Parent / Player
Information Package
2013-2014
PARENTS / PLAYERS
Welcome to our 2013-2014 Season
The recreational and competitive water polo seasons run from September to December and
January to April.
Vision: Accessible and progressive water polo opportunities.
Mission: Promote and enhance growth and development in the sport of water polo.
Neptune’s Water Polo Club is committed to providing a fun and affordable sport experience
for its members. As such the leaders of the club strive to:

Deliver quality instruction and training.

Work with novice through to high-performance athletes.

Create a safe and ethical environment.

Provide cost effective programs.
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ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A good experience for all means there are expectations of everyone involved.
The Board

Meets monthly.
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Communicates regularly with membership.

Provides certified coaches for programs.
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Ensures coaches have cleared child abuse registry checks.

Provides quality equipment.
Parents and/or Guardians
Our parents are the key to creating a positive environment for coaches, referees, other parents and especially
the players. Parents help create a positive environment where everyone is learning and having fun.
Parents are encouraged to volunteer. Involvement includes but is not limited to being a member of the Board,
committee member, parent representative, BINGO volunteer, scorekeeper, and timekeeper for tournaments or
scrimmages.

Ensure that your child arrives at a game or to practise according to the coach’s instruction.

There are times when an unexpected pool closure will affect the training schedule so please check your
emails frequently as coaches will communicate any changes to the schedule via your team’s parent
representative.

Learn the game of water polo for your child by watching games and practices.

Give positive feedback, encourage all team members and recognize good play by opposing teams.

Be a good role model to your children and avoid criticizing your child or other players, parents, coaches
and referees. Foul or abusive language and conduct is strictly prohibited.

Respect the coach while coaching games and organizing practices.

Respect the referees and their decisions. It is the Coach’s decision whether to question a referee’s
interpretation of a rule.

Participate in the parent/child/coach fun game.
To volunteer simply contact any Board Member or Coach.
Players
The most important attributes players can bring to a team are a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and an
enjoyment for the game. Playing water polo should be fun.

Be respectful to all coaches, teammates, referees and opposing team members.
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
Follow rules outlined by the league and your coach.

Ask questions about the game to further build understanding of the game.

Be punctual for games and practices. Inform coach or team representative if unable to attend practices
or games.

Be positive and encouraging to all members of the team.

Give your best effort in games and practices.

Demonstrate self-discipline; treat equipment and facilities with utmost respect.

Be a good sport no matter the outcome of a game or tournament.

Accept the Referees’ decision. The Coach will decide when to address any issues with the referee.

Criticizing the referee could result in you being asked to leave the game and would then mean your
team plays short.

Understand that you are representing not only your team but your coach, your parents and most of all
yourself. You are responsible for behaving and conducting yourself appropriately.

Be prepared for all games and practices:

Be on deck a minimum of 15 minutes prior to practise or as requested by your coach and warm-up
before practices and games to reduce risk of injury.

Always bring a sports bag, bathing suit (and a spare), towel and a labeled water bottle. Swim goggles
are necessary for swim training.

Mouth guards are highly recommended both to prevent damage to teeth and concussions.

Head gear/ear protection is provided by the team.

Schedules should be communicated to you by your coach or when you register. Schedules are also
available on our website www.neptuneswaterpolo.com or will be emailed to you or parent/guardian if
there is a last minute change.
Coaches

Give positive feedback and encouragement to all players. Develop team-building and a supportive
environment.

Are knowledgeable of FINA Water Polo Rules and obtain certification through the National Coaching
Certification Program (NCCP) offered by the Coaching Association of Canada.

Communicate the rules of the game effectively to the players in order to develop a greater
understanding of the game.

Maintain open communication with players and are accessible to players via email.

Ensure practices are run with player safety in mind.

Should be punctual, prepared and organized for all practices and games.
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
Hold annual meeting with parents at beginning of the season to discuss goals, policies and team rules.

Hold meetings with players and families before registering for tournaments.

Be committed to work with the team for the entire season.

Maintain a level of professionalism and exhibit model behaviour towards players, opposing coaches,
referees and parents.

When involved in discussions with the referee of a game, will only discuss interpretations of the game
rules and will do so with the utmost of respect, patience and acceptance of final decision made by the
referee.

Adhere to the Long-term Athlete Development Program (LTDP) set out by Canadian Sport for Life.

Clear Child Abuse Registry check.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
About Schedules and Events:
Monthly practice and event calendar will be posted on our website www.neptuneswaterpolo.com.
If you do not have access to a computer please let the parent representative of your child’s team know as most
communication is done via email.
Tournaments:
Most tournaments will be pre-determined and will be discussed by your coach at your first team meeting. Costs
vary depending on location of tournaments. Local tournaments are usually less than $40.00 and are mandatory.
Out-of-town tournaments can vary from $250-$1500 and are elective.
Local Tournaments:

Parents are responsible for the supervision of their children during local tournaments when they are not
warming-up, practicing, or playing.

When the Neptunes host a tournament we rely on many volunteers to help it run smoothly and
successfully. Parents and older players are asked to consider volunteering in one of the many areas of
responsibility from food preparation, fundraising, scorekeeping, timekeeping, set-up and tear-down
among other things. Vince Lombardi once said, “The achievements of an organization are the result of
the combined effort of each individual” so with your help we can achieve success!
Out-of-Town Tournaments:

Travel to out-of-town tournaments may be done by car-pooling, bus or plane whichever is most
effective cost-wise or time-wise. We do our best to keep travel costs to out-of-town tournaments
reasonable.

Parents or guardians of younger players may want to travel to the tournaments. If travelling with your
own vehicle and/or staying in a hotel with your child(ren) you are responsible for your own costs.

Travel costs can be subsidized through volunteering at BINGO events but these subsidies only cover
the athlete’s costs not costs incurred by families travelling to the tournament.
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
Costs for travel and accommodation of the coaches and chaperones at out-of-town tournaments are
shared by the team.

Chaperones will be designated by the Board.

Out of town tournaments often require each participating team to supply an official for the tournament.
This cost for their accommodation and travel is shared by the team.
About our Coaches

They are volunteers and need the respect and support of parents and players to effectively coach.

If you have a concern, question or idea you should talk to the coach constructively. Please ask to speak
to a coach before or after a practice. While practice is on, they are there to coach the athletes and are
responsible for their training. Let them know that you want to speak to them and what it is about and
how long you think the discussion should take.

If your child is having a difficulty with some aspect of the game, please take the time to discuss it with
the coach.

If you are upset about a matter, allow yourself a “cool down” time and then approach the coach in a
calm manner.

If you have an unresolved concern, please contact the Head Coach, Lucia Davidson at (204)889-9730.
Referees
All sports are experiencing a shortage of officials. One of the main reasons for this is the treatment officials
sometimes face from parents, athletes and coaches. Any abuse of a referee will not be tolerated. Show your
support for the team and the game but represent the Neptune’s club well by always being respectful to the
referees.
Minor Officiating Clinic (score-keeping and time-keeping)
Every year, on average, our club runs a minor officials clinic to allow parents, players or fans the opportunity to
learn how to be a minor official of a game. This is a great way to understand the rules of the game and to be
involved in tournaments. Emails will be sent out when these occur and information will be posted on the
Neptune’s website.
Websites

Consult our website www.neptuneswaterpolo.com to keep up to date with program information,
schedules, standings and special events.

Manitoba Water Polo Association www.mbwaterpolo.com

Water Polo Canada www.waterpolo.ca

Canadian Sport for Life www.canadiansportforlife.ca
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