Flippaball's appeal on rise

FLIPPABALL is becoming a game of choice at the Makino Aquatic Centre on Friday nights for many Manawatu school children.

The popularity of the modified version of water polo has soared in the past few years and about 170 players are involved in two separate nine-week competitions run over two terms.

Programme Coordinator Adie Johansen said MAC had taken over the flippaball programme in 2010 and managed to tap into the increasing interest shown by schools in the game.

Nine year 5 and 6 teams (80 children) were currently playing, while 10 year 7 and 8 teams (90 children) were preparing to take to the court in term 3.

“Its appeal may lie in it being something different,” said Mrs Johansen. “It’s not traditional and children are in the pool with a ball and don’t have to swim up and down.”

Flippaball is played over two 10-minute halves by seven-member teams in a “made-to-measure” court set up at the deep end of the indoor pool.

Previous winners have been Waituna West and Glen Oroua (year 5 and 6) and Halcombe Makos and Feilding Intermediate 1 (year 7 and 8). Their names have been inscribed on two “Champions Trophies” now available for future competitions.