Water Polo Canada is announcing preliminary details of their Age Group National Team programs for the summer of 2024. This upcoming summer sees several programs gearing up for competition, spanning several age groups. Our Junior squads (19 & Under) will compete at the Junior Pan American Championships, seeking to qualify for the World Championships. In contrast, both our Youth squads (18 & Under) and 16 & Under squads will compete in their respective World Championship events.
While some program plans are confirmed, some still depend on receiving final information from various international training partners and sports federations. The prices listed below include many variable components for all these programs, and the total costs reflect the high end of those variables. A breakdown of those variable costs will be included in the invitation letters that each selected athlete will receive (by March 15th).
Water Polo Canada would like to state that we do not profit from these programs, and all surplus at the program's end will be returned to the athletes, as applicable. For example, the 2023 Youth National Team program participants who travelled to Bauru received a $1,500 refund each from their original payments.
Additionally, Water Polo Canada will launch fundraising initiatives for each Age Group National Team program, providing resources for each athlete to drive charitable donations for their respective program. Water Polo Canada will provide a charitable donation tax receipt for any donations made to these programs. The total amount received by the program will be used to reduce the overall costs of that program and will be either returned to the athletes or reduced to the payment program.
It is worth mentioning that some of the programs offered by Water Polo Canada take place during regular school months and are designed for high school students across Canada. Water Polo Canada is dedicated to providing official documentation to assist students in deferring any exams that may conflict with the program schedule. Additionally, our Team Managers are available to proctor any final exams to help students stay on track with their studies.
Women’s National Team Programs*
16U World Championships - Izmir, Turkey (new pilot program)
• Head Coach: Raine Paul
• Assistant Coach: Christi Bardecki
• Manager: TBD
• Departure date: June 24th, 2024
• Return date: July 5th, 2024
• Maximum Program Cost: $9200
18U World Championships - China (City TBC), with preparations in Brisbane, Australia (TBC)
• Head Coach: Krystina Alogbo
• Assistant Coach: TBD
• Manager: TBD
• Departure date: August 6th, 2024 (TBC)
• Departure to China: August 15th, 2024 (TBC)
• Return Date: August 25th, 2024
• Maximum Program Cost: $11,000
19U Pan American Championships - El Salvador, with preparations in Calgary or California
• Head Coach: Marina Radu
• Assistant Coach: Sam Donaghue
• Manager: TBD
• Departure Date: May 12th , 2024, immediately following Senior NCL Finals
• Departure Date to El Salvador: May 18th, 2024
• Return Date: May 27th, 2024
• Maximum Program Cost: $8200
Men’s National Team Programs
16U World Championships - Malta (new pilot program)
• Head Coach: Andras Szeri
• Assistant Coach: Gyula Toth
• Manager: Zoltan Csepregi
• Departure Date: June 14th, 2024
• Return Date: June 25th, 2024
• Maximum Program Cost: $6800
18U World Championship - Buenos Aires, Argentina, with preparations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (TBC)
• Head Coach: Maxime Crevier
• Assistant Coach: Laszlo Hruza
• Manager: TBD
• Departure Date: June 22nd, 2024
• Departure to Buenos Aires: June 30th, 2024
• Return Date: July 9th, 2024
• Maximum Program Cost: $8500
19U Pan American Championships - El Salvador, with preparations in California
• Head Coach: Pat Oaten
• Assistant Coach: Nicholas Constantine-Bicari
• Manager: TBD
• Departure Date: May 12th , 2024, immediately following Senior NCL Finals
• Departure Date to El Salvador: May 18th, 2024
• Return Date: May 27th, 2024
• Maximum Program Cost: $8200
(*= All final program dates, destinations and plans remain subject to change.)