By John Sande

On March 22, the Sports Department in collaboration with the Kiambu Aquatics successfully organized a water polo training session aimed at introducing and enhancing skills in the sport. The session was open to all interested participants and saw attendance from various universities in Kenya. The event provided an excellent opportunity for both beginners and experienced players to learn from experts.

The training session was divided into two key segments: a theoretical and a practical session. During the theoretical session, Mr. Doug Munz, Aquatics Director at Rosslyn Academy and a former player for team USA water polo, provided participants with valuable insights into the sport’s origins, its evolution, and its significance in the global sports arena. He was assisted by Bob Casper, a National Water Polo referee for team USA, who connected virtually from Eldoret, Kenya. They both elaborated on the fundamental rules governing water polo, including, number of players per team and their roles, match duration and scoring system, fouls, penalties and exclusions, techniques for effective gameplay, importance of teamwork and communication in water polo, referee calls, among others. The theoretical session saw high levels of engagement with the audience asking questions and seeking clarifications which allowed grasping of the core concepts of the sport before moving on to the practical application.

With the theoretical session over, the participants transitioned to the swimming pool for a hands-on training session. Under Doug’s guidance, attendees engaged in various drills and exercises designed to improve their water polo skills. The practical training focused on swimming techniques for water polo, ball-handling skills, including passing and shooting, defensive and offensive strategies, positioning and movement in the water, team coordination and real-game scenarios. Steered by members from Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) who also form part of the team Kenya, participants from the various university teams represented actively participated in the drills, working collaboratively to apply what they had learned and demonstrated enthusiasm and a keen interest in mastering the sport. Several practical games were staged to simulate a competitive setup. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciations for the opportunity to learn from the experts and improve their skills.

The water polo training session was a resounding success, achieving its objective of promoting the sport and equipping participants with fundamental skills. USIU-Africa looks forward to organizing similar sporting events in the future to encourage student participation in competitive and recreational sports.