USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program 2016-17
Purpose
The Olympic Development Program will serve as a forum to identify and
develop athletes to represent USA Water Polo throughout domestic and
international competition. The foundation of the program is a systematic
approach to athlete development through a training program that focuses on
both the technical and tactical components of water polo while placing a
premium on overall physical fitness. This program will also provide a forum
where coaches and referees are provided with professional development and
to the vision of our Men and Women’s Senior National Team coaches.
Goal
The goal is to identify and develop athletes at the USAWP club level and then
integrating them into national team pipeline via the Olympic Development
Program.
ODP
Adjustments
The Olympic Development Program consistently takes feedback from its staff
and participants to adjust the program on a yearly basis, so that the ODP
remains the world’s standard for development.
ODP – Mission and Operations
Olympic
Development
Program
Overview
USA Water Polo has revised the Olympic Development Program
infrastructure to be more effectively streamlined in terms of communication
and operations. The new infrastructure will provide a direct line of
communication from senior team coaches, zone coaches and administrators
back to the High Performance Director.
The ODP system will involve 13 geographic zones throughout the country.
Each zone will be managed and operated by a zone head coach. Their
responsibilities will include coaching, programming, and administrative
duties in their respective zones as a liaison to USA Water Polo ODP. For a
list of current Zone Head Coaches click here.
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ODP – Mission and Operations
High Performance Organizational Chart
ODP Zone
Locations
A national ODP staff provides guidance and interface with the USA Water
Polo Men and Women's national teams. Each zone will have an ODP Zone
Head Coach and at least two age group coaches for each gender.
ODP Training Zones
Midwest
Northeast
Southeast
Central California
Hawaii
Pacific
Coastal California
Pacific Southwest
Southern Pacific
Mountain
Pacific Northwest
Southwest
Great Lakes (Michigan, Ohio and Western PA)
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ODP – Mission and Operations
Zone Age
Groups
Age groups will be determined by birth year:
• Youth age group is born in 2000 and under
• Cadet age group is born in 2002 and under
• Development Age Group is born in 2003 and younger
Athletes will have an opportunity to move up age groups, if selected by an
ODP coaching staff and/or National Team Staff and/or High Performance
Director. Example: A’02 athlete can be selected to compete with the ’00
group.
Note: Age groups are categorized based on age guidelines that qualifies the
athletes for World Championships, Youth and Junior World Championships,
Pan Am games, etc.
Zone Head
Coaches
Zone Head Coach: Each zone will hire one head coach per zone per gender.
These coaches will be the main point of contact for ODP in that zone area,
and will also coach the youngest age group of Olympic Development in their
respective zone. These coaches will also be responsible for selecting coaches
for other age groups in their respective zones, these zone coaches will be
referred to as Zone Age Group Coaches (ZAGs).
A zone head coach will also have the responsibility of communicating to
clubs in their zones and ensuring clubs have the proper information regarding
ODP, training dates, etc. USA Water Polo strongly believes that this process
will encourage collaboration and communication within zones. Any and all
coaches are encouraged and invited to attend zone camps for professional
development. Coaches can also send athlete recommendations to ZHCs and
ZAGs for zone team selection consideration.
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ODP – Mission and Operations
Zone Camps
ODP Zone camps will be utilized as a forum to display the ODP system of
play. Both national team coaches and staff from USAWP will work directly
with local staff and athletes to build an effective program in order to select
local zone teams. Each zone will have two ODP zone camps per year, which
are open to any USAWP Silver member. Athletes can attend their own local
zone camp or attend in other zones if desired, but must attend at least one
camp in their USAWP registered zone to be considered for zone team
selection.
The hybrid format of the zone camps will be a tryout and training session.
Zone camps will be operated and administered by zone coaches, USAWP
national team staff, select national team pipeline coaches, national goalie
coaches, and the zone head referee. The local staff members will also be
responsible for logistics and operations of the zone camps. The zone staff will
report back to the USAWP national office on dates that best maximize
participation within the zone.
The two zone camps will have different focus areas, allowing for a variety of
opportunities to learn and train. All athletes are encouraged to attend both
camps.
Price structure: Any USAWP Silver Member within the age groups may
register for zone camps.
- Camp fee is $200 for a weekend camp (outside CA) and $165 for a 1 day
camp (in CA)
Coach and Referee Schools will be also held in conjunction with zone
camps. These clinics will be offered once per zone per ODP season. All
coaches and referees are invited to attend. For a list of coach/referee schools
click here.
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ODP – Mission and Operations
Zone Team
In order to be selected to the zone team, an athlete must attend at least one zone
camp within their zone. An athlete can participate in any zone camp.
The goal is to have an athlete evaluated by both local and national staff
members for selection. Athletes will no longer be cut or removed from the
camp. After attending a zone camp, an athlete may be selected by zone staff
members and national team coaches to join the zone team. Coaches can also
send athlete recommendations to ZHCs and ZAGs for zone team selection
consideration. An ODP athlete recommendation form will be emailed to all
USAWP coaches via email.
All USAWP Silver athletes are invited to participate in ODP zone camps to
further develop and improve their skills, even if they do not intend to participate
on the zone team.
Team Layout:
The top 14 athletes in each zone (from the camps) will form the zone teams.
Larger zones will have a 2nd team (“B” team) based on the number of athletes in
those areas. If selected for the zone team, the charge to train and be a member of
that team will be $500 (and requires Gold USAWP membership). This fee
includes participation at the national championship event, on site
accommodations for the event (hotel for all participants and transportation for
zones outside of California), and additional zone training. Team gear carries an
additional cost to the athlete. Applications for financial aid are available to
those athletes named and invited to the Zone Team Roster. Select Financial
Aid as your form of payment and an online application link will be sent to
your email.
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ODP – Mission and Operations
National
Championship
Tournament
Each zone team will compete in the ODP national championship tournament.
The tournament will be comprised of approximately 16 teams from 13 ODP
zones. Each zone will enter one team and the larger zones will enter two teams.
The tournament will start with bracket play comprised of four brackets of four
seeded teams, conducted by the USAWP national staff and the USAWP High
Performance Director.
While the ODP national championship will be centered on competition, another
major component will also focus on athlete development and experience as well
as coaching and referee development. Therefore, ODP and national team staff
will use the ODP national championship tournament as a forum for professional
development for coaches, referees, and athletes.
Locations:
The 2017 ODP National Championship will be held in Northern California.
February 24-26 – Boys National Championship
March 10-12 – Girls National Championship
Evaluations:
All athletes participating in the ODP National Championship will receive a
formal evaluation from their zone coach within ten days of the conclusion of the
National Championship tournament.
National Team Training and Selection Camp:
At the National Championship, USAWP will select athletes to move on to the
National Team Selection Camp by USAWP coaches, staff and support
members. National Team Staff will select the top 48 athletes at the youth and
cadet age group. The top 70 athletes will be selected at the development age
group. A minimum of 1-2 athletes per ODP zone will be selected for the youth
and cadet NTSC, while a minimum of 2-3 athletes per ODP zone will be
selected for the development NTSC.
If there are junior national team camps in the year, then athletes for that specific
camp and age group will be invited to attend.
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ODP – Mission and Operations
ODP Pipeline
System
Below you will see the ODP pipeline system and how it feeds towards the
national team programming:
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ODP – Mission and Operations
National
Team
Program
National teams will train and compete domestically and internationally.
The key value of connecting the USAWP ODP program with the national
team system is to streamline the requirement of going through the ODP in
order to be selected to a national team.
Nick Johnson Inspiration Award
The Nick Johnson Inspiration Award, established February 2015, recognizes athletes on a yearly
basis that fully embody the vision and values of the Olympic Development Program. The values
of the program are based on the Olympic movement, defined as "Olympism."
"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of
body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way
of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for
universal fundamental ethical principles."
The values that are derived from Olympism and translated into ODP are the backbone of why the
program exists and what it sets out to pass on to its participants. ODP athletes should have the
utmost respect for their opponents, officials, and the game of water polo. ODP athletes should
strive to maximize their potential as athletes and as people. Nick Johnson was a shining example
of this during his time with us. We hope this award inspires us all to embrace the values of ODP
and be a part of the Olympic movement.
For more information on this award click here.
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Goalkeeper Program
Goalkeepers participating in the ODP program will receive specific goalkeeper training from
experienced goalkeeper coaches through the guidance and leadership of National Goalkeeper
Coach and Olympian Sean Nolan. Each and every zone camp, ODP national championship, and
the national team selection camp will have one or more of the national goalkeeper coaches in
attendance. They will assist the national team pipeline coaches with the selections of the
goalkeepers for the zone teams. In addition to working with the athletes, the national goalkeeper
coaches will work with the zone coaches in order to improve their knowledge base and coaching
skills for the goalkeeper position. Coaches and players will benefit in a variety of ways, through
access to the following materials and resources:
• ODP Goalkeeper Coaching Manual
• Videotaping and video review with athletes and coaches.
• Classroom and on-deck coaching demonstrations and clinics.
• Position specific camps (for certain Zones only).
• In-water breakdown of goalkeeper fundamentals, such as: Base position, triangle positioning,
the lunge and throwing dynamics.
• Demonstration and dissemination of goalkeeper specific drills.
(Including DVD of drills and skills).
Each zone camp will have a different emphasis and learning opportunities. During the first zone
camp, national goalkeeper coaches will focus on the technical skills of being a goalkeeper. For
the second zone camp, the emphasis will shift to the tactical skills that are needed to become a
more complete goalkeeper.
The role of the national goalkeeper coaches will be to implement the technical and tactical skills
developed by the national goalkeeper director, to aid in player selections, and to be a strong
ambassador for the goalkeeper position to our ODP participants.
Referees
The USAWP Referee Association, under the guidance and leadership of National Director of
Referees Jim Cullingham, in collaboration with each Zone Head Referee (ZHR) will provide
referees for all ODP events and trainings and competitions. The USAWP Referee Association
will not only oversee the officiating of scrimmages at zone camps, zone trainings, and national
competitions but will also take advantage of these activities will to provide valuable training and
professional growth opportunities for USAWP Referees across the Country. This year, referees
will be appointed to officiate a specific age group at the National Championships to better focus
on referee education, growth, and development. To further enhance the experience, the
USAWPR will provide on site evaluation and mentoring at each of these activities. The Director
of Referees will also select referees, with the endorsement and input of the ZHR, to attend
National Team Selection Camps where the referees will have the opportunity to work with
national team athletes and coaches and have an opportunity to learn the specific instruction given
to athletes from national team coaches. This will provide a forum for coaches and referees to
dialogue on connecting the teaching of technical skills to how the game is being called at the
FINA level.
Additional Camps & Opportunities
13 and under Camps - September 3, 2016
Boys location at TBD. Girls location at TBD.
Goal of these camps is to introduce entry-level younger athletes to the National Teams and the
Olympic Development Program. Camps will be one day in duration and conducted by Senior
Team coaches and athletes. Click here for more information.
Co-Ed 11 and under Camps
On October 9 and October 30, select zones will offer ODP training for both boys and girls ages
11 and under. At these trainings athletes will be exposed to the ODP tactics and technical skills
in an introductory manner.
Futures Camp
August 10-14, 2017 at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center
The purpose of the Futures Camp is to invite male and female athletes that have been identified
in the High Performance process of ODP and the National Pipeline Teams. These are athletes
that have shown great potential during the process, however did not make a travel roster for their
respective pipeline teams. The Futures Camp was created to give an additional opportunity for
these select athletes to grow and develop in an Olympic environment before the start of the next
ODP season. We want these athletes to continue their development and to walk away from the
camp with further leadership skills and knowledge to take back to their zones.
ODP Academy
Based on performances in the previous season in the program and pipeline teams, an ODP athlete
may be invited to participate in the ODP Academy. This group is made up of invitation only
athletes hand selected by our National Team staffs from the previous year’s ODP and pipeline
national team season. A first year ODP athlete is not eligible for participation in the Academy.
Training will be held once a month from August 2016 through May 2017, and led by USAWP
Senior Team coaching staff. The Academy athletes will then be released to their respective zone
teams for zone training and the ODP National Championships. Specific Academy training dates
will be delivered to the invited athletes after all current pipeline team activities are complete. The
ODP Academy provides our potential future Olympians receive year-round training and
instruction from the top of the pipeline.
Key ODP Calendar of Events
Zone Camps
September 2016 through January 2017
Zone Training
California Boys – February 4 (Socal) &
February 19 (Norcal)
California Girls – March 4 or 5, 2017
Outside of CA – TBD by Zone Staff
National
Championship
Boys – February 24-26, 2017
Girls – March 10-12, 2017
NTSC
(Selection and
Training Camp)
Boys – March 31-April 2, 2017
Girls – May 26-29, 2017
National Pipeline
Team Trainings &
Competition
Boys – April through August, 2017
Girls – June through August, 2017
Contacts:
ODP Operations Manager - Anne Laurence - [email protected]
(All operational and logistical questions)
ODP Women’s Technical Administrator - Marcelo Leonardi – [email protected]
ODP Men’s Technical Administrator – Bryan Lynton – [email protected]
ODP National Goalkeeper Coach – Sean Nolan – [email protected]
USAWP Director of Officials – Jim Cullingham – [email protected]
USAWP High Performance Director – John Abdou – [email protected]