day tournament.
Since 2015 International teams have represented the ESSA at tournaments in Malta, Hungary and in 2018 we welcomed Australia and Romania to England for a Home International tournament.

ESSA Australian Schools visiting tour 2018 Boys WP Team

ESSA Australian Schools visiting tour 2018 Girls WP Team

ESSA Water Polo 2021/22 Championships and Competitions

Duke of Cambridge Cup 2022

Saturday 2nd July 2022, East Manchester Leisure Centre. Deadline for entry is Monday 23rd May 2022 at 10pm

Duke of Cambridge Cup is a one-day tournament for the best 39 boys and best 39 girls, nominated by schools and England Water Polo, from a specific age group (identified at the start of the academic year by ESSA Council). All players receive a costume or trunks as well as a t-shirt. Places are limited to 39 in each category. The cost of participating will be £35.
To be eligible pupils must be born in 2006 (only) and in full time education in England.
Download flyer (below) for entry links:

Duke of Cambridge Cup - Flyer 2022

ESSA 2021/22 Finals Dates and Venues

Note: Updated 24/02/2022 to reflect changes due to covid induced delays and avoidance of clash with school term dates and Swim England European Championships' qualification preparations.

Monday 21^st March	10.00am - 2.15pm	U18 Boys ESSA National Plate Final
	10.00am - 2.15pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	2.30 - 5.00pm	U18 Boys ESSA National Bowl Final
	2.30 - 5.00pm	(4 Teams, 6 games)
	Venue	Northampton Boys School, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5RT

Tuesday 22^nd March	11.00am - 4.30pm	U15 Boys/Mixed ESSA National Championship
	11.00am - 4.30pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	Venue	Northampton Boys School, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5RT

Wednesday 23rd March	9.00am - 12.45pm	U15 Girls ESSA National Championship Final
	9.00am - 12.45pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	1.15 - 5.15pm	U18 Girls ESSA National Championship Final
	1.15 - 5.15pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	Venue	Northampton Boys School, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5RT

Thursday 24^th March	9.00am - 1.15pm	U15 Boys/Mixed ESSA National Plate Final
	9.00am - 1.15pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	1.45 - 4.45pm	U15 Boys/Mixed ESSA National Bowl Final
	1.45 - 4.45pm	(5 Teams, 10 games)
	Venue	Northampton Boys School, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5RT

Friday 25^th March	10.30 - 4.30pm	U18 Boys ESSA National Championship
	10.30 - 4.30pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	Venue	Habadashers' Aske's

Monday 16th May	11.00am 4.30pm	U13 Girls ESSA National Championship Final
	11.00am 4.30pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	Venue	Northampton Boys School, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5RT

Tuesday 17th May	11.00am 4.30pm	U13 Boys/Mixed ESSA National Championship Final
	11.00am 4.30pm	(6 Teams, 11 games)
	Venue	Northampton Boys School, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5RT