07/08/2022: 2022 Junior Olympic Information

Sacramento Water Polo Requirements

  •  It is nearly impossible to be on our Black Team roster - - our top level team - - if not participating in the Spring Session and competing in tournaments during the Spring.
  • Attendance is taken during the Spring JO practices and will be taken into consideration when selecting our JO teams. 
  • Participate in all tournaments:  Winter, Spring, & Summer - - most significantly - - the Central California Zone Qualifying Tournaments.  See the calendar on this website for the tournament dates.  Boys typically the third weekend in June.  Girls the last weekend in June.

Mandatory Meeting for all USA Water Polo Junior Olympic athletes:

  • Family Appreciation Night - - See calendar on website for details.
  • 6:00pm
  • Thursday, July 14th. 
  • Sierra College pool deck.

Costs:

  • Summer Session Competitive Program:  All JO athletes must be registered for the Summer Session.
  • $180 (Estimate):  Central California Zone Junior Olympic Qualifying Tournament (June).
  • $325 to $375 (Estimate):  USA WP National Junior Olympic Championships (mid-July through late July).

Affiliation Deadline (All athletes):

  • Athletes must be registered with Sacramento Water Polo prior to May 31st.
  • Register with USA Water Polo as a Gold member athlete.
  • Complete Birth Date Verification on the USA Water Polo website.
  • Complete COVID Waiver.
  • All 18 year old athletes must also complete Safe Sport.

Sacramento Water Polo Rosters:

  • Verified rosters must be submitted to USA WP by Coach Hastie two weeks prior to the Central California Zone Qualifying Tournament.
  • A maximum of 18 athletes per team may be named to a Sacramento Water Polo USA WP National Junior Olympics roster.
  • A maximum of TWO of those 18 athletes may be goalies.
  • Playing time is NOT guaranteed for all athletes on the roster.
  • Limited changes to the roster(s) may be made after initial submission.  USA Water Polo charges $200 per individual roster change.

Our Commitment

Sacramento Water Polo is committed to placing as highly as possible in the USA WP National Junior Olympic Championship Tournament.  SWP is also committed to make the USA WP NJO experience a positive one for the athletes selected to represent SWP during the USA WP NJO Championship Tournament.

Expectations, Level of Commitment, Participation 

  1. Participation in USA WP JO's is separate from the Competitive Program and there will be additional fees.
  2. JO athletes begin training in December and compete in approximately 8 tournaments hosted by Sacramento Water Polo throughout the Winter & Spring Session.  Club loyalty and committed participation are taken into consideration when naming final JO rosters.
  3. The team participation fee is exclusive of any additional expenses for parent hotel rooms, food, etc.  All athletes that stay in team rooms will share the cost of that room.
  4. JO athletes will pay for the coaches hotel room, coach per diem, and tournament entry fees.  (See item #1: team participation fee.)  Sac Polo will place a minimum of two coaches on each team during the USA WP JO Tournament.

What age division will I be assigned to?

  • Your age division is assigned based on your age August 1st.
  • EX:  If a player is 14 years old on August 1st, that player is eligible to compete in the 14U division.  If the athlete turns 15 on July 31st, that athlete is 15 on August 1st and is not eligible to compete in the 14U division.  The athlete, of course, is eligible to compete in the 16U division.

2022 USA Water Polo NJO Tournament

Tournament Dates

  • See the calendar on the Sacramento Water Polo website for exact dates.

Sacramento Water Polo Hotel Information

Make your reservations ASAP.  It is not required that families stay at the team hotel.  The coaches will be staying at this hotel.  In reality; once the games begin, we are not at the hotel very much!

Session One: Boys  (Northern California:  (San Jose Area)

2022 USA WP National Junior Olympics Team Hotel:  Courtyard Marriott Cupertino (10605 N. Wolfe Road)

  • 7am - 9am = Breakfast


Session Two: Girls  Northern California:  (San Jose Area)

2022 USA WP National Junior Olympics Team Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Cupertino (10605 N. Wolfe Road)

  • 7am - 9am = Breakfast


Session Three: Boys & Girls  (Dallas, Texas)

2022 USA WP National Junior Olympics Team Hotel: NA

Schedule of Games

Find the schedule on the USA Water Polo website.  It is usually up a few weeks prior to the tournament and is kept up-to-date throughout the tournament.  Athletes meet coaches on the pool deck 45 minutes prior to game starting time.