The chance for one lucky kids’ sports team to hang with the Southland Sharks at Splash Palace is back.

The Splash Palace sports competition offers local tamariki the chance to win a party with some of the region’s biggest sporting stars. The lucky team will win a meet-and-greet session with the Sharks players, swim passes, and catering from the on-site Liquid Café.

Invercargill City Council Aquatic Services Manager Stephen Cook said the evident pride of the inaugural event’s winners, a Year 5 team from Star Rugby Club, last year made bring the competition back a second time an easy choice.

“We know how deep the pride for our sports teams runs here in Southland, and we’re excited to encourage the kids throughout our region to celebrate what sets their sports team apart from the rest,” he said.

“We want to hear about what makes our sports teams special, and give some Southland sports stars of the future the chance to spend time with high performance athletes, as a reward for their passion and enthusiasm.

“Anybody can enter a team they think is deserving of the win – you can be a coach, a supporter, the parent or grandparent of a player, or the whole team can band together to submit an entry.”

Last year, the competition attracted 41 entries from sports teams across Southland, with codes running the gamut from football, netball, rugby, basketball, hockey, softball, and water polo, Cook said.

Southland Sharks Operations Manager Jill Bolger said being part of the promotion gave players the opportunity to reward the children for their sporting efforts in a fun way.

“Southlanders are in a league of their own when it comes to backing their sports teams – whether that’s heading down to the local rugby club every Saturday in the middle of winter, or making as much noise as they can in the Shark Tank at Stadium Southland,” she said.

“Our guys relish any chance they have to meet the local community, especially Southland’s young people, and they had a ball meeting last year’s winning team from Star Rugby Club. I know they’re really looking forward to recognising the commitment put in, week-after-week, by the lucky winning team this time around, too.”

Cook said Splash Palace was a long-time supporter of regional sporting teams including the Steel, Stags, and Sharks, with players from each team regularly using the facilities at the pool as part of their training.

“A huge part of Splash Palace’s purpose is about encouraging Southland’s tamariki to enjoy opportunities that help them stay active. We’re really thrilled the Sharks are back on board to help us celebrate grassroots sport around our region.”

Entries open on Wednesday 21 May and close at 5pm on Monday 2 June. Childrens’ sports teams from throughout the Southland region were eligible to enter. To be in to win, comment on Splash Palace’s competition announcement on Facebook, email marketing@icc.govt.nz, or fill out an entry form at the Splash Palace reception.