The biggest youth water polo event in the world: for U9, U11 and U13, held every year in Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) and drawing teams from five continents.
When is the next Festival?
From 13 to 20 June the week for U9 and U11, from 20 to 27 June the week for U13.
Do boys and girls play together?
U9 and U11 tournaments include girls’, boys’ and mixed teams. The U13 event is split into a girls-only tournament and one for boys-only or mixed teams.
How do you enter the Festival?
Open the page of the event for your team (U9-U11 or U13) and follow the Registration Guide: it contains the information, duties, costs and deadlines. A club can enter more than one team in a single tournament.
Where do teams stay during the Festival?
Teams, made up of players, coaches and officials, all stay inside Bella Italia & EFA Village. Parents, family and supporters travelling with the team can enter the village by paying admission.
What is the Champion’s Passport?
It is a code of ethics: the values of sport to respect in order to be part of the HaBaWaBa community.
What is the aim of the HaBaWaBa project?
To spread the values of sport among children and create a deep bond with water polo through an unforgettable experience.
As in 2022, the 6-year-old Pecsi is the youngest player. The award for respect of referees and opponents goes to the Egyptian team and the Italian debs
The Golden Baby, the award Waterpolo Development gives to the youngest player of the HaBaWaBa International Festival, never went to the same winner for two consecutive editions. Thus Bernat Krizsan, a baby-talent from Hungarian Pecsi U10, sets a new record.
Bernat Krizsan è nato il 9 settembre 2016.
Bernat had already won the Golden Baby in 2022, when he was only 5. Now the little Hungarian talent is 6 (and 9 months, he was born on September 9, 2016) but he is still the youngest player among the 131 teams of the Festival. Yesterday Bernat was visibly excited when he was awarded during the closing ceremony held at Bella Italia & EFA Village after the finals.
The Fair Play Trophy for each category was also presented during the ceremony: the award goes to team that is on the top of ranking drawn up with the points awarded game by game by juries and referees, considering the behavior of every team throughout the tournament. The Egyptians Mini Minions of the New Giza Sporting Club were the most fair on the field in the U10 category; in the U12 category the Fair Play Trophy went instead to Circolo Pallanuoto Lucca: the Italian club, that was at its first participation in the Festival, begins its adventure in the HaBaWaBa world with a prestigious achievement.
