From Olympic Water Polo to Social Mission: Ilse Koolhaas on Girls Only, Integrity, and Connection | Waterpolo.nl

27-year-old Ilse Koolhaas, a former TeamNL water polo player, was part of the Dutch team at the Tokyo Olympics. She won gold at the 2018 European Championships and bronze at the 2022 World Championships. After her professional sports career, Koolhaas shifted her focus to social development.

Aside from her regular job, she is a member of the NOC*NSF Athletes' Commission (AC) and an ambassador of the Girls Only project. Koolhaas is grateful for the opportunity to make a social contribution in this way.

"After my professional sports career, I wanted to give back to the sport in a meaningful and enjoyable way. Following the Paris Games, there was a change in the committee, and NOC*NSF offered me the opportunity to join. It came at the perfect time as my partner and I had decided to move back to the Netherlands."

Grassroots and Elite Sports
After finishing her last contract with the water polo club Alimos in Greece, Koolhaas continued to live there with her Greek husband. In discussions about their future, it became clear that both of them desired a return to the Netherlands.

"After several years living abroad, I was ready to be closer to family. Luckily, my husband also saw the benefits. The talks about my role as an AC member came at the right time and aligned nicely with this."

Ouderkerk-born Koolhaas has since returned to the Netherlands. Besides her regular job, she expects to derive a lot of energy from her role within the Athletes' Commission (AC), where she is responsible for integrity and communication portfolios.

"There are twelve AC members, a fun and diverse group with broad representation. Together with an active athlete, I am committed to the themes of communication and integrity, two essential topics within the sports realm. These are complex issues, but significant progress can be made in both grassroots and elite sports."

Social Value
An important reason for Koolhaas to get involved is her belief that sports bring people together and have significant social value.

"It makes a huge difference, both in your personal life and your sports career, whether you are in a good and safe environment. On one hand, athletes have a platform and a role model function; on the other, the right conditions need to be created for them to perform at their best. The TeamNL spirit is strong in elite sports and almost magical. That collective feeling should also be more present and lasting in grassroots sports. Everyone, whether engaging in recreational or high-level sports, wants to feel good and healthy to perform optimally. An honest and safe environment is essential for that. It is my motivation."

Many sports organizations and clubs have now established integrity managers, trust persons, and athletes' commissions. Koolhaas sees this as a positive development.

"NOC*NSF has initiated a process to push for athlete representation within every sports federation. As a current or former athlete, it is important to take on that role and bridge the gap between athletes, the board, and the management. With broad representation, integrity policies and support from NOC*NSF can be even more ingrained. This is a complex but important challenge, in which I believe we can achieve a lot together in the coming years."

Girls Only Project
The Girls Only project provides young female water polo players the opportunity to develop in a safe and enjoyable environment without pressure to perform. The initiative aims to connect young players and create an inclusive and safe atmosphere, enabling every girl to grow and enjoy sports, regardless of their level or ambition.

Koolhaas draws much energy and satisfaction from seeing girls enjoying sports. The former ZVL-1886 player was immediately enthusiastic when technical director Iefke van Belkum asked her to become an ambassador for the project.

"The Girls Only project inspires me because it encourages girls to continue playing sports. Many girls between 12 and 16 years old quit for various reasons, leading to a decline in membership at (small) clubs. Other young players miss out on opportunities and sometimes play in the women's team at the age of 14 or remain in a boys' team. It is important to keep them engaged in sports for longer!"

Within this project, the Leiden club collaborates with local Dutch clubs and international teams. According to Koolhaas, there is a shared vision.

"There is an annual foreign trip; in late April, a Hungarian girls' team will come to the Netherlands. Additionally, monthly training sessions are held at ZVL-1886 with all girls. Of course, we aim to improve in the water, but the focus is not solely on becoming the best player. It is about the broader idea: helping girls develop in a fun and safe manner. Sports are meant to be enjoyable first and foremost, and that is the most important thing. Initiatives like Girls Only are crucial for this demographic!"

Shared Goal
Koolhaas is excited about the new phase in her life and aims to fulfill the AC role to the best of her ability.

"A strong structure has been set up for communication between AC members and organizations addressing various issues. André Cats regularly participates, as do key partners like NLSporter, Safe Sport Center Netherlands, and WADA Anti-Doping. Significant progress has been made in integrity, making it an important theme even within the government. Ultimately, I want to see closer connections between athletes and associations, both on a personal level and in a broader sense. Together we can achieve more."

For more information about the Athletes' Commission, visit the NOC*NSF website. Through this link, you can learn more about the Girls Only project. Watch this video to understand the project and the exchange with a girls' team from Budapest.