Championships

Are parents and fans permitted to stay at the league hotel for a discount?
The choice of hotels is up to the individual, but the CWPA wants our parents and fans to have the same opportunities to locate housing for a discounted rate at competitive sites throughout the country. We invite you to take advantage of this great offer by making reservations within the same room blocks available to our teams. To make reservations, simply click on the Fans link and then Hotels Reservation to learn which hotels have been booked for the weekend.

Whom should I call during the tournament if problems arise?
Every effort should be made to contact the Commissioner or the Director of Officials. The 24 hour line for the Director of Officials is 610-662-6464.

Who makes the rules for the CWPA?
The CWPA is governed by a legislative process in which every member institution has a vote. This means that the membership itself determines the policies and rules by which it is governed. To enforce the policies, the membership elects a Board of Directors that serve two-year terms.

How do I file a protest?
The coach wishing to protest the game must make a written statement within 15 minutes of the close of the game, outlining the problem. Protests can only pertain to a misapplication of the rules or errors in recording information. They may not refer to judgments made by the officials. Once signed, the head referee will immediately convene the tournament committee which is comprised of the head referee (chair), the two referees on the game (unless involved in the protest), the two coaches involved in the next game, and the tournament host. One additional non-working official can serve as a replacement for a referee that needs to be disqualified. In addition, the head referee may use his discretion in replacing other members of the tournament committee that are either not available, or disqualified due to the protest. The decision made by the committee is final for the purpose of the tournament. The NCAA rule book also specifies the procedure.

How do I handle a protest filed?
Contact the Head Referee immediately. He will assume responsibility for handling the protest.

Who has the final say during a tournament?
In the absence of the Commissioner, Director of Officials or Communications, the Tournament Committee has the final say. Every effort should be made to contact one of these individuals. The 24 hour line for the Director of Officials is 610-662-6464. The tournament Committee is comprised of the head referee (chair), the two referees on the game (unless involved in the protest), the two coaches involved in the next game, and the tournament host. One additional non-working official can serve as a replacement for a referee that needs to be disqualified. In addition, the head referee may use his discretion in replacing other members of the tournament committee that are either not available, or disqualified due to a conflict of interest.

How is the schedule determined?
Each division determines how many games they want to play and on what dates, during an annual conference call. Unless otherwise determined by the teams involved, sites are selected using a rotation schedule in which every team has a turn to host.

What do I do with the official game scoresheets?
At the conclusion of each game, the opposing coaches receive the yellow and pink copies. The white copies should be saved and mailed back to the CWPA office at the conclusion of the tournament. Hosts should also email scores for each tournament game to office@collegiatewaterpolo.org.

Who runs the National Collegiate Club Championships?
The Division III National Collegiate Club Championships is run by the CWPA, for CWPA teams. The National Collegiate Club Championship is run jointly by the Big Ten Conference and the CWPA. The National Collegiate Club Championships has no direct affiliation with United States Water Polo or the NCAA. Each conference executive receives one vote in the determination of any issue affecting policy. During the actual tournament, the Tournament Committee serves as the authority to decide competitive issues as they relate to the current championship.



How are referees assigned?
Officials are sent an availability form before the season, listing all of the dates and sites. They are asked to return the form listing where and when they would like to work, prioritizing their selections. The Director of Officials, in consultation with the Commissioner and Technical Director, assigns the officials based on ability and preference. The CWPA endeavors to give every official their first or second choice each weekend.