CORONAVIRUS - AN UPDATE
Last week, a green light to play again . . . and now? Wham! A new raft of Government coronavirus restrictions which once again will impact on water polo.
In his House of Commons statement yesterday (22 September), Boris Johnson said that the ‘rule of 6’ is being extended to indoor adult team sports – anyone aged 18 years and over. To what extent will our sport be affected?
Swim England today clarified the situation for BWPL, confirming that sessions will be limited to training and playing in bubbles of six people only but that “the new rules state that organised indoor sport or exercise classes can take place in larger numbers, provided groups of more than six do not mix.
“This means six could play a three-versus-three game in one area of the pool, while another group of six do the same in a different part of the water.”
The latest guidance does not apply to under-18 indoor team sports, which can carry on as before. Swim England is seeking further clarification on how this applies to mixed groups of athletes aged over 18 and under 18, but the current interpretation is that each group must be limited to six. It is also understood that coaches are not included in the six as long as they maintain social distancing. For details of today’s Swim England statement, go to https://www.swimming.org/waterpolo/clarity-coronavirus-restrictions/.
In his House of Commons statement yesterday (22 September), Boris Johnson said that the ‘rule of 6’ is being extended to indoor adult team sports – anyone aged 18 years and over. To what extent will our sport be affected?
Swim England today clarified the situation for BWPL, confirming that sessions will be limited to training and playing in bubbles of six people only but that “the new rules state that organised indoor sport or exercise classes can take place in larger numbers, provided groups of more than six do not mix.
“This means six could play a three-versus-three game in one area of the pool, while another group of six do the same in a different part of the water.”
The latest guidance does not apply to under-18 indoor team sports, which can carry on as before. Swim England is seeking further clarification on how this applies to mixed groups of athletes aged over 18 and under 18, but the current interpretation is that each group must be limited to six. It is also understood that coaches are not included in the six as long as they maintain social distancing. For details of today’s Swim England statement, go to https://www.swimming.org/waterpolo/clarity-coronavirus-restrictions/.
Other News:
BWPL'S LOST SEASON: At its latest meeting (20 September), the British League committee reluctantly accepted that the 2020/21 season must be abandoned due the continuing Covid-19 crisis.
Our clubs are obviously desperate to get back in action as soon as possible. And there has been considerable support for the idea of running an event of some kind.
At this stage, the committee have agreed that a stand-alone event – in other words, one that doesn’t impact on promotion and relegation issues decided at the end of the 2019/20 campaign – could work well, perhaps in April and May. The idea will be discussed again at the next committee gathering in December. See News page for more details.
Top of page: Snapshots (by Trevor Hyde) of last season - a reminder of those carefree, pre-corona days when BWPL was still in full swing! L-R: Manchester's Dan Padden on the attack; Eve Tidy, of Welsh Wanderers, just managing to keep afloat under the challenge of Leah Clark, of Mid Sussex Marlins; and Ali Wakeling, of Sutton & Cheam.
BWPL'S LOST SEASON: At its latest meeting (20 September), the British League committee reluctantly accepted that the 2020/21 season must be abandoned due the continuing Covid-19 crisis.
Our clubs are obviously desperate to get back in action as soon as possible. And there has been considerable support for the idea of running an event of some kind.
At this stage, the committee have agreed that a stand-alone event – in other words, one that doesn’t impact on promotion and relegation issues decided at the end of the 2019/20 campaign – could work well, perhaps in April and May. The idea will be discussed again at the next committee gathering in December. See News page for more details.
Top of page: Snapshots (by Trevor Hyde) of last season - a reminder of those carefree, pre-corona days when BWPL was still in full swing! L-R: Manchester's Dan Padden on the attack; Eve Tidy, of Welsh Wanderers, just managing to keep afloat under the challenge of Leah Clark, of Mid Sussex Marlins; and Ali Wakeling, of Sutton & Cheam.
FOLLOW THE BEST IN BRITISH WATER POLO!
Welcome to the website of the BWPL, UK water polo's premier league competition!!
The British Water Polo League was launched in 2010 following the successful merger of the men's National League and the National Women's Water Polo League. We have gone from strength to strength since then and the 2019/20 season features a full complement of 64 teams from England, Scotland and Wales - 40 men's and 24 women's.
Particular thanks to James Reddick, of Polytechnic, for his help in creating this website. For more information about advertising, please contact BWPL Secretary Chris Ducker, chris.ducker@bwpl.org.
The British Water Polo League was launched in 2010 following the successful merger of the men's National League and the National Women's Water Polo League. We have gone from strength to strength since then and the 2019/20 season features a full complement of 64 teams from England, Scotland and Wales - 40 men's and 24 women's.
Particular thanks to James Reddick, of Polytechnic, for his help in creating this website. For more information about advertising, please contact BWPL Secretary Chris Ducker, chris.ducker@bwpl.org.
