NSWIS celebrates Body Positivity and Female Coaches

With over 50 years of playing and coaching experience between them, NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) women’s water polo coaches, Rebecca Rippon and Jacki Northam have observed extraordinary development in the game, none more important than the body positivity among female athletes.

“We are trying to coach and create a culture of young, strong women who are confident in their bodies and themselves,” Bec Rippon, NSWIS women’s water polo head coach said.

“So the fact you see girls being proud of their bodies and working hard for what they want in the pool, I think it is a real compliment.”

The fun-loving, formidable pair are pioneers of the women’s game and first crossed paths in the lead-up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, when women’s water polo was first included in the program, 100 years after the men’s game.

“I was the first women’s water polo coach at NSWIS when I began at the organisation in 1998,” Jacki said.

“I first ran into Bec when we were playing each other and she was a young whipper snapper. She was in the broader squad in the lead-up to 2000.”

Jacki ended up coaching Bec and was a member of the coaching team which guided the Stingers to an Olympic gold medal in 2000, the first time women’s water polo was included in the Olympic program.

“It was a fairy tale, it could not have been scripted better, winning in the last second of the game,” Jacki said.

After 2000 Jacki stepped away from the sport to be a mum while Bec progressed her international playing career, representing Australia at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games where she won a bronze medal.

“The journey to being an elite athlete is tough, getting there is hard, playing at the Olympics even harder. I have mixed feelings about Athens but by Beijing I was more established, I had more experience and knew what I was capable of,” Bec said.

The Olympic bronze medallist took some time out after Beijing, but it wasn’t long before she was called back, not as an athlete but as a coach.

“The training has to be fun. That was my experience as an athlete. When it is only about winning and losing then it’s not enjoyable,” Bec said.

“I was invited to do some coaching at Cronulla and then to camps as an assistant. I was enjoying it and learning and soon a project role came up at NSWIS which led to this position.”

The two-time Olympian centres her coaching style on fairness and having fun.

“You have to find enjoyment in getting an elbow to head. That’s what helps you grow. It’s a personal battle but there is only a small group that make it. So, it is about the whole journey and how that influences you outside of high performance sport.”

The two enjoy a great coaching relationship and have developed their styles over different times in the sport. Jacki is really good at teaching tactics and bringing people together.

“She has much more patience than I do,” Bec said about Jacki with a laugh. “She is tough but fair.”

Bec is really good at providing the athletes with individual feedback and bringing out their best.

“Bec has had a massive amount of experience and brings a wealth of knowledge about our athletes and playing against international athletes,” Jacki said.

The two are paying it forward using their knowledge, skills and experience in diverse ways, not only in developing an incredible squad of high performance female water polo athletes, but also mentoring coaches and advising grassroots water polo programs.

“I coach a talent squad and have a couple of younger coaches come along to mentor,” Jacki said.

“I work with Water Polo NSW to use our sport to engage young girls through the program, Girls Making Waves,” Bec said.

On International Women’s Day, the pair will be sitting back, smiling and acknowledging the women with whom they have worked during their water polo careers.

“It’s a good day to think that girls can do anything – to acknowledge women in all walks of life – being a mum or an exceptional athlete or a doctor.”

With Paris 2024 looming, there is almost certain to be a team featuring several athletes Bec and Jacki have guided over the years at NSWIS.

“Ones to watch include the current Stingers captain Zoe Arancini and several girls who are currently playing in some of the top clubs overseas.”

Frances Cordaro, NSWIS