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.
The team that participated in the International Festival 2017 won the U13 championships: “In Lignano they have learned to overcome difficulties"
HaBaWaBa feeds the passion for waterpolo and teaches kids not to give up. That’s the lesson that comes from Greece, where last Sunday Patras Nautical Club won the U13 national championships: to push new champions towards success it was also the love for the game and the experience they’ve done at the HaBaWaBa International Festival in 2017, when Patras, with the same group of little players, reached the 2nd place in the U9 tournament, behind the French-Monegasque Team Azur Entente. The children of that time have grown up, they become real athletes and now they are also champions of Greece. Kids of Patras at HaBaWaBa International Festival in 2017. Above the same team last Sunday, celebrating the U13 national championships of Greece
Patras, coached by Michele Bartselas assisted by Billy Labatos, was undefeated in the preliminary stages of the U13 national championship and then held a triumphant path in the finals in Athens, clearly overcoming every opponent: Paleo Faliro (10-7), Chania (11-6), Panathinaikos (12-8), Paok (16-4), Glyfada (9-5 in the semifinals) and again Paleo Faliro (10-2 in the final).
According to the managers of the Greek club, the participation in the HaBaWaBa International Festival was crucial for the growth of these young waterpolo players. "The team of Patras Nautical Club based totally on athletes that the previous years have participated and gained valuable experiences and great motivation in the HaBaWaBa Waterpolo Festival, starting with the fascinating U09 Final back in 2017," explains secretary Takis Kalokerinos.
“The kids showed incredible unity and team spirit, absolute concentration to their goal (I.e. the conquest of a medal), incontestable belief about their capabilities and expected normally therewards oftheir intensive training since now - technical manager Maria Papoulia states -. Having all kids played from the age of 8 and 9 years of age, at a fantastic final game of U9 HaBaWaBa (in additional to tens of other competitive games for three consecutive years and in front of an international audience consisted of thousands people) they have very early gained the necessary self-confidence to face challenges and harsh conditions, have created truly friendship between them and cultivated a passionate motivation and love for waterpolo and their team. These explain I believe the dynamic and power of our team expressed in the final score of each individual game”.The U13 Greek champions of Patras Nautical Club: Elias Angelopoulos, Dimitis Valouxis, Paris Georgaras, Achileas Giotis, Georgio Digaletos, Christos Kotsonis, Sotiris Koulis, Kostantinos Kremantalas, Evangelo Labatos, Konstantinos Bitsakos, Dimitrios Nikolopoulos, Angelos Papakos, Giannis Tzavaras, Panagiotis Tountopoulos, Andreas Triantafillos, Gregorios Tsirakos. All. Michele Bartselas.
Another image of Patras at HaBaWaBa International Festival 2017
