Junior Olympics Summer 2020
Ready for training and one of the best water polo experiences around?
Sign up for JOs now. Sign up by May 20!
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Junior Olympic (JO) Information Sessions
If you weren't able to make one of MBUs JO Information Sessions, or if you're new to MB United and would like to be a part of our team and are interested in participating in the 2020 USA Water Polo (USAWP) Junior Olympics, please email Coach Burke at mbunitedwaterpolo@gmail.com.
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Summer Session Practice Dates (for all athletes; JO and non-JO participants)
​MB United Summer Session dates and registration are now available here. To download a copy of the Summer Session flyer, click here. Support MBU by printing and passing out/posting at your local schools and other locations!
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What is Junior Olympics?
The USA Water Polo Junior Olympic Championships (JO's) is the largest age group water polo tournament in the Nation. Athletes and teams come from across the country to compete on the national stage. The Junior Olympics Tournament consists of two divisions, the Championship Division and the Classic Division. Teams compete over a 4-day period within their respective age category.
It is the culmination of a summer (and year) of practice and preparation for many clubs. Competing in this event is one of the best ways to take your water polo skills to the next level. MB United Water Polo is a new club, yet with expert coaches with 50+ total years of experience playing and coaching water polo – athletes are in the best hands for preparation.
How teams qualify – Junior Olympic Qualifiers
The nation is broken into regions called "zones" with Monterey being in the Pacific zone. Each zone has a zone qualifying tournament for different age groups. Because there are many teams in the Pacific zone, some groups' zone qualifiers are held over two weekends. The JO Qualifying Tournaments are mandatory for all athletes in these age groups selected for and wishing to attend JO's and will be held at various high schools/aquatic centers in the Bay area. Locations and schedules are posted closer to the qualifying dates:
16U & 18U Boys (only if sufficient interest)
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Round I: TBD
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Round II: TBD
18U Girls
TBD
16u Girls
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Round I: TBD
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Round II: TBD
14u Boys
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Round I: TBD
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Round II: TBD
14u Girls
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TBD
12u Boys
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TBD (only if sufficient interest)
12u Girls & 12u Co-ed (" ")
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TBD
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*Accommodations – Monterey Bay United Water Polo has secured a small block of rooms for select qualifying weekends at an awesome hotel in Walnut Creek for all weekends. Rates include made-to-order breakfast for all guests and access to the sport facilities! Once an athlete has committed to JOs, we will notify families of participants of all details.
Where the the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics held?
Junior Olympics moves around the nation from year to year. Hundreds of teams participate, so dozens of pools in a region are used over the course of the tournament. This summer, Junior Olympics will be held in Southern California (Orange County).
When are USA Water Polo Junior Olympics finals held?
JO Championships is held the over the last two weekends in July. One weekend for the girls, and one weekend for the boys. MBU hopes to be fielding teams for all ages, both genders. Depending on summer sign up and JO participation interest, we may field additional teams as well.
Session 1- July 18-21, 2020
Boys 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U
Session 2- July 23 - July 26, 2020
Girls 10U, 12U, 14U. 16U, 18U, 10U Mixed, 12U Mixed
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(What group an athlete participates in depends on their age as of August 1, 2020.)
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
USA Water Polo Membership
All athletes must be current members of USA Water Polo (Silver, Gold, or Seasonal Athlete Membership; Splashball membership is not applicable). To register or renew with USAWP, please visit www.usawaterpolo.org. All athletes interested in participating at Junior Olympics must be Gold Athlete Members.
Affiliation with Monterey Bay United Water Polo (MB United)
Athletes wishing to be selected to a JO Team must be affiliated with our Monterey Bay United Water Polo (MB United), club #34089, Pacific Zone (#6) no later than 7 days prior to the commencement of the zone qualification tournament. USAWP is very strict on this and there is no grace period.
Age Verification
USA Water Polo has an age verification requirement for all athletes participating in National Championship Events. For those who have never completed the age verification, this is a one-time-charge of $5.00 paid online through TC logiQ Secure Website. Access by logging into the athlete's USAWP account and you will see a link to "Age Verification" on the right hand side; follow the steps from there.
Gold athlete members must complete this process prior to participating in any National Championship Event, in particular the Regional Junior Olympic Qualifier. This process can take up to seven (7) days to receive results so we urge all athletes to complete the verification right away, to avoid delays as the qualifiers get closer. We will not be able to verify and submit rosters until all athletes' birth dates have been successfully verified in the USAWP system. We encourage all of our members who have the intention of participating on one of our Club JO teams to complete the verification process as described by USAWP as soon as possible. If you have any follow up questions regarding the verification process please see USAWPs Age Eligibility FAQs or feel free to contact us .
JO Athlete Expectations
Commitment. Going to JO's is a serious commitment – to the team and to yourself, as an athlete. With MB United being a new club in the area, we understand that families may have made other summer plans. That being said, in order to field the most competitive team possible, the expectation is that athletes on this team should be planning to attend the vast majority of summer practices. If you sign up to go to JO's, you must go. JO commitment forms will be due by May 20. Athletes that are interested in being considered for the JO team should expect to attend both weekends of JO qualifying and all of JO's. In addition, Athletes who have summer conflicts, or those who prefer not to play in JO's, are of course more than welcome to still register for summer polo.
Cost/Fees
JO's is an additional cost to athletes for expense such as tournament fees and coaching staff. There are also additional lodging and travel expenses paid by families independently.
For more info see: http://www.usawaterpolo.org/juniorolympics/
