2007 National Zone Championships

OVERVIEW

Each year USA Water Polo runs the National Zone Championships to identify the best water polo players in both the cadet age group (16 & Under, born 1991 or later) and the youth age group (18 & Under, born in 1990 or 1989). The tournaments are offered to both men and women, or four (4) separate events.

 

The process not only decides who has the best zone team, but more importantly provides a way for USA Water Polo to select players for the National Teams. Coaches observe the players at the National Zone Championships and select the National team based on each player’s performance.

THE PROCESS

There are 11 USA Water Polo zones that participate in this process. Each zone supplies a team comprised of their best players. In addition, the zone that hosts each Championship supplies an additional team. Finally, the top four finishers from last year’s Championship also supply an additional team. In all 16 teams compete in the championship tournament, held over Memorial Day weekend in the following locations:

 

Women’s cadet...................................................................... Federal Way, WA

Women’s youth...................................................................... Kearns, UT

Men’s cadet........................................................................... Mission Viejo, CA

Men’s youth........................................................................... Northern California

 

This year our zone (Coastal California Zone) will field two teams for each age group and gender. Athlete’s interested in earning a spot on will attend a two-day tryout/clinic as follows:

 

Women’s cadet (details)........................................................ March 17-18, Whittier High School

Women’s youth (details)........................................................ March 17-18, Downey High School

Men’s cadet (details)............................................................. March 3-4, Rio Mesa High School

Men’s youth (details)............................................................. March 3-4, Pomona College

 

These two-day events are both tryouts and clinics. The athletes will be asked to perform a variety of assessment drills in swimming and water polo skills as well as play in scrimmages. The coaches will work with the athletes and provide feedback as the weekend progresses.

 

At the end of the weekend the coaches will select a practice squad. Each coach will decide whether that squad is the 28 athletes who are on the final roster, or a larger group who will practice together and eventually be cut to a final roster of 28 (two teams of 14 each, including one goalie minimum per team). This squad will then practice and prepare for the National Zone Championships.

 

The final teams will then travel to their respective venue for their Zone Championship competition, held as indicated above.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

This process is highly competitive, for athletes dedicated to reaching the highest level in water polo. That said, athletes should talk with their coach to see if it makes sense for them to try out. Even if an athlete doesn’t make the zone team they will benefit from the tryout/clinic process.

ATHLETE REQUIREMENTS

All athletes must complete all paperwork and payment before tryouts. This can be completed online. Doing it online simplifies and speeds entry to the program. If you wish to register at the tryout site, you may do so by paying $25 for special handling and processing.

 

Requirements

 

• Member of record in Coastal California Zone (by club address, if no club by residence)
• Determine proper Age Group, by year born.
• Enter the appropriate tryout “event” by completing the Athlete Registration Form
• Join USA Water Polo for year 2007

 

Things to bring to the tryout:

 

• Proof of USA Water Polo membership 2007 (print from website or valid card)
• Proof of Tryout Event registration (print from website)
• Medical Release, original signature by parent or guardian(s) (print from website)

COACHES

 

	CADET SELECTION STAFF	YOUTH SELECTION STAFF
WOMEN	Head Coach:  Gabriel Martinez, Commerce WPC Assistants:    Chris Schneider, Cardinal WPC Team Leader:    TBD	Head Coach:  Marcelo Leonardi, El Rancho WPC Assistants:    Brian “Chuckie” Roth, Santa Barbara WPC                      Sergio Macias, 605 WPC Team Leader:    TBD
MEN	Head Coach:  Rich Griguoli, Santa Barbara WPC Assistants:    Steve Snyder, Ventura Premier WPC                      Stephen Lang, South Bay United                      Rod Hormell, CCA WPC Team Leader: Greg Mitre, Trojan WPC	Head Coach:  Dan Leyson, Rose Bowl Aquatics Assistants:    Alex Rodriguez, Foothill WPC                      Dusty Litvak, Los Angeles WPC                      Del Bern, CCA WPC Team Leader: Derek Borisoff, La Canada WPC

 

COSTS

There is a $75 fee to try-out for the zone team. Part of this fee covers costs (pools, coaches, etc.). The remainder is used to offset the costs of sending the Zone Team to the Zone Championships.

 

A valuable part of the experience is immersion in the Championship environment. Parents and supporters are welcome to attend the Championships, but players must travel and lodge as a team, under direct supervision of assigned team staff. Players selected to a zone team, will pay an additional $600 fee to participate.

 

It costs approximately $770 per athlete to train, travel and outfit eight teams. Tryout fees pay only about $170 of this cost, covering travel to the camps. The chart below shows how the $600 athlete fee applies.

 

The Coastal California Zone is committed to making sure every athlete who makes the team can participate. New for this year is the Coastal California Zone scholarship program. We have allotted $5,000 in scholarship funds for families who need it. The scholarships are based on need. You will have to submit a copy of the first page of your tax return as well as indicate how many people are in your household. The application process is confidential. Full and partial scholarships are available.