Youth and Junior Teams Selection Process

Men’s & Women’s Youth and Junior National Team Program 2023

Water Polo Canada is announcing the selection process for the 2023 Youth & Junior National Teams. The Youth National Team will be competing at the 17U Pan American Championships to be held in Bauru, Brazil from April 2 to April 8 (TBC). The Junior National Teams will be competing at Junior World Championships. The men’s tournament will be held June 10^th to 18^th (TBC) and the women’s tournament will be held August 14^th to 20^th (TBC). Location is TBD for both events.

Team Composition

• The Youth National Team will be composed of athletes born between 2006 and 2008
• The Junior National Team will be composed of athlete born between 2003 and 2005
• Water Polo Canada will announce 13 athletes and 3 alternates for all four teams
• The selection will categorize players based on their position.

*Alternates will be selected and contacted on a positional basis.

Selection Process

Domestic Athletes:

Water Polo Canada will observe athletes using the following platforms:

• RDC visits and coach recommendations
• NCL scouting
• Quebec and Ontario summit

Eastern Selection: Water Polo Canada will utilize the Quebec and Ontario summit January 13-15 at INSQ in Montreal (TBC) where the two provincial teams will compete. During this, athletes will be evaluated for the Age Group National Team Program. This weekend will be independent of the NCL schedule and will not conflict with any current events.

Western Selection: Water Polo Canada will utilize 17U NCL and Senior NCL as a scouting platform. Water Polo Canada will send scouts to the U17 NCL event Dec 2-4 in Calgary, AB and the Senior NCL event Dec 16-18 in Surrey, BC.

Eligibility

Players who wish to compete for the Age Group National Team Programs must fit the following criteria:

1. Participate in their local RDC, provincially recognized program, or SNT training centre
2. Be a member of their provincial team (where applicable)
3. Be competing in the NCL
4. Be competing in the Senior NCL
5. NCAA athletes are exempt from 3&4

Exceptions:

Athletes may be selected to AGNT programs outside of the process described above in exceptional circumstances, including (but not limited to) the following:

• NCAA Athletes: For athletes in the NCAA, a Water Polo Canada representative will be actively scouting through video feeds, game reports and attend the Irvine Classic in person.
• Professional Athletes: Water Polo Canada will be actively scouting professional athletes through video feeds and livestreams.
• Senior National Team Training Centre Athletes: If there is a direct conflict due to commitments of the Senior National Team, SNT Training centre athletes may be selected independently of scouting events.
• High school students outside of Canada: Canadian athletes located internationally and demonstrating a high potential will be scouted through video feeds and livestreams. 

PDF version of the document:

/cloud/waterpoloca/files/National_Team_Selection_2023_EN.pdf

Water Polo Canada will announce the team selections by January 31, 2023

If you have any further questions please reach out to Andrew Muir at ahmuir@waterpolo.ca