FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Joining a new sport can sometimes feel overwhelming. We hope to make this experience as smooth as possible so please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions!

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GENERAL QUESTIONS

I am a total water polo newbie. Where can I learn more about what water polo is?

Not to worry! We can't wait to introduce you to a new sport and look forward to helping you learn more about water polo.

Check out our "Water Polo 101" page here!

What are the age divisions for water polo?

In water polo the age divisions are determined by year of birth. The age divisions for the 2024-25 season are as follows:

  • U8 = 2017-2018
  • U10 = 2015-2016
  • U12 = 2013-2014
  • U14 = 2011-2012
When and where are practices?

Each season our training schedule will change slightly based on pool availability. Our most up to date schedule can be found here!

When does the water polo season start and end?

The main water polo competition season runs September through mid April each year. At Riptides we offer Full Season Registration (best deal), Fall Registration and Winter Registration options.

  • Full Season (September - April)
  • Fall Season (September - December)
  • Winter Season (January - April)

We also offer a Summer Season which is outside the typical water polo year but a great chance to experience outdoor water polo!

  • Summer Season (June - August)
How much does it cost to register?

Registration fees are likely to change slightly each season. For the most up-to-date Riptides registration fees please refer to the program information pages:

What is the competition schedule for water polo?

Great question! Check out our League Structure page here!

My athlete has never played water polo before, is there an opportunity for them to do a trial period before registering?

At the start of each season Riptides has a FREE Rookie Week that is a great opportunity for new athletes to meet the team/coaches and try a few practices.

For more information regarding our Rookie Week please contact our head coach (headcoach@riptideswaterpolo.ca)

Water polo sounds great, but we are also involved in other activities and may not be able to make it to all practices. Is that okay?

Absolutely, we love multi-sport athletes! Riptides has many multi-sport athletes involved at all age groups. Please communicate your schedule conflicts with the coaches ahead of time to keep everyone on the same page.

Are there any skill requirements needed before my athlete can participate?

We accept athletes of all levels into our programs and look forward to finding the level that is the best fit for you. Below are some program requirements for each age group:

  • U08 – Must be tall enough to comfortably stand on the bottom of the pool.
  • U10 – Must be able to swim one length of the pool (25m) without resting on wall/lane rope.
  • U12/14 – Must be able to swim 50m (two lengths of the pool) without resting on wall/lane rope and eggbeater in the deep end for one minute without touching a wall.
What does my athlete need to bring to practice?

For practice athletes will need the following:

  • Swimsuit – Mandatory
  • Towel – Mandatory
  • Goggles – Strongly Encouraged
  • Water Bottle – Strongly Encouraged 
  • Swim Cap – Encouraged for athletes with long hair
Are there any fundraising / volunteer requirements?

All information regarding club fundraising can be found here. 

Riptides is a volunteer run club and each season we ask all families to pitch-in and get involved. Tournaments / games are a key time when volunteers are needed to help with minor officiating. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the game, meet families at the club and watch your athlete play from the best seat in the house! Volunteer information is communicated with families at the start of each season.

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

We can't wait to join the team! When and how can we register?

Great news! Riptides is thrilled to have you at the club. Send us an email and we will let you know when the next chance to register is!

headcoach@riptideswaterpolo.ca

What is Respect in Sport training?

Alberta Water Polo and Water Polo Canada require that all families have at least one parent take the Respect in Sport online training. This online certification costs $12.00 and is valid for five years.

Please ensure that you complete this course prior to registration going live as you will need to upload your certification number in order to complete your online registration with Riptides. If you have taken this training for another sport you can upload that certification number and do not need to redo the course if it was completed in the last 5 years.

Additional information can be found here.

What information will I need ready for registration?

To make your registration process as smooth as possible we suggest you have the following information ready:

  • Alberta Health Care #
  • Respect in Sport Training Complete
  • Credit Card

Registration should take less than 5 minutes.

FINANCIAL QUESTIONS

Do registration fees need to be paid all at once? Is there an alternate payment option available?

Riptides offers two payment options to families:

  1. Registration can be paid in full via credit card at time of registration.
  2. Registration can be paid in monthly installments.

Please contact us at treasurer@riptideswaterpolo.ca if you have any further payment questions.

Is there a sibling discount?

Yes! The registration for your oldest athlete must be paid in full. A 20% registration discount will be applied to second and third siblings. As sister clubs, Riptides honours this discount should an older siblings be registered at Tsunami.

 

Discount Rules:

  • Athletes receiving the sibling discount ARE NOT eligible for early bird discounts.
  • Sibling discounts DO NOT apply to insurance fees.
  • Sibling discounts DO NOT apply to partial season registrations (ie. U12 Fall or Winter Sessions)
What is the refund policy?

U8 Refund Policy

Once a six week session has started refunds will only be issued if an athlete sustains an injury which prevents them from participating in over 50% of the sessions or if a facility is required to shut down for a long period of time. Refunds requested within one week of registration will be granted minus any Teamsnap fees and a $30 admin fee.

U10+ Full Year Refund Policy

As we are moving away from offering two half-season registration options for our U12 and up athletes, anyone registering for the full season can be refunded a prorated amount if they choose to leave the program before November 30th, 2022. Athletes wanting to join later in the season can also register for a prorated amount.