Programs

Swim2Score is a program unique to Central Texas* where we invite athletes ages 5-11 to weekly one-hour sessions in which 30 minutes are dedicated to teaching proper stroke technique for competitive swimming, and 30 minutes to water polo-related games. We want provide young AquaTex athletes the opportunity to give both disciplines a try in a really fun way with our well-trained coaches, who often join the kids in the pool.

Sessions take place in our South pool, where athletes can stand on the bottom if necessary but has plenty of deep water as well.

Any Novice, and select Junior swim athletes who are currently registered with AquaTex Swim Team are invited to attend Swim2Score sessions at no additional cost.

New athletes can try Swim2Score twice for free, after which we ask you to register with AquaTex. Fees upon registration are $30.00 per month for four hour-long sessions plus an annual club fee of $50.00 and annual US Swimming membership, which varies according to age.

*Our huge thanks to our friends at Pegasus Water Polo Academy in Dallas who directly inspired AquaTex’s Swim2Score programming.

If you’ve graduated from high school then yes, we believe it is!

First of all, masters water polo is simply a weekly time for scrimmaging. There is no specific training that takes place. AquaTex coaches are there to officiate and guide the scrimmage, including making sure that everyone gets a chance to play. But it is a mostly athlete-driven effort.

Any high school graduate is welcome to give it a try. We have athletes who are brand new to the sport and many who are very experienced, so you should fit no matter your skill level.

We do have ambitions to compete as AquaTex but currently partner with other local clubs to enter tournaments.

Anyone can give us a try twice for free after which you’ll be asked to register with the club. Regular participants are required to be current members of USA Water Polo. AquaTex fees are $35.00/month for four 90-minute sessions, plus a $50.00 annual club fee. Ask Coach James about a walk-in fee.

With the exception of our Swim2Score and two-practice trial athletes, yes. With your membership you can compete at (nearly) all USA Water Polo-sanctioned events. Plus it covers your insurance during practices. Affiliate your membership with AquaTex Waterpolo Club #24177. Swim2Score registrants will become members of USA Swimming. If and when an athlete plays in a USA Water Polo event he or she will be required to register with USAWP.

Any USAWP membership level is acceptable as long as it’s current. All memberships expire at the end of the calendar year. There is no prorating of fees. Here’s the lowdown on the different levels.

Bronze

The “entry level” membership, which will be valid for most tournaments in which we participate. Recommended for all our athletes. Masters (18+) athletes will be required to complete SafeSport training.

Gold

For athletes who plan to play at Junior Olympics, ODP, or other major events. You can upgrade from Bronze at any time so we recommend holding off on Gold until you’re committed to a specific Gold-level event.

Trial

A 14-day temporary membership (available only once in a lifetime and as first-time membership). Not allowed to participate in tournaments or events.

First of all, thanks for joining the club! There are a couple of things to do next.

1. Register with AquaTex

To register you must do so via the club’s Team Unify site.

Please note that you must register for one of the following specific water polo offerings:

• For all athletes age 11-18 who have not yet graduated from high school select “Water Polo” or “Swim/Polo” (see below). Do not select “Middle School,” “Junior,” or “Senior” as these and others like them are swim team groups, not water polo related.
  • If the athlete will be participating in both water polo AND competitive swimming, select “Swim/Polo.” Consult with Coach Mark first.
• Athletes age 5-11 should select “Swim2Score” unless instructed otherwise by coaches.
• Masters athletes – any high school graduate – must select “Masters Water Polo” and not any other masters product.

If you are or were registered members of AquaTex Swim Team, your profile is likely still in the system. Just let us know you want to start water polo and we’ll inform Coach Mark, who will change or resume billing via the Team Unify system.

Every member of AquaTex Swim and Water Polo Team must re-register every August. The annual fee is $50.

2. Join USA Water Polo

Except for Swim2Score athletes this is mandatory and covers the athlete’s insurance and allows him or her to compete at sanctioned events. See the FAQ above, “Is USA Water Polo Membership Required?” for more details.

3. Purchase AquaTex Team Uniform

We ask that all AquaTex athletes order a competition suit and one branded tee-shirt (black, white, powder blue) from our store. Financial aid is available to ensure all athletes have team uniforms.

After your two-practice trial, all athletes are required to register via the AquaTex Swim Team’s portal. All registered athletes are billed every  month automatically via credit card.

Almost. Every April the City of Round Rock does a month-long repair of Micki Krebsbach Pool. During repairs and any other time Micki is closed we practice at Lake Creek Pool in Round Rock. And we’re always looking to expand. Stay tuned.

While we believe in the #BeYourBest ethos we ask each 18u athlete to consider this:

Participation in AquaTex Water Polo is an obligation to your teammates and a commitment to each of their individual opportunities for development, as well as to your team and to yourself. AquaTex coaches understand that the club’s players are active and involved in many diverse and challenging activities, and we understand that conflicts may arise. We are committed to the development of well-rounded young athletes, so we understand when conflicts occasionally interfere with AquaTex events. In recognition of the commitment that our players have made to their teammates, all players and their parents should consider every practice, game and tournament to be as important to their teammates’ development as to their own.

Many teams require that athletes have attended at least two practices the week prior to any competition. We don’t have that requirement, but it is reasonable to expect that those who attend regularly will be more likely to play in competitive games.

Each year AQTX Waterpolo tries to host more events. They both offer local teams more chances to play and help raise funds that are vital to our growth. Families are expected to help with tournament setup, desk work, concessions, promotions, and more during competitions hosted at our home pool. You can expect to be contacted by our volunteer events management parents.

You’re in luck. AquaTex offers a program called Swim/Polo which allows an athlete to do both. Spots on the water polo team are highly available, but the swim team is almost always at near capacity. So contact AquaTex Head Coach Mark Parshall for more on the Swim/Polo program.

Our club is constantly trying to increase the amount of competition in which we participate whether in Texas or elsewhere so there are some common questions about how this works with AquaTex, it’s players, and families. We’ll try to address several of them here.

• Nearly all competition in which we participate is sanctioned by USA Water Polo. There are some “game days” that are hosted by local clubs without USAWP sanction. They can be considered something like very organized scrimmages.
• USA Water Polo membership for your athlete is required in order to play at all competition aside from Game Days and other things explicitly done at practice. The cost is approximately $45/calendar year for a “Bronze” level membership (required for participating with AquaTex too)
  • For certain major tournaments, especially Junior Olympics in the summer, a “Gold” membership is required. Families can wait to upgrade to Gold prior to a specific tournament.
• AquaTex charges each participating athlete approximately $75 per tournament. That includes at least four and sometimes five matches. That charge will vary slightly according to the costs associated with entering the tournament, paying coaches for time, travel, per diem, etc.
• Often we will partner with our friends from Longhorn Aquatics in Austin to combine athletes on a competitive roster. For administrative reasons we will often, but not always, compete as “Longhorn.”
  • Coaches at Longhorn and AquaTex are both aware that we will not combine rosters when numbers of athletes are sufficient for either club.
• Most tournaments are located in North Texas or Houston, which means families need to plan on traveling to them. AquaTex does not organize travel for families though we have parents who have been very helpful in doing so unofficially – finding rack rates at specific hotels, for example, or suggesting team meals at the tournament
• It has now become very common that AquaTex teams will have games early on the Saturday of the tournament. Our strong suggestion is that families book hotels for Friday and Saturday nights but leave the option to cancel if the schedule is favorable
  • Tournament hosts typically share tournament schedules by the Monday prior to competition
• AquaTex is a development program so we strongly encourage playing time for our athletes, most especially for our youngest athletes. We make no guarantees about how much an athlete will play but our focus is on giving them as much chance to compete as is reasonable.

We’re so glad you asked. Visit our Gear page for links to the RYTE Sport store and more.