Varsity Competition

Athletes must meet all NCAA requirements

Club Competition

Players must be full-time students at the institution they represent in order to be eligible for CWPA competition. Teams may allow full-time graduate students to play. Only the New York Men's Division and North Atlantic Men's Division permit full-time staff and professors to participate as athletes. In the New York Division these individuals may not compete in the division championship.

In the Sierra Pacific and Pacific Coast Men's and Women's Divisions, no player that has participated on a varsity water polo team for more than two years may play for that same school's club team, regardless of class level (Graduate or Undergraduate). Participation is defined as having played in at least one game as a varsity athlete during any portion the academic year. Athletes are not considered varsity participants during a Redshirt year.

Minimum number of games

Each participant in the division and national championship tournaments is required to be present and listed on the roster for at least 50% of the regular season games in which his/her team competes. This rule shall only apply to divisions that have more than one regular season tournament.

An athlete may appeal to the Commissioner and CWPA Board of Directors if there are extenuating circumstances such as injury, major illness, etc.

"B" Teams

Institutions fielding more than one team must declare their rosters before the beginning of the first game of the season. Athletes may move from the "B" team to the "A" team but may not move from the "A" team to the "B" team. All athletes are eligible to compete at Nationals should either team qualify.

When an "A" team plays a "B" team from the same institution, the score is recorded 5-0 in favor of the "A" team, to prevent any manipulation of goal differentials.

Women competing during coed season

If a member institution fields a full squad in the women's season, that same institution may not field a team comprised of more than 50% women during the men’s season of competition.

Financial Standing

A team will not be scheduled unless all league fees are paid from prior seasons.