Youth Team (Born 1993 or later):  Head Coach Tracy Stapleton (Davis High School)
Contact Coach Stapleton at tstapleton@djusd.k12.ca.us for more information.

Junior Team (Born 1991-1992):  Head Coach Bruce Hastie  (Jesuit High School)
Contact Coach Hastie at hastieb@jhssac.org for more information.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SAC POLO ATHLETES !

2008 Youth team selectees going to the national team tryout in Salt Lake City:
Austin Beckwith
Phil Cozens
Matt Giancanelli
Antonio Gualco

2008 Junior team selectees going to the national team tryout at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis:
Cody Ankrim
Nick Deis
Matt Murbach

WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT?
USA Water Polo is comprised of eleven zones that cover the entire United States. Each zone is responsible for the governance and operation of USA Water Polo within their respective zones. The Central California Zone (CCZ) is comprised of the counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba in the State of California. Additional zone information can be found at the zone website: http://www.centralcalwaterpolo.com

One of the primary purposes of USA Water Polo is to develop young athletes who, someday, may ultimately represent the United States in Olympic competition. The preliminary stages of that development take place within the zones. Essentially; athletes are identified by the year in which they were born. In the Central California Zone (CCZ) we have two development teams: The Youth Team (born in 1993 or later) and the Junior Team (born in 1991 / 1992).  The tryout begins at the local regional level.  There are three regions within our zone.  Confused yet?

North Region of CCZ:  The greater Sacramento area, (Nevada City, El Dorado Hills, Roseville, Sacramento, Davis, Fairfield, etc.), will hold an initial tryout during which 13 athletes will be selected to represent the North region.
 
Central Region of CCZ:  Lodi, Stockton, Modesto, Turlock, Merced will hold an initial tryout during which 13 athletes will be selected to represent the Central region.

South Region of CCZ:  All water polo programs south of Merced to nearly Bakersfield will hold an initial tryout during which 13 athletes will be selected to represent the South region.
 
Once the thirteen athletes that will represent each region have been selected, they will gather for a tryout  (April 13th at Tokay High School).  From that tryout, thirteen athletes will be selected to represent the CCZ at a national tryout camp (typically Memorial Day weekend) . Athletes from across the United States that have gone through a similar selection process will gather. The USA National Team coaches will then select thirteen athletes that will represent the United States in international competition.


WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE?
All age-eligible athletes are strongly encouraged to participate in the development camps. Exposure to other coaches and teaching styles, getting to know athletes from within the zone, increased experience and knowledge to take back to your high school program, are only a few of the reasons why an athlete should participate. Each year, hundreds of athletes from the CCZ participate in development camps. Dozens of coaches volunteer their time at the development camps. These camps are arguably the most important thing we can do within our respective zones in order to keep our sport growing and improving.