FAQs
- When can I join SOCAL Water Polo?
- What are the seasons?
- Do I have to tryout or pass a swim test?
- How do I join SOCAL Water Polo?
- How much does SOCAL Water Polo cost?
- What if our family can’t afford to be members of SOCAL?
- Do you teach kids to swim?
- Why would I ever want my child to play water polo?
- How old do you have to be to play water polo?
- What equipment do we have to purchase or wear?
- Does SOCAL accept players from out of the District?
- I am in High School or college, can I play for SOCAL?
- How do I find information about the high school aquatic programs at Beckman,Foothill and Tustin?
- How come you don’t go year round with the youth athletes?
- When are you told what team you will play on?
- My player is not the best athlete, but he/she loves water polo?
- Are you just an Elite program?
- What are the age groups in water polo?
- What are the attendance requirements for SOCAL Water Polo?
- When should we schedule vacations?
- My child wants to be a goalie, what should I do?
- What are the basic skills of water polo?
- How do I learn the rules of water polo?
- I have a lot more questions, who do I ask?
When can I join SOCAL Water Polo?
You may join SOCAL at any time. Just find the pool where we are practicing and introduce yourself to our friendly staff. Or contact one of our Head Coaches who are listed on our homepage. Our water polo seasons and fees are split into four quarters througout the year. We welcome you any time and can prorate your fees to when you join a session.
What are the seasons?
SOCAL has divided its offerings into four quarters: September 1 to November 30 (Autumn), December 1 to February 28 (Winter), March 1 to May 31 (Spring), and June 1 to August 31 (Summer). These quarters jive with our competition schedule. Youth compete quite a bit in the autumn and summer. Winter is more about development for youth and less about competition. We encourage our players to be swimming. Just check the Calendar section of our web site for practice times and get a sense of the flow. Feel free to show up at the practices and say hello to the coach. Many of our coaches biographies and contact information are in our website. Feel free to contact them directly.
Do I have to tryout or pass a swim test?
Our tryouts are based on a young person swimming proficiently 100 yards of a pool, or four laps of a 25 yard pool, or four widths of the pool at Beckman or Tustin High Schools. We gauge your ability by this “test”. As a reference point, Junior Lifeguards requires its youngest members to swim 100 yards in one minute and 50 seconds. The best water youth polo players nearing high school swim 100 yards in about one minute.
How do I join SOCAL Water Polo?
Start by picking up the phone and calling us! 714-697-9656. We will walk you through our automated sign up process and warmly welcome you. Please click on the “Join” tab in SOCAL Water Polo’s Home Page to register and get going. First, obtain membership for your player in our National Governing Body, USA Water Polo (http:://usawaterpolo.org) at the least expensive membeship level to protect us for liability reasons. Armed with your new USA Water Polo number, register at our web site.
How much does SOCAL Water Polo cost?
Fees are subject to change. 10 and Under programs cost $400, while Youth (14 years old and younger) and High School programs cost $450 for the spring and summer, $450 for the fall session, and winter TBD. The total investment in water polo per year is about $2,000. There are sometimes trips to away tournaments that cost more and are optional for the players. Annual USA Water Polo dues are $65. We STRONGLY encourage and support our players to be on swim teams.
What if our family can’t afford to be members of SOCAL?
SOCAL has always been a fortunate and supportive community. If you have trouble with the dues and fees, please approach Robin Baia or Bob Krause. Bob will handle your special payment request discretely. Scholarships are approved by the Board of Directors of SOCAL. There are many creative ways to work payments. We have a group of anonymous and supportive donors who make sure that no players are denied participation for lack of ability to pay. Many of our athletes participate by assisting with coaching, working the pool, or jumping in the water and showing new athletes fundamentals of the game.
Do you teach kids to swim?
No, we teach them to play water polo. Beginning swimmers can go to Blue Buoy Swim School located in Tustin to learn how to swim or join Tustin Unified School District’s summer programs. Swimmers who are more advanced than beginners may join our conditioning program for an excellent base or a number of local swim teams such as SOCAL Aquatics out of Tustin High School or NOVA Aquatics. See your coach to learn about which option might be best for you.
Why would I ever want my child to play water polo?
Water polo is a small sport and the ratio of youth playing water polo to the number of athletes playing in high school is VERY LARGE which means there aren’t 300 8th graders vying for varsity training spots in high school their freshmen year like in other land sports. Water polo is an Olympic sport. Many colleges offer water polo. Some of SOCAL’s athletes have participated on the National and Olympic teams. Many of SOCAL’s athletes play water polo in high school. Almost all of SOCAL’s athletes have splendid high school water polo careers. Water polo is a great background for participating as a lifeguard at pools or the beach during summers. Water polo athletes are the best physical specimens in sports. No one is better conditioned than water polo players. Games last 45 minutes. When the game is over, your athlete is clean, exhausted, and hungry. That’s much different than America’s other past times, where game times are longer, very sweaty, and sometimes not always active.
How old do you have to be to play water polo?
Being comfortable in the water is the main criteria to playing water polo. We have players as young as six playing with us. Please approach your coach and determine how to ease into our sport. Remember, we have a fun Splash Ball program that give young players a great foundation of the sport while they are doing other sports or getting ready for water polo. Contact us or register on-line at sopacwp.com.
What equipment do we have to purchase or wear?
SOCAL’s colors are black and gold. We desire players wearing uniform suits and apparel that helps build team unity and pride. Girls will find it much easier to play water polo if they keep their hair in a bathing cap. Rules dictate black caps or white caps depending what color caps the teams is wearing for their game. Basic apparel and other merchandise like sweats, towels, etc. are available through our supplier TruWest. Click on the TruWest tab at SOCAL’s homepage.
Does SOCAL accept players from out of the District?
SOCAL is an open club located in the Tustin Unified School District. SOCAL will not deny club membership to anyone on the basis of location. However, because we use the facilities of Tustin Unified School District, we have a responsibility to serve the TUSD community and be accountable to the TUSD community. Out of season, our local school athletes affiliate with SOCAL for their year round training needs. The long term success of SOCAL is attributable to our local athletes and the athletes who commute to participate with us. We believe that providing our athletes the best training opportunities means having them practice with the best athletes. We strive to balance development and the desire to win.
I am in High School or college, can I play for SOCAL?
High school or college players are accepted on a case by case basis as determined by the coach of that program. You MUST contact the coaches of these groups DIRECTLY to determine if you can participate. Please be aware that the high school and university coaches who are part of the SOCAL staff are subject to local high school rules (CIF) or NCAA rules, they may be restricted from how they can interact with you based on those rules or the time of the year. Please use our web site to find the contact information for the coaches you want to find.
How do I find information about the high school aquatic programs at Beckman, Foothill and Tustin?
Contact the Athletic Director or talk to them. Talk to other parents. Remember that high school coaches are severely restricted in talking to prospective athletes and respect that. Transfers into Tustin schools and between schools in Tustin are allowed on a limited basis and within very strict advance timelines. If you are interested in such a transfer, contact Tustin Unified School District or look on their web site.
When are you told what team you will play on?? My player is not the best athlete, but he/she loves water polo? Are you just an Elite program?
Parents in youth sports tend to forget that athletes continue to mature into high school and beyond. SOCAL is the launching pad for the sport of water polo or a place where older athletes can find great training and team opportunities. SOCAL tries its best to provide opportunities for all of its players. We carry numerous teams. If you ever feel you are on the short end of the stick, please address your coach privately. If your concerns are not answered, please contact a Board member.
What are the age groups in water polo?
Quite simply, your age in water polo is determined by the year you were born. Subract the current year from your birth year and you know your water polo age. For example, in 2010, someone born in December 1997 is considered to be water polo age 13. It does not matter what month you were born, only what year. In the United States, age groups are currently divided into 18&under, 16&under, 14&under, 12&under, and 10&under. So every player spends two years in one age group. So if your child is water polo 11, for example, she will be playing with 11 and 12 year olds for two years.
On the USA National Teams, age groups are determined by born in ODD years, such as born in 1991, 1993, 1995…. so a player is always associated with his “born in” year. Even year birthdays are always behind by a year. Someone born in January of an odd year may have a physical advantage over a December even year birthdate. That’s the way age groups are determined for international play so the USA adopted that for its national teams?
What are the Attendance requirements for SOCAL Water Polo?
Youth water polo is most intense in September and October. If there is any time of year to clear other activities for youth water polo, it is during the fall season. For the travel teams, those going for championships, attendance requirements are strict and subject to the individual coaches’ rules. Summer time is less “intense” but offers the most hours of practice time and games. We recommend that every player, NOT THE PARENTS, call the coaching staff directly to arrange their schedules. This begins to develop maturity in the younger athletes. All of our coaches are so crazy that we are generally available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
When should we schedule vacations?
If you are part of a team that competes in the National Junior Olympics at the end of July or beginning of August, never schedule a vacation in July. The best times for vacations are August and from mid-November thru April. If you are on a team that is competing for a title, advise your coach way in advance of obligations and commitments.
My child wants to be a goalie, what should I do?
Talk to the coach. The history of goalies at SOCAL is unparalleled anywhere in the world. Goalies are very athletic, have a special mentality, and train differently than field players. At SOCAL, we require every player who wants to be a goalie to have the “Goalie Talk” with your coach.
What are the basic skills of water polo?
Comfort in the water is the most fundamental water polo skill. Swimming is part of that. Being able to stay high above the water using a leg skill called the “eggbeater” is vital to success. We teach the eggbeater. Learning to handle the ball is another skill that is important. Water polo is like soccer and basketball played in the water. The object is to put the ball in the goal on offense and prevent the ball from going in the goal on defense. SOCAL believes that understanding defense before offense is vital to a player’s ultimate success.
How do I learn the rules of water polo?
Unlike other sports, water polo action does not stop when the whistle blows. Action begins when the whistle blows. The object of the game is to throw the ball in the goal. Goalies can touch the ball with two hands. All other players can only touch the ball with one hand. Fouls create free throws for the person fouled. In some instances, when the person fouled is grossly impeded, the defender has to leave the game for 20 seconds and the offense has a “power play opportunity.” In the worst fouls, a penalty throw is awarded. Sit back, relax, enjoy and learn. The player’s learn the rules faster than the parents!!!!!
I have a lot more questions, who do I ask?
Janet Zwirner can answer all your questions.
Give her a jingle at 714-697-9656.