hello, we are the essex blades swimming & water polo club

Swimming competitively involves moving your arms and legs in specific techniques to move through a distance of water in the quickest time possible. In a swimming race, the person/ team that finishes swimming the specified distance first wins. The 4 strokes (techniques) competed in are Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle, or all four in that order known as Medley. This can be competed individually or as a team of 4 in a relay. It can be competed in either a pool or open water, usually depending on the distance being raced. Pools competed in can either be Long Course (50m) or Short Course (25m).

Water Polo is a ball sport played between two teams in a swimming pool, wherein the opposing sides try to score goals by throwing a ball into the opposition's goal. The team that has scored the most goals at the end of the match wins. The ball is similiar size and weight to a football and bouyant in water. A Water Polo team is made up of six field players, whose roles involves both offence and defence, and one goalkeeper. A match is played in four quarters each consisting of 8 minutes but the clock is stopped whenever the ball is not in play.
 

How many teams do we have?

Men's 1st Water Polo - BUCS South East 1A
Women's 1st Water Polo - BUCS South East 1A
Swimming Team competes annually at BUCS Long Course and Short Course events, as well as regional events.

Recent honours?

Essex Blades Bronze Standard Club - 2016/17
Essex Blades Newcomer of the Year - Senanur Duven - 2017/18
Essex Blades Student Coach of the Year - Toby Rogers - 2018/19
Shortlisted Social Club of the Year- 2020/21
Essex Blades Gold Standard Club - 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 

Do I need anything else before I get involved?

Googles and swim trunks/ swim costume (Swimming Hat optional) as well as a towel for drying off afterwards.