HEAT Middle School Water Polo

Players will be instructed on the skills and strategies of water polo, with a focus placed on fundamentals of the sport.

This is a development program for high school water polo, therefore emphasis is on learning the fundamental skills of the game and how to work as a team. Your son or daughter actually learning the sport is a higher priority than “winning at all costs.”

Our Hudsonville teams will play games against other area water polo teams as determined by the MWPA middle school water polo schedule.  Most games will happen on Saturday, some may take place on a Friday night.  The master schedule is being finalized at the moment, as we get closer to the season we will communicate the game schedule to you as we get closer to competition dates.   

Players must be able to swim and tread water to participate, however they don’t need to currently be competitive swimmers. With that being said, we do encourage athletes to also participate in Hudsonville swim programs.

Season

The 2024 middle school water polo season starts on Tuesday, March 19TH (first practice), and runs through May 11th (final tournament). Practices—which are co-ed—run from 5:15 – 7:15 PM on 2 practice weeks and 5:30pm-7pm on 3 practice weeks.  Practice dates may vary depending on home High School Water polo events.

Student-Athletes

6th - 8th grade boys & girls 
        

•  Players should be able to swim and tread water, however they don’t need to be current competitive swimmers.

•  If your player can swim in the deep end and play catch with a ball while treading, then they are ready. It is our job to teach them the rest of the skills they will need.

• Players should be able to successfully swim  at least one lap of the pool using the front crawl stroke (“freestyle”) without stopping.

• It is important that those students considering playing high school water polo participate in HEAT Water Polo in 6th - 8th grade. Whereas this is not required, players who do not are certainly at a disadvantage at the high school level.

Cost

• $140 participation fee paid online or check to Hudsonville Community Education for those with 5 volunteer hours

• $180 participation fee for those who do not have 5 volunteer hours.  

Mandatory Parent Meeting

The parents meeting will be held on Tuesday  March 19TH, 2024 at 5:00 PM outside the pool lobby. Please review Honoring the Game of Water Polo and the Michigan Water Polo Association Middle School Water Polo Vision and Expectations documents.

Practices (subject to change)

• Practice times and locations (community pool vs. competitive pool) could vary depending on the high school water polo schedule. (The high school program has the highest priority when it comes to aquatic resources.) Please expect all practices to be held at the Competitive pool, unless notified.
   

• Players are encouraged (but not required) to attend all home high school water polo games.
   

• Players should either come dressed ready to get in the pool, or change in the locker rooms. Deck changing is strictly prohibited. 
   

• Please be prepared to pick up your athlete within 15 minutes of practice completion time. A coach will remain at the school until the last player is picked up. Please be courteous of the coaches and make every effort to pick up your son or daughter within 10 minutes of the conclusion of practice.
   

Practice Location

Hudsonville High School Aquatic Center

3370 Allen St. Hudsonville, MI 49426

Water Polo Suits

• Whereas team suits were ordered in previous years, it will be up to the parents to decide if they want to coordinate and continue this practice. If so, that is perfectly acceptable. The coaching staff’s main concern is simply that players wear appropriate suits intended for aquatic activity. (The technical “uniform” of a water polo team is the polo caps, which are generously provided by the HEAT Boosters program.)
   

• Water polo suits are slightly different from regular swimsuits as they have a different cut, material, and fit more tightly. They are designed this way to prevent an opponent from being able to grab or hold onto the suit underwater. 
   

• Water polo suits are not necessarily required for practices, however they are highly recommended for games.
   

• Please be sure your player’s suit fits appropriately and encourage modesty. Coaches do not encourage getting the smallest possible fit. Most players who ordered a suit last year will get two years’ worth of use out of their suits.
   

• Swim caps are required to be worn by players with long hair under the water polo cap. Navy blue should be worn when playing as the “home” team. White should be worn when playing as the “visiting” team. Red should always be worn by goalies. Girls with very long hair may need to speak with experienced players about how to best tie up their hair to make it possible for the water polo cap to slide over easily.
   

Tournaments

• Games are played on Friday/Saturday in tournaments at area schools. 
   

• Teams typically play 2-3 games per tournament, with a goal of being finished by early afternoon. 
   

• Boys and girls will play separately whenever possible, however there may be some exceptions. Younger players may play on co-ed teams, depending on program numbers. Please keep in mind this is a “learn to play” program
   

• Students with anticipated schedule conflicts, or who participate in other sports, should contact Coach Blum by email before the season begins.
   

• Players are typically at tournaments over the lunch hour and are expected to stay at the school, unless Coach Blum is notified otherwise. Parents typically provide food for the entire team at tournaments and can sign up to bring items in the Tournament Food Schedule worksheet online. 
   

• Games for middle school water polo are traditionally broken into 5-minute quarters. There is a 40-second shot clock for each offensive possession, and both the game and shot clocks stop for fouls. Each quarter and halftime break is 2 minutes. Each team is able to call two 1-minute timeouts during a game. The course is 25 yards, which is smaller than an “official” championship-style course used at the high school level.
   

Transportation

Players need to provide their own transportation to practices and tournaments. Please coordinate with other parents to arrange carpools, if you are so inclined.

Conduct

• We have a great overall water polo program here in Hudsonville and you play a major role in that. Being respectful helps give our program and community a sterling reputation. Please review Honoring the Game of Water Polo to find out how you can help us maintain it.
   

• It is our goal to be the model team with regard to good sportsmanship. This reputation will be earned through the behavior of our players, coaching staff, parents, and fans.
   

• Our team, while a Community Education program, will follow the Hudsonville Athletics Student Athlete Handbook, which is available from the school athletic department.
   

• Please note that water polo is a physical sport. Your player will come into physical contact with other players during games and at practices.
   

• At some point, players may be grabbed, kicked, or scratched underwater. You need to prepare yourself and your player to manage these situations without retaliation.
   

• The rules of water polo do allow for holding, leaning into players, etc. A foul is typically only called if the contact is considered excessive or if it causes a player with the ball to drop the ball. A defensive player making contact with a player who has the ball and does not drop it should actually not be called for a foul because the ability to hold the ball is seen as an “advantage.” An official should never intend to take an “advantage” away from an offensive player. The concept of “advantage” is not necessarily an easy one to grasp. Please allow the coaches and referees to manage the game and understand that the rule of “advantage” may be the reason a call isn’t being made.
   

• The rules of water polo are complex and the view from the deck level (referee's view) is much different than what is viewed from the bleachers. Please give the referee the benefit of the doubt and remember that even our officials need somewhere to learn as well. If we are hard on the officials – who will be left to referee our kids?
   

• Players will be required to keep their finger and toe nails short and smooth. Players may be requested to trim their nails before practices or games at the request of coaches or officials. Long nails, or artificial nails, are not allowed. Please be sure your player has a pair of nail clippers available to them before each game.
   

• Head Coach: Jordan Blum  (Email: [email protected])
   

Tentative Practice Schedule and Competition Dates(friday games will be decided by the game host :

Typically, weeks with 2 practices will be 5:15pm-7:15pm. Weeks with 3 practices will be 5:30pm to 7pm. This may change depending on the pool schedule. Coach Blum will email exact practice times out each week.