Women’s performance water polo programme

St Andrews offers students a world-leading academic education alongside a friendly, inclusive, and supportive performance water polo programme that enriches the student experience.

Led by head coach Ian McCallum, our vision is to offer one of the best performance water polo programmes in the UK, to enable our top players and staff to develop and progress to the best of their abilities and to compete at the highest level possible year in, year out.

We aim to provide the very best support and a comprehensive programme of training, allowing our students to harness their full potential and gain the very best water polo experience whilst at St Andrews.

With highly experienced coaches and a comprehensive support programme, you’ll have access to a unique water polo environment to take your game and your education to the highest level as part of the truly unique student experience.

Find out more

• Water Polo programme

  The University of St Andrews has developed one of the best student Water Polo programmes in the UK. Athletes on the performance squad get access to a full support package including:

  • Coaching staff with international playing and coaching experience
  • Up to six pool sessions per week focusing on fitness, basic technique,
    skills development, swimming, team preparation and gameplay
  • Individual position specific technical sessions
  • Twice weekly water polo specific strength and conditioning sessions
    coached by accredited S&C coaches
  • Physiotherapy support
  • A series of seminars to improve understanding of nutrition, recovery,
    psychology and time management
  • Regular fitness testing to monitor progress
  • Individual meetings to discuss personal goals
  • Competitive matches for all abilities throughout the season
  • Overseas pre-season training camp
  • Several social functions to make sure everyone enjoys life out of the pool

• Competition

  

  British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) championships

  

  The performance squad competes in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championship.

  British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK.

  The women’s squad competes on a weekly basis throughout term time in the tiered BUCS league structure and BUCS knockout competitions, contributing to the University’s overall standing in the BUCS points table.

  The Women’s Performance Squad currently competes in Premier League North and have been crowned National Champions in 2019 and 2022 as well as finishing second in the league in 2021-2022 season.

• Facilities

  

  Performance Centre

  Following a multi-million pound redevelopment of the Performance Centre, students at St Andrews have access to some of the best sports facilities in Scotland.

  Saints Sport offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, which are available all year round.

  Indoor facilities

  • dedicated performance suite
  • modern, spacious gym
  • exercise studio
  • four-court sports hall
  • new technical climbing wall
  • eight-court arena
  • four-court indoor tennis centre

  Outdoor facilities

  • 13 grass pitches
  • full-size floodlit 3G synthetic pitch
  • sand-dressed synthetic pitch
  • four tennis courts
  • athletics track
  • additional multi-sport grass pitches
  • multi-sport courts

  Performance Suite

  Saints water polo scholars also make use of the top class Performance Suite – a dedicated Strength and Conditioning gym that provides a private space for the performance squad to train undisturbed. Sessions are run by expert Strength and Conditioning accredited coaches who develop tennis specific programmes for our athletes.

  Swimming pools

  As part of the Saints Water Polo programme, players have access to St Leonards School swimming pool in the centre of town for training and the Carnegie Leisure Centre pool in Dunfermline for BUCS matches.