Youngsters start to create a big splash

Sisters Mel and Bec Rippon, who both bronze medals in the Beijing Olympic Games, led two popular sessions at Oasis on Saturday.

Wagga Water Polo president Josh Paul was thrilled with how well the sessions were received by around 60 youngsters.

"It was a fantastic day," Paul said.

"We filled both the Girls Making Waves sessions so there were around 60 to 70 juniors across the clinics with a lot of those who were new to the sport.

"It was the ideal way to introduce young girls to the sport and it was just fantastic to have the former Olympians, and an Olympic coach, there to pass on their knowledge.

"It's a great opportunity for those young girls."

Mel Rippon, a triple Olympian and chief fun officer of Girls Making Waves, is thrilled by how well the program is being received.

"Girls Making Waves is a wonderful opportunity to introduce girls to the sport that I love, in a way that is really accessible, using inflatable tubes is a different way to experience the sport, and girls don't need to worry about treading water," Rippon said.

The first season of the program, held earlier this year, saw 73 per cent of participants play water polo for the first time while a further 13 per cent of girls had only played once or twice.

The emphasis is on reducing barriers to participation, promoting inclusive sport experiences, and boosting confidence with sessions held in shallow water and inflatable tubes are a feature of the program.

The popularity of the program helped Wagga introduce under 12s competitions on Sundays.

"We've just introduced an under 12s water polo competition this year just because of the need for it with the participation rates for that age group," Paul said.

"For the first time ever we've got an under 12s competition on a Sunday so now not only have these girls had the opportunity to be introduced to the sport from an Olympic coaching level but we have a competition they can participate in, rather than go into an under 14s mixed comp."

While the season is currently under way there are still places available for those looking to be involved.