When can I join SHORES Water Polo?
You may join SHORES at any time. Just contact our office either via email at info@sandiegoshores.net or via phone at 858-348-4400. Our water polo seasons are split into four session and fees are quarterly. We welcome you any time and can prorate your fees when you join a session.
What are the seasons?
SHORES has divided the year into four quarters: September to November (FALL), November to February (Winter), February to May (Spring), and May to August (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 50 yards of a pool, or two laps of a 25 yard pool. We gauge your ability by this “test”. As a reference point, the best water youth polo players nearing high school swim 100 yards in about one minute.
How do I join SHORES Water Polo?
Start by picking up the phone and calling us! 858-348-4400 or email us at info@sandiegoshores.net. We will walk you through our automated sign up process and warmly welcome you. Please click on the “Registration” tab on the SHORES 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 membership level to protect us for liability reasons. Armed with your new USA Water Polo number, register at our web site.
How much does SHORES Water Polo cost?
2 Days per week is $430.00
3 Days per week is $480.00
4 Days per week is $520.00
What if our family can’t afford to be members of SHORES ?
SHORES has always been a fortunate and supportive community. If you have trouble with the dues and fees, please contact Malin Peabody at the Shores office (info@sandiegoshores.net) to obtain a financial aid application form.She will handle your special payment request discretely. Scholarships are approved by the Board of Directors of SHORES.
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. Many of SHORES athletes play water polo in high school. Almost all of SHORES athletes have splendid high school water polo careers. Water polo is a great background for participating as a lifeguard at pools during summers. Water polo athletes are the best physical specimens in sports. No one is better conditioned than water polo players. Games last 60 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 7 playing with us. Please approach one of our coaches and determine how to ease into our sport.
What equipment do we have to purchase or wear?
Team Suit, Three tee shirts, a ball and you are ready to go.
When are you told what team you will play on?
We have team pages for each age group. All events are posted and rosters made up by the coaches. As rosters are posted we ask that parents confirm athletes attendance by using link provide for each event. If you don't find your childs name please contact coach.
My player is not the best athlete, but he/she loves water polo?
Parents in youth sports tend to forget that athletes continue to mature into high school and beyond. SHORES is the launching pad for the sport of water polo or a place where older athletes can find great training and team opportunities. SHORES 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.
What are the age groups in water polo?
Quite simply, your age in water polo is determined by the age you will be on August 1 of every year. Right now you would look at what age your athlete will be on August 1, 2017. If your child will be 14 on August 1 he/she will play on the 14 and under team. If your child turns 15 before August 1, 2017 he/she plays with the 16 and unders.
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. SHORES 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 players learn the rules faster than the spectators!!!!!