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25/26 Program & Calendar

Program Overview

San Clemente Water Polo Club is a long-standing, multi-generational program rooted in pride, tradition, and a deep commitment to the sport of water polo. Many of our coaches, parents, and supporters are alumni — a testament to the continuity and culture we’ve built over decades.

We operate year-round, with intentional breaks around major holidays and late summer to support athlete balance and family life.

We are proud to be one of the few water polo clubs in the country to offer girls-only and boys-only teams at every age group and competitive level — from introductory Splashball through advanced national competition pathways.

In a small but mighty sport, this structure is rare. It reflects our commitment to access, athlete development, gender equity, and building confident, connected teams at every stage.

Our program provides a steady, progressive pipeline — creating continuity from youth development through high school and beyond.

10U–14U Program

The primary club season runs from Labor Day through Junior Olympics (July). Practice schedules vary slightly by season and are adjusted throughout the year to support age-appropriate development, team formation, and competitive progression.

Training is age-appropriate and developmentally structured, prioritizing fundamentals, confidence, and game IQ before specialization.

16/18U Program

The 16/18U club program is intentionally designed to dovetail with the high school season, with short breaks between high school and club play. Schedules are thoughtfully coordinated with both high school water polo and swim, reflecting a deliberate approach to support multi-sport participation (if desired), athlete development, and long-term success.

While the program is fully aligned with the San Clemente High School athletic calendar, 16/18U club teams remain open to athletes from other high schools who align with our values, work ethic, and commitment to team culture.

8U / Splashball Program

This program is the entry point to water polo and is designed for our youngest athletes, ages 6–8. It operates in Fall, Spring, and Summer, with longer breaks between sessions and a brief pause during winter, resuming after Daylight Saving Time in March.

Athletes are continually assessed and, when ready and interested, are seamlessly transitioned into 10U teams, ensuring a smooth and supported progression through the club’s competitive pathway.

Calendar Overview

Fall: August 20, 2025 – November 16, 2025
Soft-start orientation practices & new athlete tryouts: 8/18–8/24
Standard practices begin: 9/2

Winter: November 17, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Thanksgiving break: 11/22–11/30
Winter break: 12/19–1/4

Spring: February 16, 2026 – May 10, 2026*
Spring break: 4/3–4/12

*High School Girls Spring practice schedules include a break after the high school season ends.

Summer: May 11, 2026 – July 24, 2026**

** In support of community involvement and ocean safety training, summer practice is intentionally planned to allow athletes to participate in the City of San Clemente Junior Lifeguards without conflict.

Fees & Enrollment

Annual practice fees are billed in quarterly installments for financial convenience. Fees are not pro-rated. Rolling entry is offered for new athletes when space is available.

For inquiries, email: sanclementewaterpoloclub@gmail.com

Competition & Leagues

Teams participate in local, regional, and national tournaments matched to the appropriate developmental level. We also participate in scrimmages and two leagues:

• Futures League – intermediate and advanced
• SPA League – beginner and intermediate

 Major Summer Competitions

These events represent the highest competitive stages of the club season and are benchmarks in athlete development. Participation reflects both individual commitment and collective team responsibility.

Athletes and coaches rely on full team commitment for these events. Families should plan not to miss the competitions listed below.

Futures Super Finals (Southern California)

  • Girls: June 19–21

  • Boys: June 26–28

USA Water Polo Club Championships

June (typically alternates weekends by gender with Futures Super Finals).  Not all teams participate, check the TeamSnap schedule for your team plans.

Junior Olympics (JO) SoPac Zone Regional Qualifiers

  • 10U, 12U, 14U: June 5–7, 2026

  • 16U / 18U: June 12–14, 2026

USA Water Polo Junior Olympics (Southern California)

Session I: July 18–21, 2026

  • Girls: 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U

  • Co-Ed: 10U, 12U

Session II: July 23–26, 2026

  • Boys: 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U

Important Scheduling Expectations

  • Events require advance planning, flexibility, and full team participation
  • Game schedules are typically released 48 hours prior to competition
  • Athletes who commit to an event are expected to be available all day on competition days
For a description of some of these events, see our events page

Days Off & School Calendar

We follow the Capistrano Unified School Calendar and Federal Holidays. As a general rule, if Capo Unified does not have school, we do not have practice. These are ideal times to plan family travel:

• Labor Day weekend
• Thanksgiving week
• December break
• MLK weekend
• Presidents’ weekend
• Spring break
• Memorial Day weekend
• August (after Junior Olympics through the first day of school)

Practices may occasionally be canceled or rescheduled due to high school games at the pool. Athletes are encouraged to attend high school water polo games to support our teams and learn by watching higher-level play.

Practice fees account for these breaks, as well as occasional cancellations due to pool maintenance, weather, water temperature, or coach-recommended rest days. Refunds are not provided for canceled practices, and practice times and locations are subject to change.

Summer Vacation Planning

August is the best time to take a summer vacation.
July is the worst time to take a vacation.

July is a critical training and competition month for athletes preparing for Junior Olympics. After JOs conclude in late July, there is a five-week break, which is the ideal window for summer travel.

Please note:
Athletes who plan to compete in Junior Olympics must also compete in the JO Qualifier event in June, per USA Water Polo requirements.

Community & Club Events

We place a high value on club culture and relationships built through the sport. Camaraderie is an intentional part of athlete development. Time spent together beyond practices and games builds trust, confidence, and lasting friendships—strengthening teams both in and out of the pool.

We encourage athletes and families to participate in club-wide and team-based activities throughout the year, reinforcing connection, accountability, and pride in representing our program.

To support this, we organize and promote:

  • Team dinners, holiday gatherings, and seasonal celebrations

  • Beach-based activities such as meet-ups, pier swims, and surf sessions

  • Club BBQs, beach clean-ups, and other community service events