Water Polo Canada - Canadian Water Polo Association Inc.

Prior to reading through the following section it is recommended that you browse the web page LTAD Overview to understand the various terms used throughout in relation to LTAD.

The Competition Review is part of the water polo in Canada LTAD implementation plan (see The pursuit of excellence and an active lifestyle and the Summary Framework Matrix for more details about LTAD). The Competition Review provides a macro perspective of the competition structure for water polo in Canada and it does not address the implementation of the new competitions being proposed – the Review focuses on the what and why not the how and when. The Competition Review Group will also be tasked with creating an implementation plan for the new National Club Championship leagues being proposed. Since Water Polo Canada only governs and executes National level competitions and programs, the primary focus of the Review Group was the Excellence stream. The Competition Review Group recognizes the importance of the C4L and A4L streams and the inherent regional differences from coast-to-coast, and therefore, has created recommendations for clubs and PSOs. Each province will be forming its own competition review group and performing its own competition review using the guidelines and principles from the water polo in Canada Competition Review. A key component to any competition review is system alignment and cooperation.

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The Competition Review Working Group was formed in the summer of 2011 and comprises of the following members:

Jeffrey Lindell, WPC Domestic Development Director (Chair)
Dragan Jovanovic, WPC Men''''s High Performance Director
Patrick Oaten, WPC Women’s High Performance Director
David Soul, BC Water Polo Association Executive Director
John Csikos Calgary Renegades Head Coach and former men’s National Team Head Coach
Cyril Dorgigné, Water Polo Saskatchewan Executive Director and Provincial Team Head Coach
Jymmi Kaye Demchuk, WPC Strategic Plan Implementation Manager and former Water Polo Saskatchewan Executive Director
Nishant Damani, Mavericks Water Polo Club and Youth (born in 1994) Women’s National Team Head Coach
O livier Bertrand, Water Polo Quebec Federation Technical Director

The Competition Review Group was tasked with leading a scientific and experiential based analysis of the current training and competition system, from grassroots to high performance, and provide recommended changes regarding a streamlined high performance development model, competition calendars for each LTAD stage that promotes the development of the athletic abilities through periodization, developmentally appropriate rules and equipment guidelines, guiding principles for each LTAD stage and overall principles to help guide each PSO through their own respective competition review.

Behaviour in sport is driven by competition, consequently, the importance of going through a competition review to implement LTAD principles and philosophies. Changing a culture is shifting ones thinking and paradigm. This is a process for water polo in Canada, an opportunity for all stakeholders from playground to podium to make a difference and provide water polo training and competition opportunities for all Canadians regardless of age, playing abilities, demographics and sociocultural and economic factors.