- What are different training groups in the NGEN program?
We believe in bio-banding, a practice format not found in most US clubs. Instead of the traditional 10u, 12u and 14u programs, we have split our youth groups into Silver (Splashball), White, Red, Black, High Performance and High School. We group athletes on skill and maturation, rather than age. This allows our athletes to develop in a safe, controlled environment with other athletes of similar skill and size. Our system allows for fluidity and vertical movement between our groups as needed to support each of our athlete’s individual growth.
SPLASHBALL / SILVER: This is the entry level program of our 4 youth group programs (silver, white, red, black). Our SILVER program is designed to help our beginner/intro to water polo and swimming athletes learn water safety and swimming skills along with the basics of water polo through a fun, safe, and engaging program.
WHITE: This is the beginner level program of our 5 youth group programs (silver, white, red, black, hp). Our WHITE program is our entry level into our competitive club program. The format is still 50% ‘recreation’ but training begins to focus more on base swimming and water strength and conditioning in preparation for competition.
RED: This is the intermediate level program of our 5 youth groups (silver, white, red, black, hp). Our RED group will focus on swim and water polo strength and conditioning in preparation for competition. Coaches will combine the basics of the sport, with high level practice programs to prepare athletes for games.
BLACK: This is the advanced level of our 5 youth groups (silver, white, red, black, hp). Our BLACK group will continue to focus on swim and water polo strength and conditioning in preparation for competition. Coaches will combine the basics of the sport, with high level practice programs to prepare athletes for games.
HP: This is the high-performance level of our 5 youth groups (silver, white, red, black, hp). Our HP group will have a faster pace during swim and water polo strength and conditioning. HP will focus on individual skills, team skills and game IQ. Commitment to 80% practice attendance, tournament, league play, and Junior Olympics is required to be considered for this group. NGEN will commit to high level practices and top tier play opportunities to prepare this group for their High School programs, ODP tryouts and other future goals.
HIGH SCHOOL: This is our most advanced program. We have high school athletes at all levels from beginner to experienced, and work to prepare them for their high school seasons, club competitions and to be able to play in college if desired.
- What is the club water polo season?
The competitive club water polo season starts in the beginning of September and runs thru the end of July, which is why an athletes age is determined by their age on 8/1 of the competition year. We are currently in the 24/25 competition year and the birthday age of date is 8/1/25.
We will continue to offer training year-round for all 12 months. High School Students participating on their High School water polo teams, are not allowed by CIF to also play/train club during their HS season. So, they will take a break from NGEN while their HS teams are in CIF season. HS students that are not training with their HS or whose HS does not have a water polo program, are allowed to continue to train club year-round.
- What does a water polo game look like?
Depending on athlete age, there are 5 – 7 athletes in the water at a time on a team. One is a goalie. A game takes about 40 minutes to complete and is played in 4 periods. There are 1-2 referees for a game. Their job is to enforce the rules and keep everyone safe. They will also provide the parents a lot to talk about during the game as their calls can make for great bleacher banter!
For a typical tournament, there are 2 games each day on a weekend. We are very lucky to be in the “hot bed” of water polo, and most games are within an hour of where live. Games aren’t mandatory. NGEN will open registration for events for athletes who are available, and the coaches believe are ready to play, to register at.
NGEN will set up “friendly” scrimmages with a couple clubs we have great relationships with and have similar developing youth groups. We hope to host some of these scrimmages in our Torrance pool! They will be super fun and include after scrimmage bonding and food with our visiting team.
- Are all practices mandatory?
No. We understand that lots of our athletes play other sports and have other extra-curricular activities and there are conflicting schedules. We offer 3-4 practice days a week depending on group, where most water polo clubs offer 3 days a week. We want to provide our families options to come to as many as you can, lots of flexibility, in the hope that most of them will work for your athlete.
We want to make learning water polo and trying NGEN easy and fun and accommodate our community’s needs.
Water polo is a great cross training sport for baseball, soccer, swimming and basketball!
Make sure your athlete lets their NGEN coach know about their other commitments. NGEN coaches are known to show up at their athletes’ baseball, softball, soccer, swim team, basketball, football, and other games to support. One of our 16u boys is in the orchestra at his high school playing both the violin and piano.
NGEN supports the whole child.
Please let your coach know what else your athlete does so we can be there for them.
- What is a USAWP membership and why do we need one?
USA Water Polo (USAWP) is the governing body for all water polo clubs in the US, much like USA swimming is for the sport of Swimming. NGEN belongs to USAWP, we pay yearly dues to them for insurance that covers our club, our pool, our coaches and our athletes during both practice and games.
USAWP also offers its members events outside what clubs provide, like water polo camps and the Olympic Development Program (ODP). Through ODP, USAWP identifies and trains the pipeline of athletes that compete to be on our Olympic team and represent the USA.
I’m the first to admit that signing up for an account and membership in USAWP for even the basic Splash Ball and Bronze memberships, which athletes need to train at any club, is not intuitive. Quick tips on that front:
- Start by making an account HERE.
- You are the account holder, not your child. Click NOT FOR YOU when prompted at this step.
- After you have made an account, add members (your children) by clicking on the top 3 white bars and go to MEMBERS tab.
- After you have added the relevant information for your child, go back to the MEMBERS tab, click on the newly created MEMBER (your child), then click on MEMBERSHIP tab, add the correct membership type (“splash ball” for silver/white; Bronze” for red/black; USAWP also offers a “2 week free trial” membership type. After 2 weeks, you can always go back and then buy a USAWP membership.).
- Scroll to “Next Generation Aquatics” and choose us as your club.
- Add/acknowledge the required waivers (concussion, safe sport)
- USAWP offers a “Shieldy Discount” off memberships for families in need.
- Finally, Checkout.
If you need help, email me at [email protected] or call 310.977.7411, we will walk you thru it.
- What if my child stops liking water polo or we need to take a break, are we locked into the season?
No, Dues are monthly, meaning you pay on the last day of the previous month, (paying for March on February 29th). If your athlete stops loving water polo or you need a break, simply email us up to 3 days before the end of month billing cycle and we will suspend your account until you let us know your back.
