From youth development to Masters – a club for all age groups
Clubs and associations are the heart of a community. They enrich local life through cultural and sporting activities, offer educational opportunities, and are involved in social projects. In this series, we present various clubs and associations that make life in Darmstadt worth living.
Darmstadt Water Polo Club 1970
The club has been a fixture in Hessian water sports for over five decades. Formed from the merger of three Darmstadt swimming clubs, it has pursued the goal of promoting both youth development and competitive sports since its founding. The men's team plays consistently in the 2nd Water Polo League South, and the club also offers women's, youth, and masters teams. In addition to sporting success, the club places great emphasis on community – for example, through tournaments, training camps, and the long-standing Pentecost tournament in Darmstadt. Alexander Götz spoke with Alina Klug from WVD for DA.news:
How did the club come about and what makes water polo in Darmstadt special?
We were founded in 1970 from the three water polo sections of the region's water sports clubs. The aim was to play more successfully together and to secure the future through joint youth development. We are very successful in this today. Even though water polo is a niche sport, our strong club spirit, sporting achievements, and the sheer enjoyment of the game allow us to continually attract new players and supporters. We are performance-oriented at the elite level, but we also maintain a vibrant club atmosphere. We live and breathe water polo!
WV Darmstadt 1970 is one of the few clubs that offers water polo for everyone. From the U10s through all youth teams (U12, U14, U16, U18) to men's and women's teams and masters, for boys and girls, men and women of all ages. We have the only two all-girls teams in Hesse.
Team spirit is crucial in water polo. Water polo is much more of a team sport than other sports because one person alone cannot dominate the game to the same extent. Therefore, children learn immediately that good teamwork leads to success.
What training programs are available for different age groups?
WV Darmstadt offers several hours of training every weekday, usually in the afternoon and evening, with an additional early morning swim on Wednesdays starting at 6:30 a.m. The youth teams train two to three times a week. The adult teams train three times a week. The competitive U16 and U18 youth teams train five times a week. There are separate sessions for strength and conditioning training, as well as opportunities for a recreational swimming group and for those who simply want to swim for fun. In addition, there are several special training sessions on match Sundays.
Are there any special tournaments or sporting highlights?
The highlight of the club's year is the annual International Pentecost Tournament, which we hosted for the 50th time this year. Over two days, more than 20 teams from Germany and several neighboring countries compete at the DSW outdoor swimming pool and camp there as well. The tournament includes men's and women's competitions, a smaller competition for open teams, and accompanying youth games. The second highlight is the Merck Cup for youth teams. The tournament has borne this name since Merck became our main sponsor. Previously, it was supported by our late player Hans Müller and was therefore called the Müller Cup. Since we have been able to hold this youth tournament at the Nordbad swimming pool, usually on a full Sunday in the summer, we organize it for three age groups – U10, U12, and U14. Each age group includes between four and eight teams from Hesse and the neighboring states.
Which successes in the club's history are particularly noteworthy?
Our men's team won the South German Championship several times (2nd Water Polo League South), but never managed to gain promotion to the First League. Our women's team also won the South German Championship several times, but never sought promotion. Several of our youth teams finished among the top four in South Germany, qualifying them to compete for the German Championship against 16 other teams. In the Masters category, we even won the 2023 German Championship in the Men's 60+ category.
Why is the partnership with Merck so valuable? Are there things that can only be achieved with such a strong partner?
The commitment of our supporters is invaluable to us. Organizing and running such an active sports club is very expensive. This includes coaching costs, even if only for expenses, track rentals, match fees, referee fees, equipment, travel costs, and much more. Without the support of our sponsors like Merck, we would have to significantly increase membership fees, which would hit many families hard, potentially making it impossible for them to afford sports for their children. We also support our youth teams with travel costs and subsidies for trips and events, such as the summer camp in Alkmaar. None of this would be possible without our long-standing partners in the region, and we are very grateful for their support. We manage our resources very carefully and expect all active members to contribute financially. We do not pay athletes directly.
How can interested people participate or support you?
There's always something going on with us – not just in the water, but also in our club life. Anyone who'd like to is welcome to drop by a training session and get a feel for the swimming pool atmosphere. One or two weeks of trial training are free. We live and breathe water polo, and who knows, maybe we'll inspire some of you to join us.
Liveable Darmstadt
powered by MerckClubs and associations are the heart of a community. They foster social integration and bring people together. They enrich local life through cultural and sporting activities, offer educational opportunities, and are involved in social projects. In short: they make a city like Darmstadt a great place to live.
But this costs money. Membership fees aren't always enough. In this series, we present selected Darmstadt clubs and associations that are supported by Merck – be it in sports, culture, community service, or science education.
Each of these clubs has a unique story and contributes to strengthening the community in its own way. We asked the organizers what makes their club special and how the partnership with Merck not only provides financial support but also fosters growth and development.
Learn more about the diverse club and association scene in Darmstadt and how Merck and its partners are achieving more together – for a region worth living in.
