Men's Water Polo Selection Criteria
Updated: August 2025
There is a finite number of roster positions available as mandated by the university’s athletic department. These spots will be allocated based on the Head Coach’s sole decisions. These decisions will be done in consultation with assistant coaches. Please note that the selection criteria that follow are merely minimum requirements. Meeting all the requirements does not guarantee a roster position. Other factors such as team needs (both short and long term), positional needs/positional suitability and team suitability are given weight in the decision making.
Field Players
1. Must be able to swim 100 meters from a water start in less than 65 seconds (center forwards:70 seconds)
2. Must be able to swim at least 4,000 meters in one hour at a high pace
3. Must be able to do eggbeater kick with both arms overhead out of water for at least 60 seconds
4. Must be able to throw a men’s water polo ball from the water ACCURATELY for a distance of at least 12 meters
5. Must be able to regularly attend a minimum of 4 practices per week for entire season*
6. Must be available for all weekend tournaments and games from September 25 through OUA Finals in December
7. Must be able to learn a system of play within a fixed time frame established by the coaching staff
8. Must be attentive, work hard, be able to “keep up” and be a productive contributor at practices as judged by the coaching staff
9. Must be a positive contributor to the overall team effort as judged by the coaching staff
10. Must be ON TIME for all practices, games, team meetings, etc - making others wait is not acceptable
11. Must be a willing participant in and believer in the key concept of winning championships and high-performance sport and doing so with a positive, supportive and team-first attitude.
12. Must attend three weight training sessions per week
13. Must participate in all fund-raising opportunities and socially-conscious efforts done by the team.
* All 5 practices is the expected commitment. If classes or study requirements conflict for one practice, that practice must be made up the same week practice is missed. Graduate students with extensive water polo experience must attend at least 3 practices per week.
Goalies
1. Must be able to swim 100 meters from a water start in less than 70 seconds
2. Must be able to do a leg drill movement cycle covering at least 1,000 meters without stopping
3. Must be able to do eggbeater kick with both arms overhead out of water for at least 120 seconds
4. Must be able to throw a women's water polo ball from the water ACCURATELY for a distance of at least 25 meters
5. Must be able to regularly attend a minimum of 4 practices per week throughout the entire season*
6. Must be available for all weekend tournaments and games from September 2 through OUA Finals in December
7. Must be able to learn a system of play within a fixed time frame established by the coaching staff
8. Must be attentive, work hard and be a productive contributor at practices
9. Must be a positive contributor to the overall team effort as judged by the coaching staff
10. Must be ON TIME for all practices, games, team meetings, etc - making others wait is not acceptable
11. Must be a willing participant in and believer in the key concept of winning championships and doing so with a positive, supportive and a team-first attitude.
12. Must attend three weight training sessions per week
13. Must participate in all fund-raising opportunities and socially-conscious efforts done by the team.
* All 5 practices is the expected commitment. If classes or study requirements conflict for one practice, that practice must be made up the same week practice is missed. Graduate students with extensive water polo experience must attend at least 3 practices per week.
