NEWS & Announcements

Information has been coming out at a rapid pace, and just when you think you have it all figured out it changes. Today I come to you with exciting updates, changes and clarification.

Updates

We will be welcoming two new assistant coaches for this season, due to the boys and girls season being at the same time Travis and I were unable to be both assistant and head coaches for each team. We are however excited to share that Casi Messineo and Kristin Gibbard will be joining us!

• Casi, as a lot of you may know, is the PHS girls and boys swim coach. Casi has over 20+ years of experience in aquatics, and I know we are looking forward to the fantastic swim sets she will write. It will be nice to see a familiar face on the pool deck!

• Kristin, is an 8th grade Science teacher at Aylen Junior High and has a son who is a freshman. This summer she moved to Washington from Texas where she earned her degree in Marine Biology. She has taught swim lessons, was an assistant swim coach and water polo coach at the high school level and back in the day, was a lifeguard at a waterpark. She is also advanced SCUBA certified. She is really looking forward to getting back coaching again!

Changes

As we welcome our new assistant coaches, changes to the schedule have been made. We removed all morning practices and will only be practicing in the afternoons. Also, please note that on game days if we are still not in phase 3 we will default to a practice at our normal times. Click here to review the schedule.

During the first week of practice, we will be evaluating the number of players who turn out for both teams and may make adjustments if needed. If you will not be participating in water polo this year please email us ASAP.

Clarification

In regards to rapid testing, we will not be required to rapid test if we are only practicing no-contact water polo which is currently allowed in phase 2. If our county moves to phase 3, we will then be able to compete and rapid testing will be required. More information will be released Monday about what phase we will remain in or be moved to.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 😊

It is time to dust off your goggles and dig out your polo suits! Our first day of practice will be on Monday, May 3 for both teams. Travis and I are very excited to see all of you.

A lot of guidance has come out recently and both of us are still reviewing the information and making sure we create a plan that follows all protocols set forth for water polo. We ask players and parents for their patience and understanding as we continue to learn, assess and ensure a safe environment.

Some important items to address before Monday:

• I have attached the final schedule, which includes home game times and one adjustment to the original May 11^th practice. We do not have times for away games as of right now. Please know this could change as time goes on.

• Since Pierce County is in Phase 2 we are only cleared to participate in non-contact water polo. This will include drills, swimming etc. but no contact. More information may become available on or after May 3. (click here for the recent DOH announcement)

• Rapid testing will be required for water polo, we are working on training and understanding the specifics in regards to testing and will likely have more information for you by the end of week.

• Please make sure you are cleared and have a current physical, if you are unsure contact Kelly Susee ASAP via email suseeKL@puyallup.k12.wa.us.

• Last, but not least, the team store is open! You may start ordering your team apparel. Our captains (Sam, Thomas, Grace, Lauren and Audrey) did a great job on the design for both teams. Visit our PHS water polo website (link in signature) and select Team Store to get started!

The items above are not exhaustive, you will likely receive another email from us by the end of the week or over the weekend so please make sure to be actively monitoring your inbox.

See you soon!

T-minus 35 days until the start of the I wanted to take a moment to clarify some information regarding water polo and the newest outline of phase 3 activities. We recently received an email from the water polo commissioner outlining the following:

• In the Dept of Health Reopening Water Recreation Facilities document it states:

  • Water sports (e.g., water polo and water volleyball) that make it difficult to maintain minimum 6-foot physical distancing are not allowed in Phase 3. Sports that are classified under the moderate-contact category according to the Sporting Activity guidance from the Governor’s Office is allowed without face coverings and physical distancing if it is played in an outdoor setting.

• There are many groups including USA Water Polo and local coaches advocating on many different platforms on behalf of the water polo community here in Washington. The attached letter has been signed and sent by one of our local coaches and the CEO of USA Water Polo.

I know this year has been tough, but the one thing we all have learned is change happens fast and, in this case, I am hopeful for the change to continue to move in a positive direction. We will remain hopeful for the season, continue to plan, and update you as information becomes available.

The time seems to be flying by and we are already a month and half out from the 2021 water polo season. I have some updates and reminders to share:

• The season has been adjusted to May 3 - June 12; this is just a one-week adjustment from the original announcement.

• Boys and girls will be running concurrently, including games on the same days.

• We will be playing teams in our geographic location only.

Travis and I have proposed a plan for practices and our division has devised a tentative game schedule as well. Click here to review the draft schedule, our intent is to share the information we have with the understanding things will be adjusted and finalized as we approach the start of the season.

We look forward to seeing all of you very soon! Please let us know if you have any questions, we will do our best to answer them and communicate changes and updates as soon as possible.

Just yesterday the water polo commissioner sent out additional details regarding the upcoming season.

Here is the information that was provided:

• Teams will be designated to Geographic Divisions there will be no Division 1, 2, or 3 this year only. We will go back to our normal league set up next year.

• Season dates will be set for both boys and girls from 5/10 – 6/17 with a minimum practice requirement of 5.

• Each team can compete in only 13 contests (this is 70% of allowable contest limits).

  • The priority will be Varsity only, if we have enough to form a JV team we will have to coordinate that schedule on our own.

• Puget Sound Water Polo League will not be having a culminating state event as many of the leagues in our area are doing the same. We just want our athletes to have the opportunity to compete this year.

With that being said, the league is still working very hard to finalize details and prepare for the upcoming season. As always, we will keep you updated as more information is released.

Thank you all for your patience and flexibility. I hope to see you soon!

Over the last nine months I have been practicing "going with the flow" (which is not easy for me), so here I am today with an update and a change in plans for the better!

We were notified by the school district that the water polo team can continue to use the pool for our conditioning workouts. This was GREAT news and you bet we are going to take advantage of it. I have been in contact with the pool manager and she informed me the pool is scheduled to be up and running by Monday, November 23, if anything changes I will communite that as soon as possible.

With that being said, practices are back on! We will continue to meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:45-6pm. In addition to the pool being available the WIAA has extended the date for open coaching to January 23. I will have more information regarding protocols and an overview of what practice will look like towards the end of the week.

Moving forward I will only be sending communication to those who have signed up to participate in the conditioning workouts. If you haven't had a chance please complete the Fall Conditioning Interest Form.

Thank you again for your continued patience and joining me in practicing "going with the flow".

We will be hosting dryland conditioning every Monday from 4:45-6pm at Puyallup High School starting the first week of November. We will meet at the pool to conduct health screenings, and then head to the upper gym for the workout portion. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early to ensure we can complete all screenings in a timely manner. Please review the attached document which outlines important information regarding protocols for entering/exiting the building, completing health screenings and participating in the workouts.

If you are interested in attending you must complete the Fall 2020 Conditioning Interest Form, this will help us to anticipate the number of athletes who are interested and allow us to make adjustments if necessary. If you have not gone through the athletic clearance process for this year you will also need to complete that as soon as possible. Please contact Kelly Susee at SuseeKL@puyallup.k12.wa.us if you have additional questions.

The pool will likely (hopefully) be up and running soon, we will continue to keep athletes and families updated and we anticipate if it does open our conditioning will move to that location and days and times may change.

We ask athletes and parents to be patient with this process as we get back into in-person training with added precautions and guidelines we have to follow. As time goes on adjustments to location, times etc. may be made to best serve our athletes and families and will be communicated with you as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out and I will do my best to answer them. We look forward to seeing you!

The next girls water polo season is set to be in the WIAA Modified Season 4 (see information below):

WIAA Modified Seasons

9/7/20 – 11/8/20 Season 1: Cross Country, Slowpitch Softball, Golf (Alternative Season), Tennis (Alternative Season)

1/4/21 - 3/7/21 Season 2: Basketball, Bowling, Boys Swim & Dive, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Wrestling

3/1/21 – 5/2/21 Season 3: Volleyball, Girls Soccer, 1B/2B Boys Soccer, Football, Girls Swim & Dive*,(Boys Water Polo)

4/26/21 – 6/27/21 Season 4: Tennis, Fastpitch Softball, Track & Field, Baseball, Golf, Boys Soccer, Dance/Drill (Girls Water Polo)

2. Since water polo is not a WIAA sanctioned sport, who makes the decision? The water polo commissioner will take into consideration WIAA guidelines, but all coaches and referees are included in communication regarding any proposed dates and changes to the season.

Here is part of his announcement-With the season being reduced by 30%, we will be allowed to have 13 contests prior to post season play. Division contests are the priority and we will be using weekends for league contests. We do need pools for weekend league play. Yes, we can use Sundays for contests. Please send me an e-mail if you will have pool time available with dates and times.

3. What can players do right now to prepare for the season without access to a pool? Washington is home to some of the best hikes, download the AllTrails app and find a few to do while we have this beautiful weather. We also suggest starting or incorporating weight lifting into your routine. Get creative, use household items or any type of weights available to you. If you need ideas or are not sure where to start, visit the water polo website for access to workouts and other apps or social media accounts.

4. What if the season is delayed or canceled? There are tons of individuals who are very passionate about water polo and working very hard to see that both boys and girls get their season. We are in some very uncertain times and information changes often. As coaches, players and families who love this sport we ask for you to stay inspired and continue to work hard and be prepared for any and all possibilities. We are all in this together!

5. According to our district AD an out-of-season coaching period has been added from September 28-November 30. Think of this as the “summer” season for this strange year. I'm not sure how this will look for us or what will be available. Hopefully a pool, weight room, Sparks, or meeting at the local park for some outside workouts.

Don't hesitate to reach out with questions, comments or concerns. Stay safe, stay healthy and GO VIKS!