BWPC 12s & 10s Carnival · Dawn Fraser Baths

12s and 10s water polo carnival at Dawny

Sunday 3 to Tuesday 5 January 2027, for kids born 2014 to 2019. One of the most popular junior carnivals in Australia, and new for 2027, a 10 and under division with modified rules. No experience needed: we grade every team.

The carnival starts: 3 January 2027

Enter a teamCome on your ownAll the ways in
Dawny 12's and 10's and under carnival logo
When
3 to 5 January 2027, from 8:30am
Where
Dawn Fraser Baths, Elkington Park, Balmain
Who
Born 2014 to 2019, boys, girls and mixed
Entry
$930 a team early bird, $150 on your own
Entries close 25 November

Three ways in

Entry and payment are on the club's registration platform. Total numbers are capped, so enter early; the early bird price for teams ends at midnight on 15 November.

Clubs, schools, associations and groups

Enter a team

$930per team by 15 November, then $980 to 25 November

  • 8 to 10 players per team
  • Boys, girls or mixed
  • Enter as many teams as you like
Enter a team
Players without a team

Come on your own

$150per player

  • We place you in a Barbarian or Harlequin team, with pool entry at Dawny included
  • Club coaches for every Barbarian and Harlequin team
  • Players not in a club are registered with Water Polo NSW as Flippa Ball players, included in the fee
Enter as an individual
Born 2013 and earlier

Junior referee mentor program

$140includes an officials' t-shirt

  • Learn to referee and run the table
  • Supported by the Water Polo NSW Referees Association
  • Limited places; closes 25 November or when full
Join the referee program

Open nowBalmain club members: registration as a player, referee or junior coach is open. Sign in to your member account on revolutioniseSPORT and register under the club's events. Register as a club member

Key dates

The road to January

  1. 15 NovEarly bird endsTeam entry $930 until midnight.
  2. 25 NovEntries closeTeams $980, individuals $150, referees $140. Earlier if the cap is reached.
  3. 30 NovTeam lists dueWe email a team template to fill in.
  4. 20 DecDraw releasedOnline and on the carnival Facebook page.
  5. 3 to 5 JanCarnivalThree days at Dawny from 8:30am.
How it works

Close games, all day

Graded for you

Divisions by gender, age and experience: generally boys, girls, mixed and a younger division, and new for 2027, a mixed 10 and under division played to modified rules. Set by the committee after entries close.

At least seven games

Round robin, then play-offs and finals. Every team plays a minimum of seven games.

Clinics

Optional skills clinics run by Australian Water Polo League players on Thursday and Friday.

Everyone plays

Maximum participation in a nurturing, non-threatening environment, with a code of conduct for players, coaches and spectators. Born 2014 to 2019 and never played? Come anyway.

The rules, short version

  • 20 × 12 mfield, two fields at Dawny
  • Size 3ball
  • 6in the water: a goalkeeper and 5 field players
  • 8 to 10players per team, goalkeeper rotated
  • 35 sshot clock
  • 7 minhalves in the rounds; grand finals are 4 minute quarters
All the carnival rules
  1. Water Polo NSW rules with the following changes.
  2. Playing field 20 m long and 12 m wide, two fields in use.
  3. Six players in the water: one goalkeeper and five field players. Size 3 ball.
  4. A maximum of 10 and a minimum of 8 players per game. If a team is short, the carnival director allocates players.
  5. No player plays for two teams unless the carnival director says so. Players or teams may be regraded at the director's discretion, and divisions may be mixed.
  6. Changes to players or cap numbers are lodged with Control before games.
  7. 35 second possession time. No 5 metre penalties.
  8. No shots at goal from a free throw or from behind halfway.
  9. Exclusions: swim to the exclusion zone, then return to play.
  10. Round games are 7 minute halves with a 2 minute break, and 4 minutes between games. Teams do not change ends at half time; referees do.
  11. Grand finals are 4 minute quarters with 1 minute breaks and 2 minutes at half time, 5 minutes between games, and teams change ends at half time.
  12. Teams are ready at their allocated time; both pools start together.
  13. Players wear the same cap number, 2 to 11, all carnival. The goalkeeper is rotated and their field cap number goes on the score card.
  14. The first team named on the draw wears white or light caps and starts at the pontoon or deck end. Teams bring their own caps.
  15. Balls go back to the crate after each game.
  16. Each team nominates an MVP from the opposition after each game (3 points and 1 point), recorded by the coach or manager.
  17. Every team plays at least 7 games. Carnival officials wear officials' shirts.
  18. The referee is always right.
On the day

Bring a hat, a shade and a team cap

Sun and water

  • Outdoor tidal harbour pool with some shaded areas
  • Open decking for clubs to put up a 3 × 3 m team tent
  • Free sunscreen and drinking water
  • Down time: the tide goes out from 8am, so the beach area is open for play by midday

Getting in

  • Every participant gets a pass on a lanyard; show it at the entry point
  • Multi-day passes for spectators
  • Trained first aid staff at Dawny all three days

Food

  • Breakfast: bacon and egg rolls, fruit salad
  • Lunch: chicken wraps and healthy snacks
  • Home-made cakes and slices, and some lollies
  • Pool kiosk: coffee, cold drinks, slushies, hot chips, ice cream
  • A coffee van on site

Delfina stall

  • Water polo balls
  • T-shirts and singlets
  • Water bottles and key rings
  • Rule books if available
Your entry covers
  • Pool entry for all three days for players and one team official
  • A pass on a lanyard for every participant
  • Referees and table officials
  • Workshops for players and parents
  • The carnival program, online
Paying
  • Pay by card at registration, or by EFT using the instructions on your invoice.
  • Payment is due by the registration deadline. An entry is not complete until it is paid.
  • Places go to teams in order of registration and payment, and total numbers are capped.
Since 2011

From 9 teams to 43

The carnival began in January 2011 as a two-day stand-in when the national 12s event was cancelled. Rain, floods, a renovation, COVID and water quality have all moved it away from Dawny; it keeps coming back. Choose a year for its story.

201743 teams · at Dawny

The record: 43 teams, five divisions, 44 junior referees.

The full carnival history

Draw, results and documents

Everything for the carnival

There are no printed draws: the draw, program and results are on the live event website from 20 December.

Live event websiteDraw from 20 December, program, results and noticesDraw and results hereThe same draw and results on this siteCarnival overview 2027Everything on one page, to print or share (PDF)Evacuation diagramExits, assembly areas and emergency contacts at Dawny (PDF)Carnival Facebook pageResults and notices during the carnivalCarnival Instagram@bwpc12s, photos from the pool deckCode of conductFor players, coaches, parents and spectators
Questions

Ask the convenors

Ann-Marie Miranda and Cara O'Neill run the carnival. Email 12s-carnival@balmainwaterpolo.com.au.

Supporters