1.   When can I join water polo? 

We offer water polo year round for girls and boys ages 8 through high school. Please contact Kim Wang (ktierney@gwymca.org) to determine which specific group to attend.

2.  How long is a typical session? 

There are four training seasons throughout the water polo year (September-August).  Each session runs between 10-12 weeks.  House league runs sessionally(fall, winter spring) but our travel teams are year round.

3.  How old do you have to be to play water polo?

Being comfortable in the water is the primary criterion for playing water polo. Please approach one of our coaches to determine how to ease into our sport. The YMCA has a fun noodle water polo program for ages 5-8 that gives young players a great foundation of the sport while they are doing other sports or getting ready for water polo. Contact us for more information about our entry-level house league program.

4.  What are the age-groups for travel team?

We offer six age-groups: 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U. The age of your child will determine what team they will tryout for. We use the USA Water Polo age cut-off which is August 1.

5.  What is the difference between House League and Travel Team and Club Water Polo?

House League is an opportunity for players of all abilities to get in the water, have fun and compete against their peers. Children will be introduced to the basic skills of water polo in a fun and encouraging environment. Players will be divided evenly onto teams that they will play/train with for the entire season. All players will get equal playing time. Practice will be 1 day during the week and the weekends will be dedicated to competing against the other in-house league teams.

The Travel teams are for the more elite players that want to focus on water polo year-round. Each travel team will practice 3-6 times per week. All teams will compete in local games and tournaments. The more elite teams will travel to national level tournaments as well as international competition. The teams are selective.

6.  Do I have to tryout for the Team?

There are no tryouts for our house League but there is an age criteria as well as a minimum swimming level needed. We have evaluations for our house league players. To get evaluated, please contact ktierney@gwymca.org. We do have tryouts for our travel team players. Tryouts are done at the end of August. But if we have room on our teams, we can offer tryouts throughout the year.

7.  Should I register with USA Water Polo ? 

A USAWP membership is needed if your child is on one of our travel teams. If players are planning to participate in national competitions (Junior Olympics, Champions Cup, etc), a gold membership is needed.

8.  How do I register with USA Water Polo? 

Go to www.usawaterpolo.com and follow the online registration instructions. Register with Greenwich Aquatics, which is club #17825. 

9.  Do you teach kids to swim?

No, we teach them to play water polo. Beginner swimmers can go to the Marlins Swim Lessons at the Greenwich YMCA to learn how to swim. Swimmers who are more advanced than beginners may join a local swim team such as the Greenwich Marlins.

10.   Who do I contact if I can’t make it to training? 

Email your coach in advance.

11.   Do we need to make it to every training offered per week?

No, we understand that as student athletes, each player has a variety of activities that may conflict with training times. Please communicate with your coach on the days that you cannot make training.

12.   Why would I ever want my child to play water polo?

Water polo is a small sport with great opportunities. Water polo is an Olympic sport. Many colleges offer water polo. Many of Greenwich Aquatics’s athletes have gotten recruited to play water polo at DI water polo schools. Water polo athletes are the best physical specimens in sports. No one is better conditioned than water polo players. Games last 45-60 minutes.  When the game is over, your athlete is clean, exhausted, and hungry. Oh, and it's FUN!

13.   What equipment do we have to purchase or wear?

Girls will find it much easier to play water polo if they keep their hair in a bathing cap. Rules dictate dark caps or white caps depending what color caps the teams are wearing for their game. Greenwich Aquatics apparel and team suits are required to be worn at games and tournaments. 

14.   What are the basic skills of water polo?

Comfort in the water is the most fundamental water polo skill. Swimming is part of that but swimming is considered to be "horizontal." Being able to stay high above the water "vertically" using a leg skill called the “eggbeater” is vital to success. We teach the eggbeater. Learning to handle the ball with one hand is another skill that is important. Water polo is like soccer and basketball played in the water. The object is to score the ball in the goal on offense and prevent the ball from going in the goal on defense. Greenwich Aquatics believes that understanding defense before offense is vital to a player’s ultimate success.

15.   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. 

16. Are parents allowed to watch practices? 

We respectfully ask that all travel team practices remain closed to parents. Coming on the pool deck to pick up your child at the end of practice is fine. Parents should also refrain from discussions with coaches during practice sessions. Closed practices allow for increased focus for the players and less distractions for the coaches.

18. How is playing time determined?  

Our program strives to develop the full potential of each player. Playing time should not be expected to be distributed equally whether it is in a scrimmage, game or tournament. It is also understood that a player may receive less or no playing time in a game. Distribution of playing time shall be at the discretion of the Head Coaches.  

17.   Have more questions?

Contact Kim Tierney Wang, ktierney@gwymca.org or call 646-220-9792.