Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) has officially opened applications for coaches and managers, and released the full player selection criteria for teams travelling to Brisbane, Australia, for the 2026 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.
This prestigious international tournament represents a significant milestone for young South African athletes, and preparations are already underway to assemble a strong, committed touring squad.
International Opportunity: Coaching & Management Applications Now Open
SWPSA invites passionate, qualified coaches and managers to apply to accompany the U16 and U18 Boys and Girls teams on tour in April 2026. This is a chance to contribute to high-performance youth development on a global stage while upholding SWPSA’s commitment to excellence and professionalism.
📅 Tour Dates
- U16 Girls & Boys: 5–19 April 2026
- U18 Girls & Boys: 1–13 April 2026
✔️ Eligibility Requirement
To apply, individuals must have coached or managed at the 2025 SWPSA Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) in Johannesburg.
🌟 Who Should Apply?
Ideal candidates will demonstrate:
- Strong technical and tactical water polo expertise
- Professionalism, leadership, and effective communication
- A player-centred coaching approach
- Commitment to pre-tour planning, training, and discipline
- A strong sense of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and SWPSA values
📝 Key Responsibilities
Coaches and managers will be responsible for:
- Supporting team selection and preparation
- Ensuring athlete welfare and safeguarding
- Managing logistics, communication, and administration
- Representing SWPSA with professionalism on tour and at home
📄 Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Full name and current province/school/club
- A coaching/management CV
- Confirmation of role at IPT 2025
- A short motivation (max 300 words)
Deadline: Thursday, 4 December 2025
Announcements: 10 December 2025 at the IPT Prize Giving
🇿🇦 Player Selection Criteria Released for U16 & U18 Teams
SWPSA has also published the official Selection Criteria for athletes aiming to compete in Brisbane. All selected players will receive South African Schools Colours, recognising excellence in school-level water polo.
🎯 Eligibility Requirements
Must have competed in the 2025 IPT and played at least 50% of matches, unless medically excused
Must fall within the correct age group:
U16: Born 2010 or later
U18: Born 2008 or 2009
Registered with SWPSA
🏊♂️ Performance, Skill & Assessment Criteria
Selections will consider:
- Technical skill, tactical understanding, and positional ability
- Match performance and statistics from IPT
- Coach assessments and improvement trajectory
- Adaptability and potential for long-term development
🤝 Character & Conduct Requirements
Athletes must demonstrate:
- Sportsmanship and respect for teammates, officials, and opponents
- Positive behaviour with no disciplinary issues
- Strong teamwork, communication, and coachability
💪 Physical & Administrative Preparedness
Players must:
- Commit to all training and preparation
- Be available for the full duration of the tour
- Hold a valid passport
- Complete all tour documentation
- Comply with safeguarding, codes of conduct, and anti-doping rules
📢 Team Announcement
Final teams will be announced at 13:00 on Monday, 15 December 2025.
📥 Download the Official Documents
You can download the full official PDFs here: