Water Polo Australia (WPA), formerly Australian Water Polo (AWP), is the national governing body for
Water polo in Australia. They are responsible for administration of the national men's, women's, and junior teams, the
Australian National Water Polo League
The Australian Water Polo League is the premier Australian domestic water polo competition. The men's league began in 1990 and the women's league started in 2004. Ten clubs compete in the league, each fielding a women's and a men's team. As of ...
, and development of the sport in Australia.
WPA broke away from the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia (now
Swimming Australia
Swimming Australia is the peak governing body for competitive swimming in Australia. The body has approximately 100,000 registered members nationally in 1100 clubs across the country, which includes swimmers, coaches, officials, administrators ...
) in 1982 to become the Australian Amateur Water Polo Association (AAWPA). Prior to that time, water polo was administered by a sub-committee of the ASUA.
In January, 1990, the AAWPA changed its name to 'Water Polo Australia Incorporated'. The sport is now governed by a national conference of representatives from all states and territories, which elect five Directors to the WPAL Board. Water polo is one of a small number of truly national sports in Australia, with the game being played by both men and women across every state.
WPA also ensures the senior men's and women's teams tour overseas at least once a year, and in addition holds national men's and women's competitions for 20 & Unders, 18 & Unders, 16 & Unders, and 14 & Unders.
State Associations
WPA also oversees all of the state governing bodies for each of the Australian states. These are: Water Polo ACT, Water Polo New South Wales, Water Polo Queensland, Water Polo Tasmania, Water Polo South Australia, Water Polo Victoria, and Water Polo Western Australia.
History
Behind Great Britain, Australia was the second nation in the world to play the game of water polo. The first known Australian match occurred at St. Kilda Baths, Melbourne on 3 March 1879 and was demonstrated by Professor Fred Cavill, who had only just emigrated from England.
[Bendigo Advertiser (3 March 1879, p.2)] Australian men's teams have competed at every
Olympic Games Water Polo Tournament since 1948, excepting 1968 (controversially not nominated by the AOC) and 1996 (did not qualify). Australia were the inaugural Olympic gold medallists at the first Women's Olympic Games Water Polo Tournament in Sydney (2000), and have since won two Olympic bronze medals at Beijing (2008) and London (2012).
See also
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Australia men's national water polo team
The Australian national water polo team represents Australia in men's international water polo competitions and is controlled by Water Polo Australia. The national men's team has the nickname of "The Sharks". It is organised into the Asia/Oceani ...
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Australia women's national water polo team
The Australia national women's water polo team represents Australia in women's international water polo competitions and is controlled by Water Polo Australia. It was one of the most successful women's water polo teams in the world. It is curre ...
*
Australian National Water Polo League
The Australian Water Polo League is the premier Australian domestic water polo competition. The men's league began in 1990 and the women's league started in 2004. Ten clubs compete in the league, each fielding a women's and a men's team. As of ...
*
Water Polo Australia Hall of Fame
References
External links
Water Polo Australia
{{Authority control
Water polo in Australia
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
Wat
1982 establishments in Australia
Sports organizations established in 1982