We’re all set for another thrilling, all-action British League season!

The first matches take place this weekend at a new venue for the League, Norwich Sportspark (men’s Division 5) and at Northampton Grammar School for Boys (women’s Division 3).

A big thank-you once again to our official ball sponsors – Waterpolo Market.com – who supply the Mega ball.

There’s still time for table officials to sign up for the new rules seminar at Northampton on Saturday. A reminder, too, of table official courses to be run during BWPL weekends at Ponds Forge, Sheffield (12 October) and Haberdashers School (19 October). There are also plans for an additional course when BWPL matches take place in Wales at Newport International Sports Village (30 November). For information on all these events, please contact Mike Hesketh, michskth@gmail.com.
​

Teams in women’s Division 1 should please note a change of venue for matches taking place on 5/6 October.
​
Due to the closure of the Liverpool pool, the games will now be staged at Bolton’s Jason Kenny Centre. See fixtures page for the full schedule.

The finale of next season’s BWPL Super 5s is to be staged at a super new venue – Coventry’s 50m Olympic pool, which isn’t due to open to the public until November.

The Alan Higgs Centre, built on the site of former indoor sports pitch, will have a full camera system, including under-water cameras, as well as a scoreboard capable of replaying live action. Eventually, the facility will replace the current pool in Fairfax Street, Coventry.

The men’s and women’s Super 5s finale takes place on 21/22 March next year. All phase two dates and venues will be published soon.
​

The death has occurred after a lengthy illness of Fred Holehouse, co-founder and president of Invicta.

For many years, Fred was a driving force behind the development of Kent water polo, serving as team manager. His water polo passions were Bexley WPC and Invicta. Nothing will have given him more satisfaction in recent years than seeing the rise of Invicta – capped last season when the club finished runners-up in the BWPL men’s Super 5s.
 
Invicta’s website reports: “Many Invicta players will remember Fred’s legendary newsletters, particularly in the days of home and away fixtures. Fred often used to say he was Britain’s greatest-ever uncapped goalkeeper – we can all vouch that he was an imposing figure between the sticks.

“Anyone who has played for or been associated with Invicta owes a great deal to Fred as his hard work and support enabled the players to play at the highest level in GB. He will be greatly missed by us all and our thoughts are with Pam and the family at this sad time."
​

As the latest of its initiatives to help with the introduction of new FINA rules, the British League is proud to announce that Jacques Racine (pictured), one of Europe’s most distinguished water polo officials, will be a very special guest at the event at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, on 28/29 September.

Jacques, from Switzerland, will be taking a clinic for the League’s delegates on Friday, 27 September, and then talking to a gathering of referees on Saturday morning.

The visit has been set up by the League’s new Delegate Group, which oversees all matters relating to BWPL officials. Group chairman Jeff Parker explained: “The new rules now in operation are transforming the way that water polo is played – the biggest changes we have seen for many years.

“It’s essential that in GB we know and understand what is happening in Europe. Therefore, Jacques’s visit will be vital in helping BWPL officials aim for a consistent application of the changes.”
​
Jacques has been a member of LEN Technical Water Polo Committee since 2004 and lectures at the LEN refereeing school. As a referee, he officiated in more than 180 internationals. He was also a FINA TWPC member for a number of years.
​

In conjunction with Swim England, a course for new table officials is to be held during the BWPL weekend at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, Saturday, 12 October, 1pm-5pm.

The sport needs more officials – and, with teams from four BWPL divisions in action, it’s a great opportunity for players, supporters etc to get involved. Contact Mike Hesketh, michskth@gmail.com, to register.

With new rules in mind, a seminar for current BWPL officials is planned during the women’s Division 3 event at Northampton School for Boys, Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5RT, on Saturday, 21 September. To book a place, please contact Michele Padbury, michele.padbury@bwpl.org.

Another course for new table officials is being jointly organised by BWPL and SE London Region at Haberdashers School on Saturday 19th October.  To book a place, please contact Mike Hesketh michskth@gmail.com.

For more details about new FINA rules, you can now read a helpful document – see New Rules and Application on the Information page.
​
It’s based on the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee’s clarification document and has already been used in presentations at the BWPL annual meeting and at seminars organised during the inter-regional age group championships at Blackpool and Walsall.

The new British League season gets under way in three months’ time. Are you fully up to speed with the revamped FINA rules?

If not, we can help! During the national under-16 inter-regional championships at Palatine Leisure Centre, Blackpool, and at Walsall on 29 June and 6 July, four sessions have been organised for coaches and officials focusing on application of the new rules.
 
For detailed information, go to https://swimnorthwest.org/event-course/se-water-polo-interpretation-of-the-new-fina-rules/ for the Blackpool event and https://swimnorthwest.org/event-course/se-water-polo-interpretation-of-the-new-fina-rules-2/ for Walsall.

Meanwhile, the BWPL data system is now back in action and poised to accept your player/team official registrations for the new season. Deadline for initial registrations is 31 July; after that, additional registrations incur a £5 fee. It’s also time for delegates, referees and table officials to register and notify their availability for the first phase.

​Last season’s user accounts are still active but new passwords are required for security reasons.  To set a new password, go to the login page https://data.bwpl.org and click on the Reset Password link in the top navigation bar. You will then need to enter your email address and click on the Reset button.