Women's water polo is alive again in Veenendaal
After corona, women's water polo at VZC was at a standstill for several years. Until Marit van de Weerd and Andrea van den Brink took over. The team started training last year, recruited experienced coach Richèl Slot and consists of a selection of 18 ladies. The first competition match, in the 3rd class-H, was narrowly lost to Aquarijn Da3. Last Saturday, the Veense ladies won 3-6 against Zwemclub Zeist.
The 26-year-old Van de Weerd started water polo at the age of 9, played for Jong Oranje for two years and in the period when there was no VZC ladies team, she played for Polar Bears da3. The initiator is delighted that there is water polo for women in Veenendaal again.
''It's great to be in the water with old familiar faces again! Around the corona period, many ladies stopped or went to another club. Last year the itch started again and Andrea and I contacted several girls. It's really cool that we started again!''
Construction
Last year they started with six ladies, in the current 18-person selection, there are nine experienced players but also ladies who have never played polo before. According to Van de Weerd, water polo is alive again among women.
''Once the ball started rolling, it went fast. It's also good that we have a large number of women. Better too many than too few! It is also important for the association that new life has been breathed into women's water polo. On Monday evenings we train together with the men's selection and on Thursday evenings in the target group pool. In the first matches it will be a bit of a trial run, the first match was already very satisfying and showed that there is a lot of potential in the team. Last Saturday was a very nice continuation of the preparation and the opening match. We also have a lot of fun together. Yes, we are enjoying it immensely!”
Women's team brings something extra
After the 52-year-old coach Richèl Slot was asked by the women, he did not have to think long to put on the 'glove'.
''That is indeed true. I thought it was a great shame that the women's team had stopped and had grown apart. When Andrea and Marit contacted me, I immediately thought of the importance of the women and of the association. They were and are incredibly enthusiastic, you can't say no to that, haha. I think a women's team is a must at an association. It creates a nice dynamic and women are more likely to arrange fun activities outside of matches and training sessions," says the club man who joined the club at the age of 22 and still plays for the club.
Slot also praises a number of typical characteristics of the current women's team.
"We are still trying out different game systems, but when I see the commitment and perseverance they have... They are very eager and they listen well to each other. That's where it starts!"
Mindset and conviviality
The team includes a few women who have played in Dutch youth teams in the past. The majority of the ladies have a family, which means that according to Van de Weerd it will be a matter of trial and error to properly coordinate the composition of the team in the water every match.
‘’The most important thing is that we have started again, from here we can continue to build. Many ladies have a feel for the game and, just like me, always want to win when they are in the water. During the preparation we played a practice match against Watervlo 2, which plays in a higher class. We almost won, but that doesn’t count. It is a fantastic phase for us, we are looking forward to the rest of the season!’’
Next Saturday the Veen ladies will play against Zwemclub Zeist again, this time at home in the Valleibad.
