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History and Home Facility
Saanich Water Polo School
can be found in the District of Saanich in the city of
Greater Victoria, on beautiful Vancouver Island (British
Columbia, Canada). Saanich Water Polo School is proud to
represent the sport of water polo in one of the Nation’s
High Performance Facilities, Saanich Commonwealth Place
Pool. Home to such legendary athletes as Olympic Triathlon
Champion Simon Whitfield, and swimmer Rick Say, Saanich
Commonwealth Place celebrates its 13th birthday
in 2006, as a legacy built for the 1994 Commonwealth Games
in Victoria. Commonwealth Place features a themed
wave-pool, tots’ pool , waterslide, hot tub, sauna, &
steam room , teach pool, 50 meter competitive pool, dive
tank, a state of the art, freshly completed fitness
facility, and the famous Wavesideside café. For a virtual
tour of the facility please visit:
www.saanich.ca/resident/recreation/virtual/scpvirtual.html
Saanich Water Polo School was born in 1997, as the brain
child of a group of highly qualified coaches and parents
with the ambition to raise future water polo champions.
Realizing the potential offered by the beautiful and well
equipped home facility, Saanich Water Polo School worked
on its tournament hosting capabilities until its flawless
tournament hosting reputation has transcended the
continent: in the last nine years since its birth, SWPS
has hosted eight Valentines International Tournaments
(with a record 52 teams in 2004), two NORAM events, the
Australian Women Olimpic team, a training camp with world
famous coach Tamas Farago, and four Hungarian Style
Bootcamps – as well as a number of annual local/provincial
events. Bringing the world of water polo to Victoria has
always been the quest of SWPS, the club that is ready to
provide major tournaments with the following amenities:
split scoreboard, electronic scoring system (US Olympian
Dan Klatt referred to the SWPS electronic score-sheets
system as equal to the one used in the World
Championships), eight nets, three simultaneous fields of
play, spectator bleachers, large and well trained
volunteer base of minor officials, hospitality room for
referees and coaches, sound system, theme décor. SWPS
major goal in tournament hosting is to bring a televised
water polo event home to Victoria before 2010.
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Testimonial:
“After 9 years in the SWPS water polo program my
daughter comes away with the type of life skills
that will serve her well in many different
situations beyond just sports-related. They include
the discipline and focus needed to excel in a high
performance environment; access to expert coaching;
development of life-long friendships and
experiencing what it means to be part of a team and
the importance of every person on it.”
-parent Cindy B. |
International Connections & Sister Clubs
Through technical director
and head coach, Ferenc Vindisch, Saanich
Water Polo School has access to impressive international
connections. Just a few of the illustrious water polo
personalities who have visited the school: Tamas Farago,
Dan Klatt, Rezso Gallov….
Ferenc coaches abroad extensively, and has a network of
Hungarian and international connections. SWPS has
several sister clubs in Hungary: BVSC, Vasas, Eger and of
course the world famous school of many Olympic and World
Champions, KSI. All these clubs have been to Victoria for
the Valentines International, and our athletes have
traveled to Hungary. The year 2006 will see two Canadian
delegations head to Hungary; for the June Water Polo
Symposium, coaches, managers and volunteers will be
invited to the Senior Men`s World Cup hosted by Hungary
and a grand tour of the domestic water polo scene. In
September, a training trip for boys in the Juvenile, Cadet
and Bantam age groups is planned.
Introducing
the SWPS Staff:
Ferenc Vindisch
Founder and Honorary Technical Director
Ferenc Vindisch began his Water Polo career in
Budapest at KSI (Central Sport School). He played in Hungary's fiercely
competitive "A" Division for over a decade and his active Water Polo
career included spots on the Juvenile, Junior, and Senior Hungarian
National Teams. After
finishing his active career as an athlete he returned to coach for KSI.
Coaching
at KSI meant compulsory coaching education at Hungary's renowned
University of Physical Education. He graduated with a Level IV Coaching
Degree, and attained the highest possible Domestic Water Polo Referee
designation, refereeing extensively in the A Division. He became an
International Referee with both LEN and FINA.
In 1991, Ferenc moved to Calgary in an exchange coaching position with
John Csikos of the Calgary Renegades. In the following year, Ferenc
accepted a position as Technical Director of Water Polo Saskatchewan.
In 1995,
he moved to Victoria accepting the Technical Director & Developmental
Coach position that included refereeing and coaching clinics as well as
active coaching.
As of
October 1st, 2007, Ferenc has accepted a position with the British Water
Polo Association and will be working on preparing a program for the
Women's Water Polo Team. |
Gabriella Vindisch
General Manager & Sports Marketing Director, Walter Paolo Inc.
Switching to
water polo after many years in competitive swimming, Gabriella's polo
career took off in earnest when she joined the "A" Division Hungarian
team of Vasas Sports Club in 1980. Winning three consecutive National
Championship titles with Vasas, she soon became a stable member of the
Hungarian National Women's Team in the mid-80's.
Coaching, playing and studying simultaneously, she graduated from the
University of Economics in Budapest with a degree in sports
marketing/international business. After completing her studies, she
returned to Canada - the country where she had spent most of her teenage
years.
In
Toronto, she continued to play water polo for three more years as a
member of the city's Golden Jets Women's Water Polo Team. Gabriella and
husband Ferenc moved to Victoria in 1995. Combining her coaching and
recruiting talents with her knowledge of marketing, Saanich Water Polo
School was born.
Gabriella continues to recruit, specialize in coaching the novice
program, and acts as General Manager - Marketing Director for the now
very busy "water polo factory" of Victoria, BC:
Saanich Water Polo School.
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Testimonial:
“Putting our daughter into Saanich Water Polo School is
probably one of the best things we have done for her.
Here are a few of the benefits that she has reaped. Her
fitness level is 100%. She has learned to swim under
adverse conditions, (such as someone trying to sink
you), and still control focus. Winning and loosing is
not what it is all about for her, and the friendships
she has built coupled with the travel have helped her
become a well rounded individual.”
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parent Rob P. |
Outstanding Graduates of
the SWPS Program:
In its brief 9 year
history, Saanich Water Polo School has put 7 players on
various age group national teams. SWPS currently has two
carded athletes: Lars Yunker(18), and Lara Kesteloo(18).
Read the Story of the
Fabulous Five
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