RAINE

RAINE PAUL

U12 Girls Head Coach

Hometown: Spruce Grove, AB

Player Position: Utility

Canadian Club Team Affiliation:

  • Parkland Polo Bears 2003 - 2009
  • Edmonton Tsunami 2009 - 2011, 2015 - 2021
  • Calgary Renegades 2009 - 2011
  • Edmonton Riptides 2020 - Present

Player/Coach Career:

  • Team Canada Assistant Coach (2019 - Present)
  • CAC Enhanced Female Mentorship Program Coach (2020)
  • Tsunami Coach of the Year (2018)
  • Two-time NCL National Championship Podium Finish as Head Coach (2018, 2019)
  • Six-time NCL Western Championship Podium Finish as Head Coach (2017 - 2019)
  • Team Alberta Coach (2014 - 2019)
  • CBU Women's Water Polo Lancer of the Year (2015)
  • Academic All American (2011 - 2015)
  • NCAA CBU University 2011-2015
  • Three-time Team Alberta Team Member
  • Three-time Canadian National Club Championships Winner
Teal Wave Line-01

FUN FACTS

What is your favourite sports movie?

Miracle

What is your dream vacation?

Hiking and camping in New Zealand

What ice cream flavour best describes your personality?

Vanilla, I like to keep things simple!

How do you like to spend your free time?

Reading!

Describe yourself in three words:

Creative, passionate and collaborative.

What is your favourite food?

Guacomole

If you could have any superpower what would it be?

To be able to fly!

Q & A with Coach Raine

Q: How did you first start playing water polo?

A: Before joining water polo I competed in competitive summer swimming where I would always finish behind the water polo girls! Not liking to lose, I figured playing water polo would be good cross-training for summer swimming. After my first practice I knew I had been in the wrong sport.

Q: What is it about water polo that made you fall in love with the sport?

A: I love that no two water polo games are ever the same. Each game is a new challenge and being a part of a team is a unique and life-changing experience.

Q: What is your favourite water polo memory?

A: It's funny, when you look back on your career as an athlete you don't remember the score of the games or how many goals you scored, you remember the people. I think my most special memory has to be the years I was able to play on a team with my sister. The drives to practice, places/experiences we shared, and the connection water polo continues to bring to our relationship will always be really special to me.

Q: What made you want to be a coach?

A: Water polo has shaped who I am as a person. It allowed me to travel around the world, form life-long friendships, and define a personal value system. I always knew that I would want to pay that experience forward and being able to do that in the Edmonton community is especially rewarding to me. Every day I get to wake up and have a direct impact on the lives of aspiring athletes and there is no better job in the world than that.

Q: Who was your most influential coach?

A: That one's easy, John Csikos. I respect John's innovative, passionate and confident approach to coaching. John shaped who I was as a player and continues to shape who I am as a coach. The reason I am coaching today is because of John. Six years ago he told me I needed to move back to Edmonton to coach, and when John tells you to do something, you do it!

Q: Who is an athlete you admire?

A: Clara Hughes. I have so much respect for the way that Clara has used her influence to bring awareness to mental health. In addition to the phenomenal career she had as an athlete, overcoming adversity at every corner and breaking down multi-sport athlete barriers, she continues to impact lives through her social activism and is a role model for girls across Canada.

Q: What is your favourite quote?

A: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part. Just as the important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle." - Pierre de Coubertin