LOWER MAINLAND WATER POLO LEAGUE
POLICY MANUAL
September 2015
League Outline
a)Mission Statement
The Lower Mainland Water Polo League is committed to provide an enjoyable, safe, and caring atmosphere for co-ed recreational water polo skill development and competition.
Our league is committed to ensuring that all administrators, coaches, and athletes respect the rules of sportsmanship and fair play as well as providing a safe environment in which to play water polo using the best available facilities, coaches, and officials.
b)Goals
i)To provide a competitive, fun atmosphere where water polo teams in the lower mainland are able to play water polo games on a regular basis
ii)To provide each team with as many games as possible within a set season
iii)To provide an environment where players learn and are prepared for a higher caliber of play outside the lower mainland league
iv)To provide an opportunity for individuals to learn, practice, and develop their refereeing knowledge and skills
v)To ensure that the league is recognized as being for the players and the development of their teams and their sport
vi)To be guided by common sense approach and a rationale that is true to the goals and Mission Statement of the league.
c)Structure
i)Any local water polo club registered with the BCWPA can petition the LMWPL board for inclusion in the LMWPL. The LMWPL board will provide assistance to clubs wishing to join the LMWPL.
The league consists of teams from the following clubs:
Abbotsford Whalers Swim ClubABB
Burnaby Water Polo ClubBBY
Coquitlam Lions Water Polo AssociationCOQ
Haney Neptunes Aquatic ClubHAN
Langley Water Polo ClubLAN
North Delta Sunfish Water Polo Club ND
North Shore Titans Water Polo ClubNST
Surrey Orcas Water Polo Club SUR
Vancouver Vipers Water Polo ClubVAN
ii)LMWPL Executive
The League Executive is comprised as follows:
Executive
President
Vice President - Fall Tournament Director
Treasurer
Secretary
League Scheduler
Results and Standings
Website
Spring Tournament Director
League Director of Officials
d)League Council Job Descriptions/Responsibilities
President
-schedule league meetings
-provide agenda and chair league meetings
-liaise with Provincial official representative(s)
-coordinate Disciplinary procedure
-coordinate B.C. Invitational W.P Tournament
Vice President
-perform the president’s duties in his or her absence
-support other executive members as needed
-book the fall tournament pool venue
-organize the LMWPL fall tournament
-complete the tournament package and prepare the tournament schedule
-submit the Sanction Request Form for the fall tournament
Treasurer
-coordinate all financial activities for the league
-prepare financial statements and report to the league annually
-prepare annual budget
-collect and pay all bills
Secretary
-responsible for all incoming and outgoing league correspondence
-maintain minutes of all league meetings
-distribute minutes in a timely manner
Scheduler
-obtain information from member clubs for team submissions
-obtain information from member clubs for pool availability
-provide league schedule to member clubs
-resolve scheduling problems/conflicts
Results and Standings
-obtain game sheets from home teams after each league game
-ensure that game sheets have been filled out properly and signed
-keep game sheets to ensure data is available as needed
Website
-obtain information from the league scheduler to create the online schedule
-enter schedule information into the league management program
-send out game and schedule reminders as needed
League Director of Officials
-referee development
-details needed
-details needed
Spring Tournament Director
-book the spring tournament pool venue
-organize the LMWPL spring tournament
-complete the tournament package and prepare the tournament schedule
-submit the Sanction Request Form for the spring tournament
e)League Council Voting Procedure
i)Definition of Quorum
-A quorum shall exist when greater than 50% of the clubs are represented at any meeting. Motions shall not be passed without a quorum.
ii)Votes/motions are carried by simple majority
iii)Voting members
a)Each Member Club has one vote
b)Proxy votes are not permitted; members must be physically present or participating via Skype or teleconference.
Rules of Play
a)The league will play using FINA rules with exceptions noted in this policy manual.
b)Rules are observed equally at all levels of play.
c)Age groupings
12U- 12 years and under at December 31 of the year the season ends
14U- 14 years and under at December 31 of the year the season ends
16U- 16 years and under at December 31 of the year the season ends
18U- 18 years and under at December 31 of the year the season ends
Please note: The league will only schedule games for those divisions that have sufficient registration.
d)Games - length of play
i)League play consists of four quarters, each of five (5) minute stop time.
ii)Each team is entitled to two, 1 minute time outs per league game.
iii)Exclusions will be:
▪ 20 seconds stop time
iv)If a time-of-game clock is not used, at one (1) minute remaining in the period, the timekeeper will raise one orange flag (or equivalent). The timekeeper will lower the orange flag (or equivalent) to signify ten (10) seconds remaining in the period.
v)Shot time will be used for all age groups. All games will utilize 30 second shot time, except for 12U which will use a 40 second shot time.
e)Teams will change ends at half time.
f)Size of ball for league play:
- 14U, 16U & 18U -size #4 (Mikasa6009)
- 12U - size #2 (Mikasa 6008)
g)All discipline is subject to automatic review by the League Disciplinary Procedure.
h)Specific rules to LMWPL overriding FINA rules may be decided between the League Council, the provincial officials' representative and coaches or their representative(s) at a pre-season meeting.
i)Any changes to the league structure must be decided at a pre-season meeting.
j)All decisions affecting league play, tournament format, seeding, and so on, will be distributed to club presidents/representatives. If distributed via email, this communication shall use a new email thread with a subject header which clearly identifies the decision.
General
a)All teams in the league are co-ed
b)All players must be registered members of Water Polo Canada through BCWPA. Registration must be made by the specified date. Teams must be entered in the Events System on the Water Polo Canada website.
c)Unlimited rosters may be kept. There are no maximum rosters enforced during league play. However, it is impractical to have more than 18 players rostered for any one game. Tournament rosters, likewise, are not limited, but individual game rosters should be limited to 18 athletes.
d)Teams should have a minimum of one player of that age division. When a club has two or more teams in the same age division a minimum of four (4) players on each team must be of that age division. Any requests for an exemption to this rule must be submitted in writing to the LMWPL executive.
e)Players can be double-rostered in order to play up an age category, but may not be listed on more than one roster in the same age category.
f)Players are only permitted to play up one age division. Any requests for an exemption to this rule must be submitted in writing to the LMWPL executive.
g)Each home club will supply:
-two referees for their home games (note: section s, iv, below)
-pool markers denoting distances from the goal line
-caps (for their own team) and at least 6 balls, including 2 games balls
-shot clocks (when possible), stop watches, whistle, flags, score cards, and score sheets
-computer with excel game sheets (when possible)
h)One representative from each team shall be supplied to work the table. Clubs are responsible for ensuring these officials are trained and they must remain neutral at all times working the officials table. The score sheets will be signed by the game referee(s) and sent to the statistician by the home team club representative. Each team representative is responsible to ensure that game scores are properly submitted.
i)In league and tournament play, each team shall consist of a minimum of 7 players with 6 field players and a goalie. Furthermore, there must be two (2) male and two (2) female players in the water at all times. Teams may start a game playing short one player, but by the beginning of the second quarter minimum team requirements must be met or the team will forfeit.
j)A minimum of two male and two female players must be in the water at all times. An exception is granted if a team has only two male or two female players and due to exclusions as a result of three personal fouls or misconduct, the team may play one player short with only one female or one male in the water.
k)Players may only play for the club in which they are registered and may only be registered with one LMWPL club per registration session. There will be no transfers between clubs after October 1 for the fall session and January 15 for the winter session. Exceptions to this rule will be permitted in order to form combined teams for league and/or tournament play as authorized by the league executive.
l)Players must play at least 50% of the regular season games in his/her age category to be eligible to participate in league tournaments. A club may request an exemption for any coach who coaches at the same time as a game he or she is scheduled to play. The player should be included on the game sheet of the game he or she should have been playing on with a note referencing the game, including time, which he or she was coaching. Any requests for an exemption to this rule must be submitted in writing to the LMWPL executive.
m)For all age categories other than the 12U category, if a club has sufficient players for more than one team at any age division, they may divide the teams into either balanced (equal skill level) or unbalanced teams. 12U teams must be balanced.
n)In the 12U division the 5m foul/shot line is not in play except for penalty shots. Players must pass after a foul before a shot can be taken.
o)Rosters submitted for league play and for a tournament may not be changed.
p)Safety goggles and prescription safety goggles are acceptable. Swim goggles are not acceptable during practices or games.
q)Mouth guards are strongly recommended for all players during league and tournament games. Caps are to be worn at all times during games. Cap numbers must match those submitted on the game roster.
r)Cap changes can occur only during the break between quarters, time-outs or half-time during league play except in the event of an injury to a goalie.
s)Referees:
i)Referee certification and qualifications shall be in accordance with BC Water Polo Officials Development System; Guidelines for Certification.
ii)Referees are required to follow league policies and procedures. Referees must ensure that there is no conflict of interest in games they referee at tournaments and must adhere to the BCWPA policy regarding conflict of interest.
iii)Referees are required to review and sign the game sheet at the end of each game, adding any additional reports and/or notes, as required, prior to signing.
iv)Visiting clubs, where possible, have the option to bring a referee to ensure that their referees obtain experience.
v)Referee pay schedule for league play:
Referees will be paid according to the following scale, except that the minimum game fee increases to $20.00 when calling out a referee for a single game. This exception does not apply when the referee elects to referee only one game.
Regional Trained Referee$15 per game
Regional Certified Referee$20 per game
Provincial Trained Referee $25 per game
Provincial Certified (or higher) Referee$30 per game
The LMWPL retains the right to withhold payment of referee fees if a referee fails to follow league policies and procedures, including failure to sign the game sheet, failure to submit a disciplinary/incident report as required.
League Disciplinary Procedure
a)General Outline
This procedure will be employed to handle any complaints about allegations of inappropriate behavior involving LMWPL participants; including players, coaches, referees, or parents, during LMWPL events.
b)Procedure
i)Referees shall document any disciplinary offences on the game sheetbeforesigning it. The game sheet and the incident/accident report shall be forwarded to the BCWPA and the LMWPL President within twenty-four (24) hours of the occurrence of the event.
ii)All other complaints shall be reported to the BCWPA and the LMWPL President within forty-eight (48) hours of the occurrence of the event.
iii)Any complaint against a participant(s) shall be made in writing with complete details of the participant(s) involved and facts alleged.
iv)The BCWPA standing disciplinary review committee shall investigate any complaint and report its findings to the LMWPL President in a timely fashion. Every effort shall be made to complete the review process before the next game involving the subject of the incident or complaint.
Policy on High Performance Players in LMWPL
The LMWPL, while a recreational league; has mandated in its league philosophy that high performance players are to be included in its program. High performance players often have a long history of involvement with LMWPL and are welcomed to participate as players, volunteers, coaches and referees. It is also recognized that among high performance players there are various skill levels. High performance players are to be reminded that they have the opportunity to compete at a high skill level at National Championships and Open Tournaments.
In keeping with league philosophy, the LMWPL expectations for high performance players in league play are:
High performance players are to be reminded that the LMWPL is a recreational league, developmental in nature, and their experience and love of the game should be shared with others as mentors.
In league play, teams must provide equal playing time for all players.
To help foster fair play and skill development, club teams are encouraged to “share” players with opposition during league and tournament play if one team has insufficient numbers, the numbers of players are unbalanced, or team skill levels are greatly different.The result will be recorded as a forfeit win for the team which shares its players.
Every effort should be made to keep games competitive. If there is disparity between teams, coaches should do their best not to run up scores. Make substitutions, move players around to try different positions and implement passing rules. Players should have a positive experience on both sides of the ball through competitive games. Players and coaches should always bear in mind that fair play and skill development are our primary focusses. Quality playing time and ball possession by all players must be ensured.
Codes of Conduct
All LMWPL participants are expected to adhere to the LMWPL Code of Conduct (needs to be developed)
1
Page