Athletes from Estevan and Weyburn took part in Water Polo Saskatchewan’s Development and High-Performance Center tryouts last Friday. Provincial coach Jake Morris noted the event went well, with players undergoing a series of tests as they aim for potential spots on the provincial team.
"They went very well. We have a pretty good group of kids who tried out on Friday. I was pretty excited when it was all finished," Morris said about the turnout.
The tryouts included several physical and skill-based tests. “We ran a couple of tests just to see where everyone is in terms of their skills," Morris explained. "We had done a swim test first—100 meters, made them swim it twice to see how fast they could go. Then a couple of tests for their legs, and an 8-meter test, which is like a leg lunge test." He added that there was also a goalie test, where participants performed jumps.
Water Polo Saskatchewan selects its provincial team from the Development and High-Performance Centers. "Our teams are always 12 people," Morris said, drawing from a pool of players involved in these programs.
Being on the provincial team opens up more competitive opportunities for the athletes. "It's always just more exciting and more opportunities than just at the club level," Morris shared. Players start competing at higher levels, traveling to places like Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario. "We plan to take an older team down to California this year and an even older team to France as well."
While water polo isn't as widely recognized as hockey or football in the province, Morris noted the sport’s growth: "It's definitely grown a lot. It's not too large because then you really know everybody. That's a very nice sense of community."
The sport helps young athletes develop a wide range of skills, both in and out of the water. "There's all the swimming skills—your front crawl, your egg beater, just basic swimming abilities, which are always good for Saskatchewan where a lot of people are at the lake or the cabin," Morris said. Additionally, like other team sports, water polo fosters teamwork and cooperation among players.
Morris highlighted the success of athletes from Southeast Saskatchewan, mentioning Estevan’s strong presence in the sport. "Last year, one of our girls from Estevan moved to Atlanta this year just to train in our centers, and she's been doing quite well," he noted. "We had a couple of girls who actually made the national team—the Canadian team—from Estevan."
While no additional tryouts are scheduled for the athletes who participated last Friday, Morris assured that Water Polo Saskatchewan remains open to testing other interested players. "We're pretty easy to run those tests through practice throughout the year."
Looking ahead, Morris mentioned that one of the first community leagues for younger athletes will be held in Estevan in late October.