GEORGINA KOVACS-MULLER APPOINTED AS GAME DEVELOPMENT & COMPETITIONS OFFICER – SUNSHINE COAST

On behalf of Water Polo Queensland Inc. (WPQ), we are delighted to announce that Georgina Kovacs-Muller has been appointed as the WPQ Game Development & Competition Officer based on the Sunshine Coast. This role will be responsible for delivering development, capacity building, growth and participation opportunities within the Sunshine Coast Region and surrounding areas. A key part of the role will be to establish and manage local competitions (junior and senior) and attract and retain new participants to water polo whilst building the capacity and capability of coaches, referees, officials and volunteers.

The focus of the role will require stakeholder management with the Sunshine Coast Water Polo Association (SCWP) as well as existing Clubs and Schools to ensure they are all working together to grow and develop a sustainable model for water polo on the Sunshine Coast. This role will also support WPQ in delivering the recently awarded WPA/Sport Australia participation grant locally as part of the national strategy. The funded project will focus on increasing adult participation (18-35 years) in water polo, with a target audience primarily of university students and winter invasion sport participants.

Georgina comes to the role with extensive skills, experience and knowledge in water polo coaching and high-performance sport, having spent over 10 years working in the WAIS Women’s Water Polo Program and as Head Coach since 2013. Georgina is a current WPA Advanced Coach, Level 1 Referee and is a qualified Presenter / Assessor. She is a graduate of the AIS Performance Coach Program, and as part of her professional and personal development, Georgina completed courses with the ASC Mentor Training Program, AIS Mental Health in Sport Program and is finishing off a Certificate IV in Elite Athlete Wellbeing Management. She was also integral in developing the ‘Essential Water Polo’ iBook series of educational material.

Georgina has held National Age Group Coaching roles with WPA for the past several years, including as Head Coach of the National Junior Women’s Team at the 2019 World Championships and is currently the Head Coach of the National Cadet Women’s Water Polo Team who will be competing in the 2022 World Championships in Greece later in the year. As a former National level swimmer and water polo player in Hungary, Georgina has travelled the world playing water polo in various Leagues, including the AWL where she played with the UWA Torpedoes. She has been involved in coaching athletes (female and male) on all levels and age groups, worked in Club and School environments, and has an acute understanding of performance sport, pathways and development which will be essential to the role.

Georgina has a wealth of domestic and international water polo experience and is committed to creating sustainable development and pathway opportunities for athletes, coaches and officials at all levels. She has experience collaborating and building relationships with key stakeholder groups within the sport including National and State Associations, clubs and schools, Universities as well as individual athletes, coaches, referees, officials and administrators. She is passionate about delivering successful participation, competition and development outcomes to the wider water polo community and has experience with implementing effective competition and development opportunities from grassroots through to elite level.

WPQ welcomes Georgina to this exciting role, and we look forward to the contribution she will make in delivering enhanced water polo participation opportunities throughout the Sunshine Coast Region and surrounding areas as well as building the capacity and capability of all participants and volunteers at all levels of the sport.