Frequently Asked Questions
What is the league?
The league started in 1993 to bring the exciting sport of water polo to the Seattle area. It is comprised of teams from both the northern and southern sections of the Seattle summer swim league. The emphasis of the league is strictly on having fun, teaching skills and providing opportunities for enjoyable competition.
Who is eligible to play?
How old do you have to be to play?
Again, each team decides how young the players can start. The age for determining a player’s age group is their age as of June 15th. That means that June 15th is the worst possible birthday, while June 16th is the best.
On the older end, the league is open to all players through the summer after they graduate from high school as long as they are not older than 19. (example: if you graduate from high school in 2026 you can participate through the end of the 2026 season, but cannot play in the 2027 season even if you are still 18).
Do the regular season games determine who makes playoffs?
No, playoffs are open to all teams. In general the regular season records will determine seeding for the prelims. New teams that form are encouraged to participate in the prelims/championships as well
What age groups can a player compete in?
Because numbers are sometimes low, many players end up playing in their own age group and sometimes in the older groups as well (for example, a 10-year-old playing in the 12 & under). Unfortunately, this is often necessary so that games can be played. The league allows you to play up one age groups during the regular season. This is not to punish younger players but to improve the quality of the play for the older age groups and to make sure that smaller, younger players are not hurt.
What divisions are there?
Currently, there are Open (boys and girls) and Girls Championships for 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under and 18 & under.
Is there an All City Champion or other awards?
Individual medals go to the winner and runner-up of each division. Rotating Championship Trophies go to the winner of all divisions as well. An All-City club champion will be determined by assigning points to the first through fourth place teams in each division (kind of like a swim meet). Then, we will total them up and crown a champion. First place gets five points, second three points, third two points and fourth one point.
How are the games officiated?
First off, realize that the game of water polo is probably the most difficult game on the planet to referee because it is a contact sport in which nearly all the contact takes place below the surface of the water. That said, we do our best to create a safe, controlled game. We work to have qualified and certified USA Water Polo referees at every game. However due to our schedule sometimes we have coaches or former players referee some of the games with older players.
The league started in 1993 to bring the exciting sport of water polo to the Seattle area. It is comprised of teams from both the northern and southern sections of the Seattle summer swim league. The emphasis of the league is strictly on having fun, teaching skills and providing opportunities for enjoyable competition.
Who is eligible to play?
- Players must have regular membership at the pool they are competing for.
- The board reserves the right to deny requests if the requesting player has access to water polo at his or her normal pool. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Non-members shall participate only in one of the two pools closest to their primary residence. Once a non-member has established participation with a pool, they shall not be permitted to change pools in subsequent years unless they become a member of a different pool or are employed by another pool.
How old do you have to be to play?
Again, each team decides how young the players can start. The age for determining a player’s age group is their age as of June 15th. That means that June 15th is the worst possible birthday, while June 16th is the best.
On the older end, the league is open to all players through the summer after they graduate from high school as long as they are not older than 19. (example: if you graduate from high school in 2026 you can participate through the end of the 2026 season, but cannot play in the 2027 season even if you are still 18).
Do the regular season games determine who makes playoffs?
No, playoffs are open to all teams. In general the regular season records will determine seeding for the prelims. New teams that form are encouraged to participate in the prelims/championships as well
What age groups can a player compete in?
Because numbers are sometimes low, many players end up playing in their own age group and sometimes in the older groups as well (for example, a 10-year-old playing in the 12 & under). Unfortunately, this is often necessary so that games can be played. The league allows you to play up one age groups during the regular season. This is not to punish younger players but to improve the quality of the play for the older age groups and to make sure that smaller, younger players are not hurt.
What divisions are there?
Currently, there are Open (boys and girls) and Girls Championships for 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under and 18 & under.
Is there an All City Champion or other awards?
Individual medals go to the winner and runner-up of each division. Rotating Championship Trophies go to the winner of all divisions as well. An All-City club champion will be determined by assigning points to the first through fourth place teams in each division (kind of like a swim meet). Then, we will total them up and crown a champion. First place gets five points, second three points, third two points and fourth one point.
How are the games officiated?
First off, realize that the game of water polo is probably the most difficult game on the planet to referee because it is a contact sport in which nearly all the contact takes place below the surface of the water. That said, we do our best to create a safe, controlled game. We work to have qualified and certified USA Water Polo referees at every game. However due to our schedule sometimes we have coaches or former players referee some of the games with older players.
