Western Water Polo Association facts for kids

The Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) is a group of colleges and universities in the United States that play water polo. These schools compete against each other in this exciting sport. The WWPA is part of the NCAA, which organizes college sports across the country.

What is Water Polo?

Water polo is a team sport played in a swimming pool. It's a bit like soccer or handball, but played in the water! Two teams try to score goals by throwing a ball into the opponent's net. Players can only hold the ball with one hand, and they can't touch the bottom of the pool (unless they are the goalie in a shallow area). It's a very demanding sport that requires strong swimming skills, teamwork, and strategy.

How Water Polo is Played

• Teams: Each team has seven players in the water at a time: six field players and one goalie.
• The Ball: The ball looks like a volleyball but is designed for water.
• The Pool: Games are played in a deep pool, usually 25 to 30 meters long.
• Scoring: A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line.
• Periods: A game is divided into four periods, usually lasting 7 or 8 minutes each.
• Rules: Players can't stand on the bottom of the pool, and they can't hold an opponent underwater. It's a non-contact sport, but there's a lot of pushing and pulling!

About the Western Water Polo Association

The WWPA is a college athletic conference. A conference is like a league where different schools play against each other regularly. The WWPA helps organize games, championships, and rules for water polo teams in its member schools. It was formed in 1981.

Why Conferences are Important

Conferences like the WWPA help make college sports fair and exciting. They:

• Organize regular season games.
• Hold championship tournaments to find the best team.
• Help set rules and standards for competition.
• Give student-athletes a chance to compete at a high level while getting an education.

Teams in the WWPA

Many colleges and universities are part of the Western Water Polo Association. These schools have dedicated water polo programs for their students. Here are some of the schools that play in the WWPA:

• Chaminade University
• Chapman University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Colorado State University
• California State University, Bakersfield
• California State University, East Bay
• California State University, Monterey Bay
• California State University, San Bernardino
• Loyola Marymount University
• Occidental College
• Pomona College
• Santa Clara University
• Sonoma State
• University of La Verne
• University of Redlands
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, San Diego
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• United States Air Force Academy
• Whittier College

Playing College Water Polo

Playing water polo in college is a big commitment. Student-athletes train hard, balance their studies, and travel for games. It's a great way to stay active, build friendships, and represent their school. Many players go on to have successful careers after college, using the teamwork and discipline they learned in sports.

See also

In Spanish: Western Water Polo Association para niños