FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Getting Started
Yes. We offer a 2-week free trial at any point in the year, for all athlete levels. Athletes must register for the trial through our website, and Intro to Deep End/12U/14U athletes must have a parks swim test on file at the aquatic center.
Splashball athletes do not need to have passed a swim test because they will be in the shallow end of the pool. The rest of our athletes aged 14 and under need to have successfully completed the Deep End Skills Test with the aquatic center so they can practice in deeper water. To pass the test the athlete must:
- Jump into the deep end from the pool deck and fully submerge
- Immediately swim 25 yards of front crawl with face down and rhythmic breathing
- Immediately thereafter tread water for 2 minutes
- Immediately swim another 25 yards of front crawl with face down and rhythmic breathing
- No stopping will be allowed during any part of the test.
- Goggles are not permitted while taking the test.
- The swim stroke must be comfortable and completed with ease.
Girls should wear a one-piece swimsuit. Boys can wear shorts, jammers, or a speedo. Most boys start out wearing jammers and then move to a speedo. If your child is nervous about this, feel free to stop by a practice to see what other kids are wearing.
We recommend having goggles for kids beginning in 10U for swimming laps.
Yes. Just ask your coach or your team's parent rep where to sit. In Nakata there are a few locations where parents are not allowed to sit, for safety reasons.
Yes. When you register for our free trials or any of our programs, you must provide a USA Water Polo membership number which can purchase from USAWaterpolo.com. (The 2-week trial membership is free.) There are different membership types, depending on whether you plan to participate in ODP and JO's. Memberships must be renewed each year. Membership types can be viewed here.
Yes! We have many ways you can get involved, whether it's becoming a team parent rep, coaching, joining the board, or driving the van. Please reach out to info@biwaterpolo.com and we'll find a role for you!
Membership Updates
Here's how our monthly membership model works:
- Families only register once each year (except a separate high school competitive registration).
- Billing is monthly, quarterly, or annual—your choice.
- Membership can be canceled at any time with notice.
- Billing runs September–July.
Registration will open each year around August 1 through TeamSnap, our new registration and communication platform. However, athletes can register year-round.
If an athlete moves to a different practice group, we will change the billing amount and apply any prepaid tournament feeds towards the new group.
To cancel your membership, you need to submit a Roster Change Request form by the 20th of the month before you wish billing to end. The form can be found at the bottom of the register page.
Yes. Submit a Roster Change Request form by the 20th of the month before you wish billing to pause. You can select to pause for up to 3 months. If you plan to compete in JO’s you will continue to be assessed for just the JO’s tournament fees during the pause.
Practice Groups
Bainbridge Water Polo Club offers several training groups based on age and commitment level:
- Splashball (ages 5–10): Introductory group focused on fundamentals, in the shallow beach area of Nakata
- Intro to Deep End Water Polo: In Nakata dive tank, this is the next step up for Splashball graduates, and the first stop for 12U/14U kids who are completely new to water polo and need to learn the fundamentals.
- 12U: Practice, local league games, local and travel tournaments including Junior Olympics
- 14U: Practice, local league games, local and travel tournaments including Junior Olympics
- High School: Offered year-round, with varying practice frequencies depending on the high school sports schedule.
This structure allows athletes to start with the appropriate level of commitment and move up as they develop skills and interest.
This year our coaching staff is going to build A & B teams within 12U and 14U instead of Comp & Rec teams like last year. Our goal is to create teams with athletes who are aligned skill-wise.
We believe in and truly support our multisport athletes! Please reach out to Kristin (coach@biwaterpolo.com) to discuss your situation.
Costs & Billing
Monthly fees depend on group placement. Please talk with a coach if you’re unsure which group would be best for your athlete. Specific fees are listed on our Program & Pricing page.
Membership fees are auto-billed on the 2nd of each month through TeamSnap. If you join late in a month, your fee will be prorated.
Families can choose:
- Monthly auto-billing
- Quarterly billing
- Annual pre-pay
Yes. Scholarships are available through the club and through Bainbridge Island’s YES Fund (Youth Experience Support Fund) - athletes can request YES Fund support through Helpline House.
Unfortunately, the fees do not cover all our costs because our goal is to keep fees accessible to families. Recruiting new athletes is the best way to close our budget gap, but we will still do fundraising events as needed. We encourage all our athletes to invite a friend to try our free 2-week trial.
- Credit Card: 3.25% + $1.50 per transaction
- ACH (Bank Transfer): 1.99% + $0.99 per transaction
Tournaments & Travel
Local tournaments and league play are bundled with your 12U and 14U registrations.
Travel tournaments, including JO's, will be optional Add-Ons and can be selected at checkout. We strongly encourage families to select these options, even if you're not yet sure your child plans to attend JO's.
Most families really appreciate the help to budget monthly for the expenses. Plus, you can cancel your JO's payments by January 15, 2027, and any payments you've made will be returned to you.
There are different types of tournaments.
- Local Day Tournaments (Drive only, no overnight, such as Curtis High School or King County Aquatic Center)
- Local Travel Tournaments (Drive and overnight, such as tournaments in Portland, Oregon, or Spooktacular in Victoria, BC)
- Travel Tournaments (Require flight and hotel, such as Where’s the Air in Colorado)
Tournament expectations vary by age and team—details are outlined in program schedules.
Tournaments are a core part of our program and participation in local league play and local tournaments is expected for everyone. If your child is looking for growth and a fun experience, we highly recommend JO's and travel tournaments, too.
For 14U, tournament fees cover tournament registration, hotels, vans (if applicable), and coaching. Airfare and personal food outside are not included. Athletes will stay in a shared house or shared hotel rooms.
For 12U, tournament fees cover tournament registration only. Athletes are expected to travel and stay with their families.
- 14u and older: Team travel, parents are not responsible for traveling with their children.
- 12u & 10u: Families arrange travel individually but often coordinate and stay with the group.
- Local day tournaments: Van space is provided to all players, as space is available.
Except JO’s, tournament fees are prepaid and not refundable. However, if the club cancels or reduces its planned tournaments, families will receive a credit.
We will either issue you a credit for your JO’s fee that will be reflected on your future month’s billings, or we will find you a team and pay to register your child on that team.
Special Opportunities
ODP (Olympic Development Program) is a USA Water Polo training and identification pipeline. All competition athletes are encouraged to attend one or more fall ODP clinics because they are great learning opportunities. Selection can lead to regional and national team opportunities.
ODP (Olympic Development Program) is a development program run by USA Water Polo. Athletes are selected by USA Water Polo coaches to represent the Pacific Northwest against other regional teams from around the country. It is a pipeline program for USA Water Polo, culminating in the selection of national teams for each age group and gender that will represent the USA in international tournaments during the year. The program begins in the fall with three clinics held in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The next step is a regional tournament in Dallas in January, then a national tournament in March in locations such as Northern California, Chicago, and Salt Lake City, then a National Selection Training Camp (NTSC) in June, followed by the final selection of the national teams.
USA Water Polo’s Junior Olympics (JO’s) is the largest age-group water polo tournament in the country. Teams from around the country compete over four days in July in various divisions to crown national champions. Athletes and teams must first qualify for the event by competing in regional qualifying tournaments held earlier in the summer. JO’s is considered a highlight for athletes, providing an opportunity to compete at a national level, showcase talent to recruiters, and experience a major event that concludes the year’s water polo season. JO’s is held in Northern or Southern California. In 2026 it will be held in Southern California.
Open Water is geared toward athletes ages 14 and up and is optional. It is widely considered our older athletes’ favorite tournament of the year, with group camping and competing in open water on a lake in Oregon in June. If enough athletes commit (10 boys, 10 girls minimum), we’ll attend. Interest determines whether we register.