Tournament Info
Registration
Registration Process
Sessions 1 and 2: Teams must enter their Zone Qualification Tournament BEFORE entering the National Junior Olympics.
Registration is not considered complete until teams have registered for their Zone Qualification Tournament, National Junior Olympics Tournament AND paid at least a 50% deposit of the National Junior Olympics Entry Fee.
Session 3: A 100% deposit must be received by June 1st to secure their spot. Teams that Do Not Qualify for Session 1 or 2 will be able to register for Session 3 after their qualification tournament has concluded, reallocations are finalized for their zones and that there is available space in their division for additional teams.
For more information on your Zone Qualifier and links to each tournament, please see the "Qualification" tab. For Step by Step instructions on how to register, CLICK HERE.
National Junior Olympic Entry Fees - ALL SESSIONS
10U Girls and 10U Mixed - $1000
12U Boys, 12U Girls, and 12U Mixed - $1200
14U Boys and Girls, 16U Boys and Girls, 18U Boys and Girls - $1550
*A 50% deposit must be received by the Zone Qualifier Deadline or June 1st to be eligible to participate in the JO Qualifier and National Junior Olympics. Please see the "Qualification" tab for deadlines for your zone
Athlete Requirements
Membership
ALL athletes must have a current GOLD athlete membership to participate in Junior Olympics OR the Junior Olympics qualifier.
Birth Date Verification
All athlete members participating in Junior Olympics must complete Birth Date Verification. This is a ONE-TIME process. Please view the Birth Date Verification FAQ.
SafeSport Training
All 18 year old athletes who are listed on an 18 & Under roster must complete SafeSport training to be eligible to be placed on a roster for Junior Olympics OR the Junior Olympics qualifier.
Affiliation
Athletes must select the proper club affiliation on or before the date of their zone qualifying tournament Roster Lock Down in which that athlete is to participate or July 1st, whichever comes first. Affiliation lock will open after close of Junior Olympic tournament. For important deadlines and club affiliation policy view the Affiliation Policy.
*Note: Lapsed members from the previous membership year who do not renew prior to the affiliation deadline will be automatically locked in to his/her previous club affiliation.
Age Eligibility
A player's age division is determined by the athlete's age on August 1st of the year in which the tournament is being held.
Example: If a player is 14 years old on August 1, they are eligible to compete in the 14&U division. If an athlete turns 15 on July 31, his/her age is 15 on August 1st and is therefore no longer eligible for the 14&U division. They are, however, able to participate in the 16&U division.
Example 2: If a player turns 15 on August 1, his/her age is 15 on August 1st and is therefore no longer eligible for the 14&U division. They are, however, able to participate in the 16&U division.
*Exception: Regardless of Age Eligibility requirement for the National Junior Olympics, athletes who are 19 years old and in their high school graduating class of the year in which JOs is held may still be allowed to participate in the 18&U Division of National Junior Olympics. Subject to USA Water Polo approval
Click here for more details and how to qualify for this exemption.
Click Here for 18U Age Exemption Form
Allocations and Seeding
2025 NJO Allocations - Updated 6/9/25
2025 SESSION ONE QUALIFIED TEAMS TBD
2025 SESSION TWO QUALIFIED TEAMS TBD
Rules on Allocations & Seeding from the Conduct of Championships:
Allocations
6.3(c) National Junior Olympics. The maximum number of teams in each age group and gender division (each age group and gender division is a distinct Championship) of the National Junior Olympics shall be determined by the USA Water Polo national office. The USA Water Polo national office shall allocate the maximum number of team entries for each USA Water Polo Zone based on the number of USA Water Polo athlete members in each age group and gender in each Zone as of December 31 of the year prior to the year in which the Championship is held; provided, however, that each Zone shall have at least one entry allocated to it for each age/gender group. The teams eligible to compete in the National Junior Olympic Championship Finals shall be determined in Zone Qualifying Tournaments as set forth in this Conduct of Championships.
6.3(e) If application of the rules set forth above fail to provide for the teams required to complete the field for a Championship Finals, the remaining teams required to complete the field for a Championship Finals shall be selected by the CFMC by allocating the remaining entries to the Zones based on USA Water Polo Zone membership size as of December 31 of the previous year for the age group and gender group of the Championship Finals for which additional teams are required, beginning with the largest Zone (based on membership for the respective age group and gender as of December 31 of the prior year) in accordance with the following: (a) each Zone will be allocated entries equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of members in that Zone (as specified above) and the denominator of which is the total number of USA Water Polo members (as specified above) times the number of teams needed to complete the field for the Championship Finals, (b) in the event that the entries allocated to a Zone in accordance with the foregoing provision do not equal a whole number, the number of entries shall be rounded to the nearest whole number, (c) in the event that the foregoing rounding produces a result allocating more entries than are available, entries shall be allocated to Zones based upon the size of the unrounded fraction as determined above, and (d) in the event that a Zone is allocated entries pursuant to this provision that exceed the number of teams entered in the Championships (or a team entered in the Championships decline to participate in the Championship Finals), the additional vacant entries so created shall be reallocated to other Zones as provided herein.
Seeding
6.4(d) The Championship Finals for National Junior Olympics and the Champions Cup shall be seeded based upon the results of the prior year's National Junior Olympics and Champions Cup, respectively, in each age/gender bracket as follows:
- Each Zone shall submit the final standings for all teams participating in its Zone Qualifying Tournament to USA Water Polo within 48 hours of the completion of the tournament.
- The team placing first in the Zone Qualifying Tournament from the Zone of the team that placed first in the last year the Championship was played in each age/gender group shall be the first seeded team in the current year's Championship Finals. The highest unseeded team from the Zone of the team that placed second in the prior year's Championship in each age/gender group shall be the second seeded team in the current year's Championship Finals, and so forth until all teams from Zones having teams that participated in the prior year's Championship Finals have been seeded. After each of the foregoing teams has been seeded, the CFMC shall seed any remaining teams using the Random Draw Method.
*12U Girls Allocations are consistent with the historical number of teams attempting to qualify. USAWP will do its best to add an 8 or 12 team division if applicable to Session II.
Qualification
Zone Qualification Tournament Deadlines and Registration Links - CLICK HERE
Process of qualifying
Teams must qualify through their particular zone. Your team must register for your division's zone qualifier prior to registering for the Junior Olympics tournament. After completion of your zone tournament, your placement will determine your qualification in the JOs based on the FINAL allocations posted online. Please visit the JO allocations tab (above) to see how this is determined.
Regional Qualifier Quarter Length
For Regional Qualifiers, please follow NJO RULES (see rules tab below) inline with per day quarter lengths, HOWEVER, you should not change to a new quarter length until a "round" or "format type" has been completed as to not give an unfair advantage to a team or group of teams. Ex: In the 12&U division, quarter lengths are 5-6-6-6, if pool play begins on Day 1 and continues into Day 2, the same quarter length (5min) shall be used to complete pool play on Day 2; before advancing to 6 minute quarters for the remainder of tournament play
Championship Division
The Championship Division is an elite tournament with the top teams from each zone qualifying. This division will offer big courses, longer quarters and a competitive National Championship atmosphere. As the tournament progresses, teams will be divided into two sub-divisions, platinum and gold.
Classic Division
The Classic Division is for teams who participated in their Zone Qualifying tournaments but do not qualify for the Junior Olympic Championship Division. Its purpose is to create a tier of competition offering players and programs a national end-of-summer tournament with the excitement and atmosphere found only at the Junior Olympics. As the tournament progresses, teams will be divided into two sub-divisions silver and bronze.
Invitational Division
The Invitational Division was created in order to give developing teams and clubs an opportunity competition with teams of similar skill level while still being involved in the intense atmosphere that encompasses the National Junior Olympics. The goal is to provide teams with a competitive end-of-summer tournament. As the tournament progresses, teams will be divided into two sub-divisions, nickel and copper.
Game Sites
2025 Session 1 & 2 Championship Pool: Woollett Aquatics Center, 4601 Walnut Ave, Irvine, CA 92604
For a map of all Session 1 & 2 pools CLICK HERE
For a listing of ALL Sessions parking information Click HERE
2025 Session 3 Championship Pool: Garland High School, 2585 Firewheel Pkwy, Garland, TX 75040 75067
For a map of all Session 3 pools CLICK HERE
Additional Game Sites and Parking Info will be posted as they are confirmed
Rules
Admission Policy
Admission Policy
Persons in attendance at any USA Water Polo event agree to abide by all of USA Water Polo's rules and policies, including USA Water Polo's Minor Abuse Prevention Policies, and those of the venue to which the individual is being provided access.
Admission to this event constitutes a revocable license to enter the premises upon which the event is being conducted that may be withdrawn at any time, with or without cause, without refund of admission fees. In particular, that license will be withdrawn in the event that the party being admitted violates any of the following terms and conditions, in the sole and absolute judgment of USA Water Polo representatives, the persons in charge of hosting the event, persons managing a facility or the game referees at the event:
1. Engaging in disruptive or abusive conduct including, without limitation, swearing, using abusive language to any athlete, coach, referee or tournament official, threatening to physically assault any person or actually physically assaulting any person.
2. Taking of photographs, other than photographs taken for the personal use of a participant at the event or the use of a USA Water Polo member club in accordance with additional tournament or facility photography policies. In no event shall any photographs taken at the event be used for any commercial purpose including, without limitation, posting such pictures upon any website containing advertising, other than a USA Water Polo member club website, without USA Water Polo's prior written consent. Other than as stated above, any transmission, picture or other depiction or description of any game action, game information or person participating in any game is prohibited without the prior written consent of USA Water Polo, Inc.
3. Stealing or attempting to steal from other individuals, including but not limited to teams, clubs, vendors, or sponsors; defacing property; or violating other facility policies.
4. Unauthorized soliciting or collecting of contributions, vending, and distribution of fliers or other promotional advertising materials or products.
5. Use of alcohol where prohibited by the facility or, where permitted by the facility, excessive use of alcohol in the judgment of USA Water Polo representatives, tournament officials or referees.
At ticketed events, persons in attendance must be willing to show proof of ticket or admission at any time. At all events, all persons in attendance must comply with tournament staff, USA Water Polo representatives and referees. Persons in attendance at this event assume all risks of personal injury and all other hazards related to the event, whether occurring prior to or during the event including specifically slipping and falling upon any moist surfaces and agrees that USA Water Polo and the organization and individuals sponsoring and conducting the event, and each of their officers, directors, employees and agents are expressly released by the admittee from any claims arising from or relating to such causes or otherwise occurring at or in connection with the event, other than claims based upon gross negligence, reckless or intentional misconduct. Persons in attendance at the event are deemed to consent to the use of his/her image or likeness incidental to any transmission or reproduction of the event, or any publicity of the event or other USA Water Polo sponsored events by USA Water Polo.
Photography Policy
I understand and accept that I may not make use of any images, film or video obtained by me at the event, including any images, film or video derived from, or utilizing images, files or video obtained by me, at the event (collectively, "Event Imagery") without prior written permission from USAWP, other than personal use. I understand that I have no right to sell, transfer, license, sublicense, or give my Event Imagery to any other party, except for personal use, and that I have no right to use or display or authorize the use or display of any Event Imagery to the extent such use or display would violate the privacy rights of any person. I assign to USAWP a joint ownership in the copyright to my Event Imagery for the purpose of enabling USAWP to enforce that copyright against any third party that displays or distributes any of my Event Imagery in a manner not authorized by these Terms and Conditions. I appoint USAWP as my attorney-in-fact to execute any documents necessary to effectuate such assignment. USAWP agrees that it will not utilize this joint copyright to enter into any licensing agreements for the Event Imagery. If USAWP notifies me that any Event Imagery must be removed from public display, for any reason whatsoever, in USAWP's sole discretion, I will promptly remove, or cause to be removed, those images from public display. USAWP, as joint copyright holder, reserves all rights to revoke any license that was erroneously placed on Event Imagery in violation of these Terms and Conditions and may cause the removal of such Event Imagery on any webpage or social media on which it is displayed.
How Can I Take Photos at Junior Olympics?
Spectators are permitted to take photos from the designated spectator areas only. At no time should the taking of photos interfere with the event. All spectators must abide by the Admission and Photography policies at all times.
Junior Olympics Contact
Contact Us
Tournament Registration: events@usawaterpolo.org
Athlete Requirements: membership@usawaterpolo.org
Roster Questions: events@usawaterpolo.org
Tickets/Admission:events@usawaterpolo.org
Hotels: events@usawaterpolo.org
JO Expo: events@usawaterpolo.org
Referees: ldermendjian@usawaterpolo.org
