Case Study: Girls Making Waves- Water Polo NSW
Overview
The ‘Girls Making Waves’ project is an introductory skills program where girls could learn the basics of the game in a fun and welcoming environment. It aimed to retain women’s participation in water polo, promote leadership roles within the sport, and expand reach of water polo into communities with lower rates of participation in the sport.
The project targeted adolescent girls aged 7-12 years and focused on overcoming barriers to participation by implementing a modified version of the game, providing shallow water and inflatable tubes, and promoting body positivity through flexible uniforms.
The initiative encompassed various activities, including participation sessions across metropolitan and regional areas, women-only coach and referee sessions to inspire leadership, and online mentoring of Fun Officers (i.e., program leaders).
Chief Fun Officers from the project's inception helped develop trust and maintain local points of contact to boost community engagement and increase brand visibility.
Program Ambassadors and Chief Fun Officers, passionate and experienced played a vital role to introduce newcomers.
Creating a recognisable brand and a fun and engaging atmosphere
Emphasis on fun and enjoyable experiences proved crucial in the development and retention of participants.
Bright coloured inflatable tubes were an attractive feature of the program and the girls each got one to splash around in for the session.
Results
The project successfully engaged:
- 190 girls aged 7-12 in the Girls Making Waves sessions;
- 12 Water Safety Officers/Future Fun Officers;
- 16 women referees attended the face-to-face referee development session; and
- 12 women referees participated in the online workshop.
Challenges
Some challenges encountered during the project included:
- Attracting older girls who had no prior connections to water polo. Many hesitated to join without knowing anyone involved. To overcome this, efforts were made to reach out to friend groups within schools and encourage current participants to invite their friends, breaking down participation barriers and fostering a sense of familiarity and camaraderie.
- Scheduling sessions with facility availability also presented challenges, especially in regions with limited resources. Coordinating the availability of Fun Officers and participants with pool schedules required careful planning and coordination. To address this issue in the future, the project aimed to train and empower local resources to deliver and promote programs, ensuring better alignment of resources and schedules.
Evaluation
- 68% participants were newcomers to the sport
- 95% expressed desire to participate again
- 100% wanted to share the fun they had with their best friends
- 61% showed interest in joining a local water polo club
Significantly, the Girls Making Waves project observed a cultural shift within water polo clubs. The project revealed the need for clubs to adapt their junior programs to attract a wider audience. By prioritising fun and participant retention, the project demonstrated the importance of creating engaging programs that cater to diverse skill levels. This cultural shift highlighted the organisation's commitment to inclusivity and gender diversity in sports.
“We saw a cultural shift from our clubs on how they run their junior development programs – there is more consideration now on making it fun and expanding the reach of the programs, which is more inclusive to girls and women, over and above the serious/elite focus which can be the default”
– Program Administrator
By successfully attracting new participants, creating a positive and engaging experience, and generating interest in joining local clubs, the project has showcased the potential for innovative approaches to drive women’s participation in water polo.
Further information: Water Polo NSW - Girls Making Waves