Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth ASC put on their most ambitious water polo camp to date with professional coaches and players from across Europe coming to Glasgow.
Our fantastic coaching team, Katy Cutler, Mario Sinatra (Coach Bogliasco 1951), Mati Ortiz, Nico Fenu, Evan Papadimitriou, Rosa Rogondino, Alan Donaldson and Ali Campbell were all smiles after another successful camp in Glasgow.
Italian coaches and players from Bogliasco 1951, Mario, Rosa and GB player Katy were on hand to coach the 44 players and to demonstrate their skills and techniques for players to copy.
“This is the first time we have brought a coach over from Europe, which added another dimension to our camp, providing both our coaching community and our players with the opportunity to experience European club coaching first hand from a top Italian coach.”, said Camp organiser and coach Nico Fenu.
“Mario has a number of his junior teams in the finals of this year’s Italian championships”, he added.
Olympic Silver Medallist Mati Ortiz from Spain was our Hall of Fame player this year.
Mati has been successful with Spain having previously won World and European Championships and this year won the European Champions League with her club side Sabadell.
Mati proved to be a big hit both coaching from the side and when demonstrating her world class skills in the pool.
Tollcross International Swimming Centre proved to be the perfect setting once again for players from Forth Valley, Stirling, Menzieshill, Dunfermline, Portobello, Warrender and Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth all taking part in the camp, with players also travelling from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Sweden.
This is third water polo camp organised by Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth ASC in the last 11 months and with each camp they have built on the successes of the previous camps.
The camps are a great opportunity for the water polo community to come together in a safe, inclusive and environment designed for learning.
“The camps are a great way to interact with high level players with drills and game situations and provide players with the time, space and feedback to improve their own skills through practise.”, said Camp organiser, Alan Scobie. “And where else are you going to go get this close to, receive a pass, save a shot or try to defend against a World Champion!”
Mario Sinatra from Bogliasco 1951 passing on his coaching knowledge to Nico Fenu of Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth ASC. (left)
Scottish coaches Alan Donaldson and Ali Campbell both took advantage of the Summer Camp to increase their coaching knowledge and experience by coaching at the camp and working with Mario, Rosa, Katy and Mati over the weekend as did Oonagh Garry from Newry.
Alan Scobie said that, “The camps are always open to all club coaches to take part and we would love to see more club coaches taking the opportunity to update their water polo knowledge at the camps.”
Both Mario and Mati commented on the fantastic spirit and attitude of all of the players which makes a big difference when coaching at these camps and Mario is keen to develop a strong relationship between Bogliasco 1951 and the water polo camps.
The Summer water polo camp completes a summer of water polo activity for Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth ASC with over 150 participants across the Summer Camp, Man-up tournament and OneRen Water Polo Come & Try.
The club also organised a mini swim camp which was coached by Ross Murdoch through in Stirling. Ross is a two time Olympian and a former World, European and Commonwealth Champion.
Ross with some of the young swimmers from the KKASC Mini Swim Camp
Mini Camp organiser, Alan Scobie said, “Ross Murdoch is top class, he gave so generously of his time and as well as coaching from the pool deck he was in the pool demonstrating his sculling and swimming skills.”
Ross spent the entire day coaching swimmers from Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth ASC and M&B ASC with a mix of sculling, swimming and land training activities making it lots of fun at the same time.
Ross also brought all of his World, European and Commonwealth medals and let the swimmers try them on for size (and the parents too)! Ross was keen to involve the parents in the discussion at the end, with parents asking how they could best support their children with their swimming.
This is the first high profile swim camp that Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth ASC and Ross and Alan are keen to do follow up sessions with both the swimmers on the mini camp and also to grow the camp over the next year.
A big thank you also to the National Lottery Community Fund for again supporting this year’s camp.