Courtesy: USA Water Polo
Irvine, CA – April 10 – USA Water Polo announced today that it will reschedule the 2020 National Junior Olympics and the 2020 Masters National Championships. Several other events have been cancelled or postponed. The decision was reached after analysis of recent public health data and consultation with athletes, coaches, parents, and officials across the nation, as well as the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, FINA, USAWP Zone and water polo club leadership. USA Water Polo sanctioned practices and events will continue to be suspended until further notice.
The 2020 Masters National Championship (originally June 12-14) will now be held August 21-23 in Orange County, CA. In addition, the 2020 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon originally scheduled for June 12, has been postponed until August 21.
The 2020 National Junior Olympics (originally July 18-26) will now be divided into two distinct sessions in partnership with local organizing committees from Stanford and Irvine. National Junior Olympics Session 1 featuring 10U, 12U and 14U competition for boys, girls and mixed divisions will take place November 21-24 at Stanford, California and the surrounding area. Session II featuring 16U/18U boys and girls will take place December 27-30 in Irvine, CA and the surrounding area.
USA Water Polo is in active discussions to clear participation eligibility for in-season high school athletes during Session II of the Junior Olympics; look for further updates. More detailed information regarding National Junior Olympics qualifications and registrations will be shared as it becomes available.
The Welcome to Texas Shootout originally scheduled for May 23-25 in San Antonio, Texas will now take place September 5-7.
The Olympic Development Program (ODP) Girls National Championship originally postponed until May 22-24 has been postponed until further notice. In addition, the ODP Boys and Girls NTSC events scheduled for the same weekend have also been postponed until further notice. More information regarding these events will be shared as soon as it can be confirmed.
The Clearwater Beach Challenge in Florida (May 16-17), Great Lakes Classic (June 27-28) in Michigan and the Golden State Invitational (July 10-12) in California are all postponed until further notice.
The Men’s & Women’s Senior Nationals set for July 10-12 in Irvine, CA is canceled and will not be rescheduled in 2020.
“That we can pivot in the face of this pandemic to reschedule the lion’s share of our 2020 programming is a tribute to our community working together during a very difficult time,” said Christopher Ramsey, USA Water Polo Chief Executive Officer. “In reformatting the calendar, our first priority has been the health and safety of players, coaches, officials, club administrators and families. We also wanted to ensure that we could secure outstanding venues and experienced officials. Finally, we wanted to be sensitive to club and scholastic calendars, since we are all in this together, and we wanted to do our best to fashion a revised program that would meet the needs of our USA Water Polo community.”
2020 Event Updates
| Event | Original Schedule | New Schedule |
| Masters National Championships & Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon | June 12-14 Hall of Fame – June 12 |
August 21-23 Hall of Fame – August 21 |
| Junior Olympics Session I | July 18-21 – Stanford CA | November 21-24 – Stanford, CA – 10U/12U/14U Boys & Girls & Mixed |
| Junior Olympics Session II | July 23-26 – Stanford CA | December 27-30 – Irvine, CA – 16U/18U Boys & Girls |
| Clearwater Beach Challenge | May 16-17 | TBD |
| ODP Girls National Championship | May 22-24 | TBD |
| ODP Girls NTSC | May 22-24 | TBD |
| ODP Boys NTSC | May 22-24 | TBD |
| Welcome To Texas Shootout | May 23-25 | September 5-7 |
| Great Lakes Classic | June 27-28 | TBD |
| Golden State Invitational | July 10-12 | TBD |
| Men’s & Women’s Senior Nationals | July 10-12 | Canceled |