16 and Under Junior Olympics!!!

A few months back I gave info about the coaches in Santa Cruz putting together a Junior Olympic Qualifier team.  What a great opportunity it is, but at that time it was primarily for 18 and unders which are basically seniors.  We had a number of soon to be juniors go to the meeting, but were disappointed to hear it was more for the older guys.  Well, not any longer.  The Santa Cruz guys are quickly putting together at 16 and under team to practice, compete and try to qualify for the Junior Olympic tournament.  If you have any aspirations of improving your game or playing at the college level, it is almost a must that you are on a club team that is playing at these levels.
I was excited that we had 5 or 6 guys go to the first meeting, but frankly I was disappointed we didn't have 10-15.  This goes hand in hand with swimming, weight training, Legacy.  It does not necessarily need to be "one or the other".  This a HUGE opportunity.  This opportunity will eclipse any water polo camp!  I would much rather you committing to this along with Legacy than spending money and time going to Stanford camp.  If you're going to pick one or the other, this is it!!

Yes there will be a driving commitment.

Yes there will be a time commitment and may infringe on a vacation plan.

Yes there may be a financial commitment.

Good things in this world don't come cheap or easy.  This sport is not easy.  Being a standout player and team/program is not easy and does not come by just having really cool looking speedos and showing up at practice.  Champions go the extra mile.  Winners do things that others will not.

I WISH I had this opportunity when I was in high school!!

One last note:  There is a high likelihood that we may be competing against the Santa Cruz teams "in league" next season!!!  How many kids will they have involved??  Let's do the best we can.

Read below:

March 21st 16 & Under 7pm Competitive Team Meeting @

Cabrillo Pool

Meeting Objectives:

• Relay coaches’ proposal for a county wide 16 and under competitive boy’s water

polo team.

• Obtain commitments through August 2011 from at least 16 athletes to follow and

fund the plan described below. Without these commitments we can not provide

the plan described below.

Spring Program will run Until May 2nd

Practices:

• Mon/Wed practices at Cabrillo with Marcelo from 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm

Game/Tournament Schedule Options (depending on commitment from players and

sponsoring organizations):

• Spring League with La Morinda.

• Attending the San Diego Cal-Cup on 4-29 to 5-1 requires $1000 in entry fee and

immediate commitment.

• Travel to southern California or within Nor-Cal to play individual games with

clubs.

Beginning May 2nd (14 weeks)

Practices;

• Monday/Wed @ Cabrillo with Marcelo from 6:30 to 8

• Tuesday/Thursday @ SC with Chris from 7 to 9.

Game/Tournament Schedule:

• J.O. Qualifier in Moraga– June 10th – 12th

• West Valley tournament in Saratoga on June 24-26th.

• West Valley tournament in Saratoga on July 8-10.

• SC Classic July 16th & 17th

• J.O.’s in Orange County – July 30th – Aug 2nd

• Cal State Games Aug 4-7th in San Diego

• Additional games/scrimmages TBA

Notes to parents:

The end of summer requires an 8 day commitment in travel if we qualify for JO’s.

Coaching:

Chris Melcer is the head-coach of this group and will work with them Tuesdays and

Thursdays and will take them to games in spring, JO’s, the Cal State Games and at least

one of the two West Valley tournaments. Chris will be site manager at Santa Cruz during

Santa Cruz classic which is not scheduled. We will schedule 16’s boys at Santa Cruz so

he can coach them.

Staff review of film and team summary following each tournament:

Parent film each tournament game (using coach’s equipment). Coach Melcer will review

and edit the first quarter of any blow-out (win or loss) and the last quarter of any close

game. All three coaches will provide input on those quarters and that will be presented to

the team at the end of the next week of practice. For example – Thursday night following

a tournament will be focused on film review.

Dry Land

Beginning May 3rdnd the first 15 to 30 minutes on Tuesday/Thursday will be devoted to

dry land warm up and stabilization with emphasis on shoulder stabilization.

Tournament Travel:

There will be a parent focal for travel that all parents can go to with questions and

potential arrangements for air/carpool and or hotel accommodations. Travel will be

parent and athlete responsibility. We will not plan your travel arrangements but we will

communicate all game times and locations to the focal parent and it will be our

recommendation that parents work together to have the entire team stay at one hotel if at

all possible.

Website:

There will be another parent focal that will be responsible for ensure that hotel

accommodations, game times, and any team information is current and on the web.

Club Affiliation and Age criteria

Club affiliation must occur by May 31st and must be Central Coast Sharks.

Your age o July 30th, 2011 defines your age for this group (i.e. your age for JO’s).