Being a strong swimmer is a life skill. There is no better way to gain confidence in the water than learning to play water polo.

THE BEST WAY TO BECOME A STRONG SWIMMER: WATER POLO

Practice & Program Update – March Break Schedule

Please be advised that there is no practice today, March 15th, in Brantford.

In addition, all City Pool practices are cancelled over March Break. This mainly affects Swim and Play Ball and Splashball, as these groups will not be in the water during the March Break week.

The final week for Swim and Play Ball and Splashball will take place the week after March Break.

We will also have Bring-a-Friend Days on:

12U, 14U, 16U, 18U – March Break Schedule

Monday, March 16 - 8:00-9:30 PM – Optional practice, open to all competitive athletes

Wednesday, March 18 - 8:00-9:30 PM  – Optional practice, open to all competitive athletes

Thursday, March 19 – NCL and Senior athletes only

NOTE MCMASTER IS OPEN AND FOLLOWING REGULAR SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 21 | 4:00–7:00 PM – Open to all athletes

We will return to the full regular schedule on March 22.

Update on Club Events Happening over March Break

MARCH BREAK UPDATE

Please be advised that we will be operating as usual on Saturday and Sunday, February 14–15.

There will be no practice on Monday, February 16.

14U and 16U girls are welcome to attend practice on Wednesday, February 18 from 8:00–9:30 PM in Brantford.

Saturday Morning Practice – Pinky Lewis

Please also note that due to swim meets, there will be no Brantford practices on the weekends of February 21–22 and February 28–March 1.

We will be offering an optional swim for competitive athletes on Saturday mornings from 8:15–9:45 AM at Pinky Lewis on February 21 and February 28.

Further details regarding the Scarborough Tournament weekend schedule can be found in the link below. This tournament is for 12U, 14U, and 18U Girls.

Busy weekend no practices Monday but business as usual on the weekend.

FAMILY DAY WEEKEND REMINDERS

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Hello Swim & Play Ball, Splashball, 10U, and 12U players and parents,

Welcome to the Winter Session, which begins this week! We apologize in advance for any scheduling challenges. As we move through the winter months, weather conditions and facility availability can create changes, and we appreciate your flexibility.

❌ NO PRACTICE Tuesday, January 6 (we will add an additional Tuesday at the end of the session)

Saturday, January 10 – Jimmy Thompson Pool

Thursday, January 15 – Pinky Lewis Pool

Saturday, January 17 – Jimmy Thompson Pool

After Week 2, Weeks 3, 4, 5, and 6 (Jan 24,31 Feb 7,14th) Saturday session will all take place at Pinky Lewis Pool with the following timings:

Additional details will be shared closer to those dates.  Google Calendar is updated for the season.

Now that the schedule confusion is hopefully clear.  We encourage athletes to bring Swim suit towel, goggles and a water bottle to practice.  We do a short 5 minute break midway through the training session. 

I will send out a reminder again tomorrow about the cancelation on the 6th at Brewster.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we begin the Winter Session. We’re looking forward to a great season ahead!

Minor scheduling update to start the season

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR SWIM AND PLAY BALL & SPLASHBALL PARENTS

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We hope everyone had a great winter break and a happy New Year! As we return to practices starting Monday, January 5th, we’re heading into a busy and exciting stretch of the season.

We have a lot to look forward to and build upon in 2026 as we continue to grow and evolve as a club. Growth and change are always challenging, but as we’ve seen with the inclusion of Mac, the effort is always worth it.

Important scheduling notes for the first week back:

Brewster is still closed, so there will be no practice on Tuesday, January 6th.  Tuesdays will resume at Brewster on the 13th of January.

Due to ongoing heating issues at the Jimmy Thompson Facility, Saturday practices will move to Pinky Lewis Pool on the following dates:

Saturday Practice Schedule at Pinky Lewis (8:15–10:45 AM):

Please be sure to check the Google Calendar regularly for all updates and changes.

Happy New Year! Let’s get ready for a great second half of the season.

Club wide update for the return to practices starting Monday the 5th of January 2026

2026 Update

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With our first shot of winter, it’s clear the end of the year is approaching! We’re in a heavy training cycle as we head into our final tournaments and game days of the season.

We will always do our best to make cancellation decisions no later than 4:00 PM. Cancellation notifications will be posted on Email, Instagram, the Website front page header, and through a Text Blast from team managers. Most teams (14U and above) also have a chat group — it’s always helpful when everyone stays active and shares updates there. Ultimately, whether the club cancels or not, if you don’t feel safe driving (or having your child driven) to practice, please stay home. Safety comes first. And if you’re running late — don’t stress. Do your best to get there safely. Once your child arrives, they can hop in the water and we’ll go from there. A few minutes missed, or even an occasional practice, isn’t worth the risk.

Splashball, Swim & Play Ball, and 12U – No changes to their schedules 3 weeks left in the session, Bring a friend nights November 25th & 27th:)

Girls – 14U / 16U / 18U Girls: Now Mondays in Brantford. 18U Girls: Wednesdays 8:00–9:30 PM @ McMaster (MAC).

Boys – 18U Boys: Now Mondays @ McMaster (MAC). 14U / 16U / 18U Boys: Now Wednesdays in Brantford.

As the year progresses and we confirm numbers, 16U and potentially 2012 Girls/Boys will be added to the MAC practices. The McMaster women’s team is currently large, so we’re easing into this transition to avoid overcrowding. This opportunity has been a long time in the making, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we roll it out properly.

12U – November 15th, 4:00–7:00 PM, Brantford.

14U / 16U Boys & Girls – November 16th, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM, KW (Just added — attend if you can; Wilfred Laurier).

14U / 16U Girls – November 28th, 8:00–9:45 PM, Guelph (on deck, dressed for 8:00).

16U / 18U Boys – November 28th, 8:00–9:45 PM, Guelph (on deck, dressed for 8:00).

No practice in Brantford – Sunday, November 16th.

As strange as it may seem, this is the time of year when we begin finalizing training schedules and tournament plans for the 2026. We’ve already seen some tournament dates shift, and based on these changes — as well as the overlap with high school exams — we’ve decided not to attend the BC tournament in January for 14U and 16U. We hope to have the 2026 schedule finalized by the end of the week.

Thanks for reading — let’s get ready for another big week of training!

Upcoming Schedule Changes, Gameday Updates, & Winter Cancellation Policy

NOVEMBER UPDATE

Please see the attached MAVS Cup Schedule. As always, tournament schedules are subject to change, so please check for updates regularly.

Please send an e-transfer to: admin@hamiltonwaterpolo.ca

Important: In the message or subject line of your e-transfer, include your athlete’s name and team.

Please arrive 1 hour before your scheduled game

If you're running late or plans change, text us right away at the number below

Tournament this weekend for 12U, 14U & 16U in Etobicoke

Etobicoke Tournament Information

We hope you all have a wonderful few days to slow down, relax, and enjoy time with family and friends.

The first six weeks of the season have been very physically demanding for our athletes, and all of the coaches are extremely pleased with their effort and results so far. Feedback from McMaster has also been overwhelmingly positive.

This weekend, we only have Practice at Regular Time on Saturday at Jimmy Thompson. All Sunday and Monday practices are cancelled.

We’ve updated TeamSnap and will soon be transitioning to it as our primary communication platform. If you have not yet registered, please click the link below to complete your registration.

You’ll know you’re not registered if you did not receive two copies of this email.

Tournament season is approaching quickly, with our first competition in two weeks. Water Polo Canada recently changed its registration procedures for host teams, which may cause some scheduling delays.

For 16U and under, tournaments will be posted on TeamSnap by the end of the weekend — please mark your availability.

Oct 24-26: 12U, 14U, 16U – Paul Taylor – Etobicoke

Dec 6-7: 10U, 12U, 14U – KW Classic – KW

While we’re thrilled with the team’s in-water performance, we acknowledge there have been some challenges with pool scheduling. Every year brings new hurdles, and this season has been no exception with changes at Gretzky, Mac being closed, and adjustments from Water Polo Canada regarding tournament schedules and registration. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate these challenges.

Clothing and team suits will be available online soon. 😊

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Great Start to the Season!  Time for tournaments

Happy Thanksgiving Update

We are off and running, and the athletes are already working very hard. For our returning athletes, the coaches have all commented on the excellent level of fitness we’re seeing. For our new athletes, the coaches are blown away by the positive attitude and energy being displayed.

Please note the slight schedule change this weekend due to our exhibition games with McMaster on Sunday.

We recognize there have been some inconsistencies in the schedule. To make things easier, we are moving the Google Calendar link to the top of the schedule page. As the club continues to evolve, we need to remain flexible so we can maximize our pool budget. With steady growth, securing additional pool time remains a priority.

It looks as though McMaster will reopen around Thanksgiving. We are committed to supporting their program and are already seeing positive benefits from this partnership.

The inconsistency of the NCL schedule has created some challenges in securing competitive games, particularly for the 18U group. Based on the schedule, despite the short timeline we would like the 18U'S to attend the following:

Full disclosure we are also looking at the following tournaments with 16U Eastern Nationals being the priority.

We are lookin to have a commitment for the October Tournament by September 28th.  The cost will be between $200-$300.00 per athlete plus flight and accommodation.   

An exciting opportunity has come up to participate in an athlete exchange program with a club in Germany. Please see the additional email for further details.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we get this season started. Full pools are always a good thing, but we know it can feel a little chaotic at times. Thank you for your support and flexibility!

Busy Weekend.  First Gameday for Swim and Play Ball and Splashball Saturday, & Competitive Scrimmage vs. McMaster University Sunday.
Let's GOOOOOOOOOO!!! 


HAWPC UPDATE Sept 19th 2025

We hope everyone is excited for the season to officially begin next week!

The Google Calendar is now updated online — please check it regularly for the most current information.  Please note as we tighten up our Team Snap Organization you will get some duplicate information this usually subsides by late September.

As many of you know, Mac being closed presents some unique challenges, but as always, we’re ready to get creative and make the most of it.

We’re thrilled to kick off Swim and Play Ball and Splashball:

We can't wait for your water polo journey to begin!

Competitive Athlete Schedule (Joint Training Camp with McMaster)

14U / 16U / 18U Boys – 7:30–9:30 PM - WAYNE GRETZKY

10U / 12U / 14U / 16U – 6:30–9:00 PM - BREWSTER POOL

14U / 16U / 18U Girls – 7:30–9:30 PM - WAYNE GRETZKY

16U / 18U Girls – 6:30–8:30 PM - Wayne Gretzky

16U / 18U Boys – 7:30–9:30 PM - Wayne Gretzky

10U / 12U / 14U / – 6:30–8:30 PM - Pinky Lewis

As you may have noticed, we’ve made some changes to our programming and format for the upcoming season. One of the most significant updates is our expanded partnership with McMaster University.

We believe this collaboration will benefit the Club as a whole, and particularly our older athletes in Grades 11 and 12. Opportunities for mentorship and engagement with the university environment are expected to provide valuable experiences and personal growth.

We understand that major changes can be challenging at first and may take some time to adjust to — for players, parents, and coaches alike. But this is part of our organic growth as a club, and sometimes growth is a little messy!

Increase athlete development opportunities

Foster a stronger, more connected water polo community

Let’s get excited for a fantastic season ahead!

Competitive Athletes Back in the Water Monday Sept 8th.  Swim & Play Ball begin on Sept 16th

Competitve Season Begins Monday the 8th

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We hope everyone has had an amazing summer and enjoyed a well-deserved break — hopefully with a refreshing change of pace from the September-to-June grind!

We’re excited to kick off our 2025–2026 competitive season starting the week of September 8th, and we’re looking forward to building on the success of last year.

In true Hamilton fashion, we are already dealing with a facility closure at McMaster, which has thrown a few wrenches into the schedule — but we wouldn’t have it any other way .

The website has been updated for the new season.

The training schedule is accurate and live on our Google Calendar.

Thursday Brantford pool times are still being finalized, so please expect some small changes as things are confirmed.

We’ll once again be using RAMP and TeamSnap for communication and administration. These systems were very effective last year for managing closures and last-minute updates.

Registration is up and operational.  Please feel free to visit our website

LEASE NOTE: A $20.00 donation to Water Polo Canada is automatically selected (YES by default).

If you do not wish to donate, please be sure to select NO before completing your registration.

This year's tournament schedule is lighter than usual, due to a few cancellations and shifts in dates. We’re currently planning for travel out west in 2026 for 14U, 16U, and 18U teams.

Competitive Season (10U–18U) Begins: September 8th

10-Week Splashball & Swim and Play Ball Programs Begin: Week of September 16th

All program details and updates are posted on the HAWPC Calendar.

We are asking returning players to register with TeamSnap as soon as possible so we can begin organizing teams.

If any parents are interested in volunteering as Team Managers, please reach out — we’d love to get that organized early.

Moving equipment after Week 1 to Pinky Lewis, Brewster, and Jimmy Thompson pools.

Ball pump crew for Week 2 of Swim and Play Ball (Pro tip: never blow up balls in Week 1 — this is a lesson we only learn once!)

On Sunday, September 21st, we’ll be hosting two scrimmages with the McMaster Men’s and Women’s teams. We’d love to see our younger athletes attend, cheer on the teams, and be inspired.

This is shaping up to be a very exciting year! Patrick and I have spent the summer developing a high-quality training schedule, and we truly believe this season will be one of growth, fun, and strong development for all our athletes.

HAWPC is ready to go for the 2025-2026 Season.  

WELCOME TO THE 2025-2026 Season

As our summer water polo season comes to a close, we want to recognize the incredible effort, teamwork, and growth shown by all our athletes aged 6–14. From learning the fundamentals to building confidence in the pool, every player brought energy, determination, and great sportsmanship.

This season was about more than just competition—it was about making friends, developing skills, and enjoying the game together. A big thank you goes out to our coaches, parents, and volunteers who made the league possible and supported our players every step of the way.

We’re proud of how far each of our athletes has come and we look forward to seeing everyone back in the pool next season!

Outdoor Season 9 in the books we cannot wait for season 10

SUMMER SEASON CONCLUDED

Welcome to February! We've had a fantastic start to 2025, and all of our athletes are working extremely hard. The coaches are very pleased with the progress we have made, and we feel well-prepared for the next phase of the season.

Just a reminder that in the event of a cancellation, coaches will make every effort to notify everyone by 4:00 PM. We will communicate cancellations via TeamSnap, email, Instagram, and a notice on the front page of our website.

As always, if you do not feel safe driving, please take the night off.

Our winter session is off to a great start! Any missed days will be made up at the end of the session.

Attention Grade 3 & 4 Athletes: If you are interested, we have several upcoming 10U tournaments see details below! If you'd like to participate, please email ancasterwaterpolo@gmail.com.

Family Day weekend marks the beginning of our final push toward Provincials and Nationals! We have several tournaments coming up, all listed on our website under the Calendar section. Here are 4 key events to note:

Divisions: 10U Coed, 12U Coed, 14U Boys/Girls, 16U Boys/Girls

Cost: 10U - $25 | All other divisions - $75

Payment: E-transfer to admin@hamiltonwaterpolo.ca

Please mark off your availability on Team Snap.

Have a great week please pay attention to your emails when the weather is questionable.

Information on upcoming tournaments and weather cancellation procedure

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Too much going on so apologies for the long read several SCHEDULE DISRUPTIONS AND TOURNAMENT highlighted immediately below.  

NO CLUB PRACTICES WEDNESDAY OCT 30th AT WAYNE GRETZKY or THURSDAY ANYWHERE HAPPY HALLOWEEN PLEASE BE SAFE.

NO PRACTICES SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3rd BECAUSE OF SWIM MEET AT WAYNE GRETZKY

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO HIGH SCHOOL BOYS DIVISION THIS WEEKEND AT ANDREW WATSON.

They will instead run the High School Girls Division and are attempting to run a 12U Coed division.  Please mark off availability if you are able to attend.    

WHY DO TOURNAMENTS SEEM SO CHALLENGING THIS YEAR? 

As a result of several issues (pool closures in Quebec, Unexpected CEO change at Water Polo Canada, and age changes impacting all tournament formats) tournament organization has been challenging.

We appreciate your patience as we navigate the situation. We recognize how challenging it is for all involved including the coaches.  

We have listed the remaining Tournaments and ages for the 2024 calendar year below.  We will be updating the calendar this weekend to reflect any changes. 

ANDREW WATSON - NOV 2nd 12U COED and High School GIrls

SHADOW CUP - Nov, 15-17 - 12U COED, 14U Boys, 14U Girls, 

PAUL TAYLOR - Nov 22-24th - 12U COED, 14U Boys, 14U Girls, 

KW CLASSIC - Nov 30- Dec 2nd - 12U COED, 14U Boys, 14U Girls, 16U Men, 16U Women - Etobicoke

16U NCL - Dec 6-8 - Markham Pan AM Center

Please See the following message below from Board member Robert Johnson.  Any questions can be directed to him at 416-725-0662 or at rjohnsonum2@gmail.com.

It is that time of the year where we once again kick off the annual wine fundraiser with Fielding Wines. For every dollar raised, Fielding will give back 20%, which families can apply to club fees or tournaments.This year, Fielding is facilitating all fundraising online. A link and fundraising code are provided below.:

1. Collect all orders from friends and families

2. Once collected, enter all orders via the fundraising link

3. From the link, open the shopping cart and enter code hamiltonwpc prior to check out

4. Enter name and other relevant details to process order and receive credit for funds raised

A. The website does not except visa debit cards

B. There is a $100 min order, so we do encourage fundraisers to compile their friends and family orders before making a purchase and checking out

C. The wines on this fundraiser website are the ones that are available, there may be other options, but they might be low in inventory and not guaranteed by the time fundraiser is completed.  

D. There are gift cards (they are also 20% back to the team)

E. The flats of ciders are 10% back to the team, there is the option to do a mixed pack which is the Cherry Rose, Original apple and Hopped & Hazy.

F. Please make sure to use the https://fundraising.fieldingwines.com/ website, the fundraising code will only work here

Schedule Changes, Dryland, Wine Fundraiser and more!!

THE BEST WAY TO BECOME A STRONG SWIMMER: WATER POLO

Other News

MARCH BREAK UPDATE

FAMILY DAY WEEKEND REMINDERS

IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR SWIM AND PLAY BALL & SPLASHBALL PARENTS

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