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Dear Coaches and Club Admins
We are writing to you with definitive dates and locations for the 2021 Junior Olympics this summer. As we all know, the pandemic has played havoc with normal club activities and competition events. The following information will provide certainty of dates, schedules and locations regarding the 2021 Junior Olympics.
Despite our lobbying efforts to Governor Gavin Newsom, there remains tremendous uncertainty regarding tournaments and interstate travel as it pertains to California. According to the CA Dept of Health, California teams are not to participate in out-of-state events while non-California teams are currently prohibited from traveling to California for tournament play. We have no guarantees things will change following a June 15 target for relaxed rules within California and have made arrangements to best meet all of our members’ needs.
The 2021 Junior Olympics will be offered in the following format
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Dates |
Age Group |
Location |
Zones |
| Session 1 |
July 17-20 |
Boys 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U |
Orange County, CA |
CEN, CST, PAC, PACSW, SOPAC |
| Session 2 |
July 22-25 |
Girls 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U
Mixed 10U, 12U |
Orange County, CA |
CEN, CST, PAC, PACSW, SOPAC |
| Session 3 |
July 29-Aug 1 |
Boys & Girls: 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U
Girls 10U
Mixed 10U, 12U |
Dallas, TX |
MDW, MTN, NEZ, PNWH, SEZ, SWZ |
This format allows for the most certainty of qualification and travel planning for every zone in the country. Rest assured, a true National Junior Olympics will return in 2022 encompassing all USA Water Polo zones. USA Water Polo is committed to all zones and their teams having a chance to compete against each other with representation from all over the country. These three sessions will increase play opportunities across the board while helping to foster sport growth nationwide.
The path to compete in the Junior Olympics remains the same, all teams will still need to register for their zone qualifier via the USAWP database. Allocations have been re-calculated to allow more teams to participate in the re-formatted event. Your zone chairs have already been briefed on this format and preparations are underway for qualification events in your zone.
We appreciate your patience and understanding in what continue to be challenging times as we work to create the best possible experience for all of USA Water Polo’s athletes, coaches, referees, and families. We are excited to see you at JOs this summer and look forward to the start of the qualification process.
Sincerely,
Ryan Cunnane
USA Water Polo Director of Events |
