We welcome all interested students! Moderate or better swimming ability is encouraged, but water polo experience is not necessary. To learn more, please reach out to ndwpolo@gmail.com, or send a message to Captain and VP Zach “Zion” Jones ’28 of Houston, TX (832.270.5355)! Make sure to visit our table at the fall Club Fair as well!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who do you play against?
Our club competes in the Great Lakes division at the club level of the Collegiate Water Polo Association. Other division members include the University of Dayton, Grand Valley State University, and the University of Miami (OH). We also aim to play local Big Ten schools including Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, and Purdue. The competitive season is in the Fall, lasting from early September to Conference Championships in late October. Club nationals, should we qualify, is usually the first weekend of November.
Where and when do you practice?
We practice year-round at Rolf’s Aquatic Center, Notre Dame’s competitive swimming pool. During our Fall season, we have two hour evening practices from Monday-Thursday. For the rest of the year, we have 90-minute practices three times a week.
Do you have a coach?
While we have two coaches, we are largely self-coached during daily practices.
How much do you travel?
In the Fall, we have one or two away weekend tournaments, hosted by other division members. We do our best to avoid traveling during home football weekends! In the Spring, we typically drive down to the University of Tennessee for their yearly Dogwood Invitational. This is a favorite of the team!
Do you charge dues? What’s included in them?
Our club charges yearly dues of $225 in the Fall. These cover team travel, including hotel rooms and meals, as well as team suits and other equipment like balls, caps, and goals. Successful fundrasing allows us to charge much less than our costs of opperation.
Is it hard to balance water polo and classwork?
Our team is made up of members of every college at Notre Dame, including many pre-med students and engineers taking 18+ credits each semester. Most members find that our club provides a needed break between classes and starting homework/studying, and our community uniquely allows members to form awesome friendships across dorms and majors. The club is very understanding of having to miss an occasional practice to cram for a midterm.
Do you have fun as a team out of the water?
Our team maintains a busy social calender, hosting many events individually as well as with our close friends on the Women’s Water Polo team. Favorites include our (very profitable) Concession Stand, our year-end dinner at Texas Roadhouse (paid for by team), and countless other decades-old traditions we can’t wait to share with you once you join!
