Frequently Asked Questions
About Dartmouth Water Polo

1. Does Dartmouth have a water polo team?

Actually, Dartmouth has two teams: a men's team and a women's team.

2. When do the teams compete?

Men's Team

The men's team primarily competes in the fall. Its season begins with a training trip in early September. Past trips have been to Northern and Southern California. Games and tournaments occur from September to November, concluding with National Championships in mid-November. The winter (January-March) is primarily a conditioning season for the men's team, with swim workouts and other drills held several times per week. During the spring, the team practices daily and competes in several scrimmages and tournaments. All players are encouraged to work out over the summer, either at home with local teams or during their sophomore summer at Dartmouth.

Women's Team

The women's team's primary season is in the spring. Training begins in the winter term with swim conditioning and intensifies late in the term and over spring break. Tournaments and games begin in late March or early April and continue through May. During the fall, women also practice and compete.

3. Is it difficult to balance athletics and academics?

Dartmouth is a challenging school, and academics are always the top priority. The men's and women's water polo teams each has one of the highest GPAs of any Dartmouth athletic team. The American Water Polo Coaches Association ranked the 1997 Dartmouth women's team as second highest All-Academic Team in the United States.

Both teams train seriously, but as the current team members demonstrate, with planning and discipline you can play competitively and still be an academic leader.

4. I am also a swimmer. Can I swim and play water polo at Dartmouth?

Since the water polo coach is also the men's swim coach, men's water polo players have no problem participating in both sports. Women's players normally are able to participate in both as well. Several players each year play both sports, and sometimes the captain of the water polo team has also been the captain of the swim team. But both teams take their sports seriously, so you need to make an equally serious commitment to both.

5. Is either Dartmouth water polo team varsity?

No, Dartmouth competes as club teams. But it makes little difference, since the each team runs similarly to a varsity team. The Dartmouth teams have a coach, recruit players, travel, and train intensely as if they were a varsity team.

Dartmouth teams train and compete to win, not just to play. Joining the team means you make a commitment to come to all team practices, meetings, and games. It is expected that water polo be your second highest priority, next only to academics.

6. Do the teams compete intercollegiately?

Absolutely. Both teams play other school teams, both at home and away.

7. How have the teams done?

The men's team captured the National Collegiate Club Championships in November 1997. It is the reigning New England Division champion, and has won three New England Division championships in four years. It has qualified for Nationals in five of the last six years. The women's team finished seventh last year at the New England Championships.

8. Does Dartmouth plan to go varsity?

It's not currently planned by the College. However, as a club team, Dartmouth is free from the NCAA restrictions on recruiting, training times, and competition schedules, among other things.

9. Does that mean Dartmouth does not compete against varsity teams, like Harvard, Princeton, and Brown?

Princeton and Brown are club teams. Like Dartmouth they receive no school funds and have no special influence on admissions. But they both elect to submit to NCAA rules, so they compete as if they were varsity teams. Dartmouth plays Harvard, Princeton, and Brown in the annual Ivy League Tournament and individually, and has scrimmaged with West Coast varsity teams during its training trips.

10. How often do the teams practice?

During the regular competition season, practices are five days a week for two hours and three days a week of morning conditioning. Before the fall season starts, the men's team takes a training trip, which includes two practices per day and scrimmages, and another week of double practices before school starts.

11. Since Dartmouth is not a varsity team, how much does it cost to play?

Team members pay dues, about $200 a year. That is enough to cover less than a third of the team's total expenses. The team raises money each year and receives donations from generous alumni and parents. These funds cover equipment (suits and balls), travel, lodging, and other expenses. Some financial support available for those who have difficulty paying team dues.

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