A free chance to check out water polo had more than a few potential Estevan Sharks prowling the water at the R.M. Of Estevan Aquatic Centre Friday.
The club's 'fun trial' had some basic instruction for some of the younger members of the club as well as refreshing some of the older members.
“It's to let them get in the water and try water polo,” said Melanie Dzeryk, president with the club. “It's pre-season. Usually most of the kids who come out to the fun trial end up signing up. We've done it for four or five years and we've found it's a great way to build up interest.”
The event, Dzeryk said, is a good way for kids to learn about the sport because a lot won't know very much about it.
“Most parents don't know what water polo is,” she said. “It's a big learning curve for everybody.”
The mini level and atom level start slowly, she said, and they aren't expected to tread water for half an hour at the beginning of the year.
The age levels are mini (7-8), atom (9-11), bantam (12-13) and cadets (14-15).
Learning the sport is “a great way to learn how to swim while doing a sport as well,” Dzeryk said. “We've found a lot of kids can't get into swimming lessons so they're joining water polo because they're learning to swim in a fun way.”
The Sharks have had some success in the competitive water polo world recently. The season's practices will start Oct. 5 and the club will have multiple teams in the age divisions in both boys and girls.
