Iowa Water Polo

I've never played water polo, can I play?
Yes, we have members from all different aquatic backgrounds. Some members have age group, high school, or collegiate competitive swimming backgrounds, some have high school water polo backgrounds, some were lifeguards, and some have never even heard of water polo before. As long as you can swim, we will teach you the rest.

Do I have to attend every practice?
All practices are mandatory for members who wish to travel. For members who only wish to play recreationally, we are more lenient on attendance requirements. However, if poor attendance results in poor skill progression, which hurts the overall effectiveness of practice, the member will be asked to attend all practices or discontinue membership.

Can I get a scholarship?
No. We are a recognized club sport which means we are given a very small annual budget; therefore we cannot offer scholarships.

Does it cost anything to play?
Because the University does not give us enough money to run our club, we must raise funds ourselves. We collect club dues every semester (currently $50 per semester plus some travel fees not covered by the club). Also we raise money by doing various fundraisers, receiving donations, and soliciting sponsorships.

What is the money used for?
The money we raise every year is used to replace or purchase new equipment, including balls, goals, caps, and timing equipment. Also money is needed for tournaments and travel costs.

Do we travel & how often?
Yes. Usually we go to three or four tournaments per semester, depending on club funds and interest. During the fall semester the men's team usually travels to Numerous Big Ten schools as well as Big Ten Championships. During the spring semester the men usually host their own tournament as well as travel to Iowa State and Minnesota. The women travel to other Big Ten tournaments during the Spring semester and spend the fall semester training. Please note that traveling is not required.

Who do we play against?
We play mostly against other Universities in the Midwest. Mainly Iowa and Illinois. Teams we have played in the past include Iowa State, Des Moines, Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Western Michigan, Carleton College, St. Olaf, Ball State, and Kansas, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Northern Ill., Southern Ill., Miami of Ohio, and Grinnell.

How do I join?
We allow people to join throughout the year. Our first recruiting session is during the first week of school. Look for flyers around campus. Because team chemistry is important during the fall season, we ask that members new to the sport join within the first two weeks of school or wait until the competitive season is over. After the fall season, we will have another recruiting session specially geared toward less skilled and new players. The team's focus will be removed from competition and directed toward individual development. For more information about joining, you may contact any of the club officers or simply show up to one of our practices.

When do you practice?
Practice times depend on a number of factors that include the season, upcoming tournaments, social events, finals week, and pool time. Usually we try to practice 3-4 times a week for two hours each practice. Practices are mandatory for full time members. Each practice will include endurance training, technique drills, game time strategy, and scrimmages. If you wish to join you may attend any practice at any point during the school year. No water polo experience is necessary to join, however we do require all members to be in good physical health and must be able to swim and tread water in deep water for sustained periods of time. For more information email an officer or attend a practice with absolutely no obligation to join. We are always looking for new recruits and we hope to see you at the pool!


Regular Practice Times:
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
9-11pm		9-11pm	9-11pm			4-6pm

* All practices are located at the Fieldhouse Pool.