FAQs

What are the age groups in water polo?

Your age in water polo is determined by your age as of August 1st of the next year. For example in September 2023, someone born July 1st, 2013. is considered to be water polo age 11 and would need to play for the 12&under team. In the United States, age groups are currently divided into 18&under, 16&under, 14&under, 12&under, and 10&under. So every player spends two years in one age group. So if your child is water polo 11, for example, he/she will be playing with 11 and 12 year olds for two years.

Where do you practice?

Capital practices at The St. James Sports Complex - 6805 Industrial Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151

What are your practice days/times?

Practices run from 8-10pm MWF (8-9:30pm for 12u). On Saturdays, Practice runs from 1-3pm for 16/18u and 3-4:30pm for 12/14u.

What are the seasons/when does this run?

Capital has a 10.5 month season, from early September through the Junior Olympics in mid/late July.

When can I join Capital Water Polo?

We welcome you to Capital Water Polo anytime. Register at the link above, or click through to learn more about our free trial!

Do you teach kids to swim?

No, new players must be proficient swimmers before they join. We recommend swim lessons with a local swim team first if they are not able to swim 100 yards of a pool proficiently.

Why would I want my child to play water polo?

Water polo is a small sport with great opportunities in high school. Water polo is an Olympic sport. Many colleges offer water polo. Some of Capital’s Water Polo athletes have participated on the National and College teams. Water polo is a great background for participating as a lifeguard at pools or the beach during summers. Water polo athletes are the best physical specimens in sports. No one is better conditioned than water polo players. Games last 45 minutes. When the game is over, your athlete is clean, exhausted, and hungry. That’s much different than America’s other past times, where game times are longer, very sweaty, and sometimes not always active. Oh, and it’s FUN!

What equipment do we have to purchase or wear?

You will have an option to buy Capital swim suit and other apparel once you join.

What are the basic skills of water polo?

Comfort in the water is the most fundamental water polo skill. Swimming is part of that but swimming is considered to be "horizontal." Being able to stay high above the water "vertically" using a leg skill called the “eggbeater” is vital to success. We teach the eggbeater. Learning to handle the ball with one hand is another skill that is important. Water polo is like soccer and basketball played in the water. The object is to score the ball in the goal on offense and prevent the ball from going in the goal on defense.