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Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines to all Lamorinda Water Polo
coaches, players, and parents regarding roster selection, playing time and communication.
Objective: Lamorinda Water Polo's objective Is to develop the full abilities of each player
through a system of practicing, competing and evaluating.
Coaches Objective: Lamorinda Water Polo Coaches will continually evaluate their team and
players. They will do their best to place each player on the roster that they feel is most
appropriate to develop their full abilities in relation to the team, size of the roster and level of
competition.
Roster Selection & Playing Time Principles:
1. Coaches strive to select rosters and determine playing time in a manner that honors
what is best for the club, age group, teams, and each individual player.
2. Playing time is a very important component of developing a player’s full abilities and is a
major factor in roster selection.
3. Playing time should not be expected to always be distributed equally.
4. Playing time is not guaranteed at national level qualification and championship
tournaments and designated major competitions.
5. Players may not be selected for competition/rosters due to the various levels of the
competitions and number of athletes per roster.
6. Rosters will comprise 9-12 Field Players and 1-2 Goalkeepers. Rosters below or above
the number of Field Players or Goalkeepers will have to be approved by the Executive
Director.
7. Rosters for each competition will be determined by player availability and the ongoing
evaluation of the player and the team.
8. Coaches are solely responsible for determining rosters and playing time. All decisions
are final.
Evaluation Criteria for Roster Selection and Playing Time:
1. The player’s “BE GREAT” values in practice and competition.
2. The player’s position if applicable.
3. What is best for the development of the full ability of the player.
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4. The number of players per team.
5. The level of the competition.
6. Violations of the Lamorinda Water Polo Code of Conduct and/or Code of Ethics.
Communication Guidelines:
The coaches are open to discussing roster selection and playing time with the players in an
effort to be transparent and honest about where each player stands. Discussion will focus on
the player in the discussion and will not include evaluation of players that are not present.
1. Player meets with the coach of his or her team,
• If the coach is not the A team coach, then the A team coach/age group head
coach should attend the meeting as well.
• Following the meeting, the A team coach/age group coach will write a recap
memo for the applicable Girls or Boys Director.
2. If needed, a second meeting will be scheduled with the player and parent(s) and the A
team coach and Girls or Boys Director.
• If the A team coach is also the Girls or Boys Director, the Executive Director or
Coaches Director will attend the meeting.
Athlete Obligation:
Once an athlete has indicated his/her availability on TeamSnap for a particular day of
competition, the athlete is expected to be available to compete throughout that entire day. If
there is an unexpected change to the athlete’s availability for that given day, the athlete is
expected to immediately contact his/her coach.
An athlete who has a known conflict on a day of competition may still be considered for a roster
provided that the athlete’s available hours are noted on TeamSnap at the time of indicating
availability.
Any issues or questions pertaining to this policy should be directed to either the Executive
Director, Boys Director, Girls Director, or Coaches Director and not the Board of Directors,
AGC’s, age group coaches, or other Lamorinda Water Polo parents. At the beginning of each
season, each registrant is required to consent to this policy.
5/1/19; 11/13/23