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page revised: March 08, 2011

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League Organization and Format
The format of the league will be head to head games of clubs in the league to be held on Wednesday and Friday nights.  There will be two Saturday one day events in Santa Barbara to deal with ongoing travel issues. The top 4 teams will advance to the championship tournament.  Our goal is to expand the league statewide and across the nation.

All coaches, athletes and other staff must be registered with USA Water Polo before they can compete.  There are no age or gender requirements to participate in the league though this is intended to be a fast paced and high level of play.  The head coach of each team must be a USA Water Polo Certified Coach.  Teams are encouraged to work with the local universities to recruit seniors whose NCAA eligibility has been completed.

For any individual game, the team may list up to 18 athletes to compete from the roster of 30.  This roster together with up to 3 staff, must be presented to the table prior to the start of the game The tournament roster must list the players by the cap number, 1 to 18, they shall wear during the game (a substitute goalie will be assigned red cap number 13. If there is only one goalkeeper, one field player shall wear white/blue cap number 13). Teams must supply their own caps. All games will be played under current FINA Rules with the following exceptions:

• Course size 25M
• All games played to a conclusion; shoot outs used to break ties

Water Polo Champion’s League Code of Conduct
It is our intention to see the Champion’s League become the premier venue for elite water polo in the United States. With that said it is important for all clubs to remember that this is a product and our ability to market this product will directly reflect the level of professionalism with which we all operate. All guidelines presented in the USA Water Polo Code of Conduct will apply.

Below you will see the infraction fee schedule and some general guidelines of professionalism that the league will operate within. It is important that we all monitor the players within our team and control their behavior.

Red card

• Red card #1: $100 fine to the club.

• Red Card #2: $150 fine to the club.

• Red card #3: $250 fine to the club.

Upon receipt of a 3rd red card for any club, the club will be required to pay the penalty along with attend a hearing of the owner’s committee. Hearing May take place via teleconference. Owner’s Committee will determine penalty for the next red card and additional sanctions for cards to follow.

Yellow Card

Referees will issue yellow cards for any in appropriate activities including but not limited  to the following:

• Foul language: verbal warning, yellow card, and then Red Card.

• Inappropriate behavior 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after a game.

• Verbal exchange with fans: Immediate yellow, then red.

• Verbal exchange at half with opposing coach: immediate yellow, then red.

Coaches Behavior

Coaches may address the referee in a normal tone of voice when at their end of the pool. Should the coach yell across the pool: ball is pulled out coach is warned.  2nd time yelling across the pool: yellow, 3rd: red.  Coaches may address the referees at halftime immediately adjacent to the score table. Each coach may have one minute.

Player behavior

Player behavior will be strictly monitored by the referee and while a bit of feedback will be tolerated, inappropriate feedback, ie (offensive language, yelling or screaming, threats) will be the basis for an immediate red card.  Brutality will result in a $100 fine and a game exclusion to be served following the game in which the card was received. Furthermore, if a second act of brutality occurs, the player will be subject to a hearing in front of the owners committee for further sanctions which could include suspension or removal from the league.

Club Enrollment
To be considered a member of the league, a club must be a current registered club of USAWP.  The league fee for 2010 is $1,000.  The period for consideration and entry into the league is open from September 15,2009- December 15, 2009.  It is anticipated that a schedule will be prepared and sent to all participating teams by 1/5/10.

For more information, contact league commissioner Mark Cousineau at Dacous@me.com or (949) 361-3902.

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