American Water Polo

AWP Offers Masters Something More

 

Masters Cup Series Information Brochure (PDF)

American Water Polo wants to be at the forefront of offering the Master Level Athlete an opportunity to participate in great events, as well as grow the number of athletes who participate beyond the college years.  

“We are really excited about the chance to provide something for Masters athletes that has never been done before,” expressed Dan Sharadin, Director of American Water Polo. “The Masters Cup Series is going to be a number of great tournaments, providing a lot of chances for teams to compete, while at the same time offering some significant prize money for those clubs trying to win several Cups over the course of a year.”

Teams can enter as many, or as few tournaments as they want. There are no limitations or minimum participation requirements. Each Masters Cup tournament will have awards for the top teams during that weekend in each age group and gender. In addition, each club program will accumulate points based on their teams finish during each of the Masters Cup Tournaments. At the end of the year, the club program with the highest accumulated points will win the overall Masters Cup Series along with $1,000 prize money.

“The concept is not original to the sporting world but it is new to water polo,” points out Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development. “We came up with the idea after seeing the excitement based around the recent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and thought ‘wouldn’t that be a great format for Masters water polo and those teams that like to enter numerous tournaments throughout the year.”

In addition, the Masters Cup Series doesn’t punish a team from wanting to only attend one event since they still have the chance to win that particular tournament’s age bracket.

The idea was shared with a number of Master Teams during two conference calls that discussed how American Water Polo can work with Master Level Athletes to offer things that they want.

“Masters have been under-appreciated for their value to the sport,” added Tracey. “They shouldn’t be treated like they are just another dollar. They are the coaches, the referees and the individuals who in some cases played on every level of the game. They have so much to offer to the sport and we know there are so many more out there that would love to get back in just to play!”

Jeff Roy of Tri Valley Master added “We look forward to a great relationship with AWP and their events.  They provide individual and team insurance coverage, lower membership fees, and allow teams to participate without a lot of red tape! It is a growing membership and I am sure this will foster better team events locally and nationally!”

American Water Polo is currently developing a section on the organization’s website that will focus on the Master Athlete. This area will provide competition information as well as stories, standings and results for the Masters Cup Series.   

For more information on the Masters Cup Series, or if you have interest in hosting a Master Cup in your area, feel free to contact Tom Tracey, AWP Membership Development, at Tracey@americanwaterpolo.org or call 610-277-6787. 

 

XMAS Mini-Camp Enters 12th Year

In the summer of 1999, after having a few years of experience at the U.S. Naval Academy camp and over 25 years of coaching experience, Pete Snyder contacted a small group of what he considered the best teachers of Water Polo to put on a December mini-camp for girls in Southern California.

They were able to secure the Janet Evans 50 meter pool in Fullerton, CA. The camp was short, only 2 1/2 days, and focused on the following goals:

 

1. 1. Keep a small coach to athlete ratio - 1:12 max. (including separate goalie instruction) 
2. 2. Coaches learn every athlete’s name, evaluate and provide positive verbal and written feedback; creating a positive learning-oriented environment.

3. Focus on educating the athletes about the sport of water polo. Unlike many of contemporary sports, the core of water polo skills, especially in the formative years, needs to be strengthened and expanded significantly.

4. Fit water polo with high school and college planning and help the athletes develop a consciousness of College and University choices.

5. Make sure the athletes have fun playing competitive games, building enthusiasm and enjoying the sport!

 

From that first year in ’99, the Annual Christmas Water Polo Camp grew to the upper limit of 95 athletes every year. The location shifted from Fullerton to Mount San Antonio and back again to Fullerton but all the camps were offered in 50 meter pools and focused on the same goals. 

“Nike Swim and Wahoo’s Fish Taco have been very gracious as sponsors each and every year,” expressed Snyder. “Every camper takes home a good amount of stuff and there are snacks and liquids provided.”

The experienced coaching staff has remained, with some minor changes, intact every year. Past and current coaches have included Adam Krikorian - UCLA, Jamie Wright - U.C. Davis, Carin Crawford - San Diego State, Shari Baird-Smart - Univ. of Hawaii, Vickie Gorman - Villanova, Matt Anderson - U. of Michigan, Todd Clapper - Arizona State Univ., Alex Rodriguez - Pomona College, Scott Hinman - Irvine H.S., Don Luethke - Western H.S., Lani Ruh - Walnut H.S., Marc Ruh - Mt. San Antonio College, Chris Jackson - Mt. SAC and Gabriel Martinez - Fullerton College. In addition, several Olympians have been involved, including Jule Swail, Natalie Golda, Gubba Sheehy, Mariah Van Noorman, Nicolle Payne, Bernice Orwig and Omar Amr.

The camp covers a sport psychology and referee component under the direction of UCLA’s Dr. Robert Corb, who also happens to be the NCAA National Coordinator of Water Polo Officials. This has been a huge bonus for the athletes and incorporate meetings with parents as well.

Every athlete also receives a camp notebook. It includes sections on many phases of the game written by some of the best coaches in water polo’s history.  

“The camp emphasizes listening and taking notes during the in-class sessions,” states Snyder. “This is incentivized with awards for the best note-taking.” 

Another value for the athletes are discussions regarding College and University recruiting. Several sessions educate the athletes on the process of contacting coaches and sorting out the match between high school and college participation.

This year’s camp is scheduled for December 17-19 at the Fullerton College Pool and is open to all girls between the ages of 13-17, with some exceptions.  Players have come from as far away as Florida and New Hampshire. 

For more information regarding the F.C.C.A.T. Water Polo’s 2010 Christmas Girls Mini-Camp, visit any of the following link:

http://waterpolo.fullcoll.edu

Pete Snyder holds a Ph.D. and is a professor at Fullerton College, Fullerton, CA. Pete has written several educational material for water polo that includes Water Polo for Players & Teachers of Aquatics which is available under the Coaches Resources & Links. 

 

High School All-Star Team Selected

American Water Polo is proud to inform you of the 2010 Eastern Championship High School All-Star Team selections. The Eastern's All-Star game is held in conjunction with the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Eastern Championship scheduled at Bucknell University on Saturday, November 20^th. This year the Pennsylvania All-Stars and the East Coast All-Stars are set to meet at 11:30 a.m., just after the conclusion of the Brad Schumacher Water Polo Clinic.

This marks American Water Polo's fourth high school All-Star game held in conjunction with the CWPA's Eastern Championship. We believe this event to be a great opportunity to showcase the East Coast's premier high school talent.

 "We are excited to see the high school all-star game and clinic take place during the CWPA Eastern Championship and believe it to be a great benefit for the development of the sport. The athletes get a chance to play in front of several college coaches and then have the opportunity to stay and watch some great collegiate water polo.  Those participating in the clinic get the chance to work with a past Olympian as well. It should be a fantastic experience for all involved," said the Commissioner of the CWPA Dan Sharadin.

 

East Coast All-Stars

Player	School	Grade	Position
Ned Doetsch	Navy	Senior	Goalie
Ben Weise	Calvert Hall	Junior	Goalie
Timmy Barry	Gonzaga	Junior	Attacker
Patrick Reyes	Gonzaga	Junior	Attacker
McClatchy Ruskin	Choate	Senior	Attacker
Sam Butler	Navy	Senior	2M/D, Attacker
Eoghan Foley	Navy	Junior	2M/D
Steve Roberts	Calvert Hall	Junior	2M
Fred Sutter	Gilman	Senior	2M/D
Carpenter Warren	Calvert Hall	Junior	2M/D
Mike Carter	Lawrenceville	Senior	Utility
Kevin Schofield	Navy	Junior	Utility
Robert Spencer	Landon	Senior	Utility

                                               

Pennsylvania All-Stars

Player	School	Grade	Position
Ben Cutler	Haverford	Senior	Goalie
Logan Daughenbaugh	McDowell	Senior	Goalie
Carl Dowzicky	Germantown Academy	Junior	Attacker
Seth Coldren	Governor Mifflin	Senior	Attacker
Kody Viet	Souderton	Senior	Attacker
Mike McGinely	Malvern Prep	Senior	Attacker
Alberto Munarriz	Episcopal Academy	Junior	2M
Wes Hopkins	Wilson	Senior	2M
Ian Thompson	Las Salle	Senior	2M
Garrett Brotherson	Cathedral Prep	Senior	2M
Will Grant	Malvern Prep	Senior	2M
Mike Madgic	North Allegheny	Senior	2M/Utility
Charlie McGregor	Episcopal Academy	Senior	Utility
Jake Lloyd	Wilson	Senior	Utility

 

Team Continues to Thrive in Newark

During the fall of 1989, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School offered the first season of water polo to its community. The sport was started to help keep the boys' swimming squad active and in shape for the upcoming swim season. Twenty-two years later, the Grey Bees Water Polo Team is still thriving in a state that only offers four high school programs.   

Saint Benedict's Prep opened its doors in 1868 to the Newark community. Guided by the Rule of Benedict, written in the sixth century, St. Benedict's combines rigorous academic study with an emphasis on building a community whose members are responsible to one another for developing virtue, character and talent. Their school motto "Whatever hurts my brother, hurts me."

Today, the school consists of approximately 550 young men between 7th and 12th grade. What makes their water polo program unique compared to most high school water polo programs in the Northeast, as well as the country, their team consists a majority of young black and latino male athletes.   

"In the early years of this, we would walk into places and everything would stop and heads would turn," stated Head Coach Glenn Cassidy. "Here's a team of primarily black and latino kids coming from Newark playing a game not traditionally played by black and latino kids." 

The team was recently featured in an article on NJ.Com and the Star-Ledger that also included a short video clip. The Grey Bee players talk about their experiences with water polo and how it helped develop their swimming abilities. The article starts off explaining the physical nature of the game but gradually turns to how the players developed strong bonds with their teammates. You can read the full story by clicking here. 

St. Benedict's will be finishing up its 2010 season this weekend with the Eastern Prep High School Championship and will compete against teams from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In the spring, they will begin playing again and compete as their club team, The Grey Bees, in the AWP Main Line League. 

(Team Photo courtesy of SCANMANPHOTOS.COM)

 

Boston Water Polo Begins Second Season!

This past spring nearly 70 players with water polo experience ranging from high school to National team competed during eight Sunday nights at Harvard University's Blodgett Pool in Boston, Massachusetts. Building on this amazing turn-out, Boston Water Polo will begin its second season of co-ed water polo play this fall. Due to the limited availability of pool time at competition-ready facilities, they will host a short season consisting of two nights at Boston University's Fitness and Recreation Center. They expect to form four teams who will be guaranteed three games per night.

For more information or to register, contact Brett Marinelli at brett.marinelli@gmail.com.

Date:

Saturday, December 4^th, 6 - 9 PM

The registration fee is $100, to register please click on the link below:

www.bostonwaterpolo.com/node/2

All participants must have an active membership with American Water Polo.

(www.americanwaterpolo.org/membership)