Attending men’s water polo camps isn’t just a way to spend intensive days playing the sport you love. Summer water polo camps can be invaluable for your college water polo recruiting process and help you gain the skills and exposure to become the kind of water polo student-athlete that college coaches are looking for. Use our event finder below to find water polo camps near you.
How to Find the right water polo summer camps
Finding the right summer water polo camp comes down to doing your homework on two separate topics: thinking honestly about your skill level as a water polo player and researching what a specific men’s water polo camp entails.
Knowing your skill level, you’ll be able to think critically about what you want to achieve at men’s water polo camps.
Do you want to gain skills and instruction? Do you want to work on advanced swimming and flexibility? Do you want to get in the pool against new competitors you’ve never met before? At many camps, all of these are possible. And the opportunity to play against new players can help you learn new aspects of the game you hadn’t considered before.
You’ll want to research what different summer water polo camps entail. There can be great opportunities to meet top water polo players at a camp and benefit from their instruction. However, you want to make sure that the top instructors will be on the deck for the entirety of the camp; after all, that’s who is going to be giving you the best instruction.
You’ll also have to think about whether a water polo camp fits into your family’s budget and schedule, as well as your timetable for getting recruited for college water polo. It’s your recruiting process and college future ahead of you. Make sure the entire family is on the same page about what that future will include.
Water polo tournaments
Student-athletes should consider two factors when choosing what water polo tournament to attend.
The first factor to consider is the location of the tournament.
Underclassmen should focus on competing at local and regional tournaments that will help them develop as athletes and gain competition experience.
Upperclassmen should explore travel tournaments across the country where college coaches will be present.
The second factor to consider when selecting a water polo tournament is what tournaments college coaches from the athlete’s target schools typically attend.
When selecting a tournament, student-athletes should research which tournaments those coaches have attended in the past and notify coaches that they will be competing at the tournament.
What are some good water polo camps?
- Stanford Water Polo Camps (California): Stanford University often hosts water polo camps, attracting players of various skill levels with experienced coaching staff.
- United Water Polo Camps: These camps are held at different locations across the United States and are known for providing a range of programs for different skill levels.
- KAP7 International Water Polo Camps: KAP7, a water polo equipment provider, organizes camps at various locations, offering coaching from experienced professionals.
- USC Water Polo Camps (California): The University of Southern California (USC) hosts water polo camps, providing participants with high-level training and exposure to top-notch facilities.
What are some good water polo goalie camps?
- KAP7 International: Known for its water polo clinics and camps, KAP7 often features specialized goalie training.
- Olympic Development Program (ODP): Some regions have water polo ODPs that provide training camps, including goalie-specific coaching.
- Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Camps: The CWPA occasionally hosts camps and clinics that cover various aspects of water polo, including goalie training.
- USA Water Polo Camps: USA Water Polo offers camps at different levels, and some may include specialized goalie training sessions.
- National Goalie Camps: There are independent goalie camps organized by experienced coaches and former water polo goalies, such as the National Goalie Camps.
Maximize Every Water Polo Camp Opportunity
Finding the right water polo camp is an important step in your recruiting journey. If you’re unsure which camp best fits your goals, your NCSA Recruiting Coach is here to help. NCSA provides expert support to help athletes navigate the recruiting process and make the most of every opportunity.
Not a member yet? Create your free NCSA Recruiting Profile now so coaches can find you and so you can start receiving and responding to camp invites.