skip navigation

Mid-Pen Water Polo Club Announcements—November 24

By Mid-Pen Water Polo, 11/24/24, 3:00PM PST

Share

Welcome to week two of the winter season!

This weekly email is long, but please read it in full: lots of important info!

Practice Schedule

Due to the Thanksgiving break, we have practice only on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Next week, the pool is closed for maintenance from Monday, December 2, to Friday, December 6, so we won't have practice. However:

  • The coaches are working on scheduling some scrimmages with teams in Mountain View and Los Altos;
  • Maintenance could be done earlier than Friday, and if so, practices will be back on.
  •  

I will send out an email and post on the SE app with any updates.

You can always check the schedule on the SE App and our calendar.

Team Wear

All enrolled players will receive a Mid-Pen long-sleeve t-shirt, and new players will also receive a Mid-Pen suit. The distribution will be in December, and a parent volunteer will post in the SE chat.

If you wish to order additional team wear (parkas, sweatshirts, spirit wear for parents), go to our team store at https://www.swimoutlet.com/collections/midpenwaterpoloclub (the link is in the Parent Portal menu.)

Tournament Schedule

The updated tournament schedule is on the website (https://www.mpwaterpolo.com/2024-25winter), and it has been added to the SE app and the calendar.

RSVP to Practices and Games

If your player is missing practice, RSVP no in the SE app. Do not send an email to info@mpwaterpolo.com; use the app!

If you already know your player won't be available on one of the tournament days, RSVP in the app so the coaches can plan accordingly. We do not have the exact schedules yet; once we have them, the games will be added to the app, and RSVPs are mandatory.

Masters Program

A master's co-ed program is available for adults; if any parents are interested, more info is on the Mid-Pen website: https://www.mpwaterpolo.com/masters.

PARENT MEETINGS

Thank you to all the parents who have attended the parent meeting. Here are the highlights.

Athletes' behavior expectations and consequences

Team Spirit and Conduct: Let's build a team that shines together! Show respect and positivity to your teammates. Remember, we're all in this together. If you have thoughts or concerns, share them with a coach – they're here to listen!

Punctuality Matters: Being on time isn't just a game rule; it's a life skill. It shows respect for your team and coaches.

Practices and Games Are Mandatory: Your commitment matters! Be there for your team. If you can't make it, RSVP no in the app.

Practice Etiquette: Let's keep practices productive and fun. If behavior gets in the way, you might be asked to chill on the deck for a bit. Remember, it's three strikes, and you're out—let's avoid that and have a blast in the pool!

Parents behavior expectations

Parents' Role: Check your emails and SportsEngine messages to stay in the loop and ensure we have your best contact details. Coaches will ensure you're copied when communicating with your athlete.

Timeliness Matters for Athletes: Encourage your athlete to be punctual and prepared. It's a great habit that shows respect for the team and coach.

Parents and players, stay connected!

You must download the SportsEngine app, our primary communication channel. In the app, click the gearwheel, then "Teams," and turn on ALL the team notifications.

If you need help with accessing SportEngine, please email info@mpwaterpolo.com.

In addition to the SE app, we have team pages on the website (you must be logged in to your SE account to see them): https://www.mpwaterpolo.com/teampages.

Team Parent

We need a parent from each team to volunteer to be the team parent. The team parent is the Coach's right-hand person:

  • Posting updates and reminders in the SE app
  • Reminding players to RSVP
  • Creating signup sheets to bring snacks for tournaments and/or practices
  • Planing restaurants or meal options, especially for teams that will travel to KAP7 or other tournaments
  •  

Donation Day

#GivingTuesay is coming up. Please consider supporting the Mid-Pen Water Polo organization to help offset the increase in pool rental costs this season: https://www.mpwaterpolo.com/donate. Mid-Pen Water Polo Club is administered by Menlo Park Water Polo Club, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our Federal Tax ID is 46-5208910, and we are eligible for corporate matching.

Travelling Tournaments

We are planning for two traveling tournaments:

  • KAP7 (16U Blue and 18U)
  • Futures (16U and 18U)
  • Junior Olympics (all the teams who will qualify)

More information is on this page: https://www.mpwaterpolo.com/competitions.

We hope the boys will commit to building competitive teams for the Future and the Junior Olympics (JOs) through winter, spring, and summer.

Families that have to travel in the summer are encouraged to plan their trips after JO qualifiers and before the actual Junior Olympics in late July.

16U and 18U Additional Info

The 16U split: The app and website have updated the Blue and White team rosters. The split is flexible, so some players could move between rosters.

The teams will be set by the time KAP7 registration happens. KAP7 is a large tournament in Orange County, so travel is required.