Philadelphia Family Festival Information

Festival Overview

American Water Polo recognizes the stresses families are under in today’s society. Sports for children can inadvertently add to these stresses by creating competitions that are appealing to a small segment of the family, resulting in the parents choosing between attending as a group at the expense of those not competing, or splitting the family in order to allow one of their children to participate. To combat this dilemma, American Water Polo created the Family Festival. This concept is new for the sport of water polo and is meant to provide something for everyone in the family, regardless of age. Held in a location appealing to a wide variety of interests and recreational pursuits, the Family Festival provides competition, education, and recreation for individuals of all ages.

The program is divided into three basic areas: recreation, education, and competition.

Competition
The Family Festival centers on a water polo tournament that includes competition in the following age groups for boys and girls: 12 & under, 15 & under, 18 & under. Each team is guaranteed four games, with game times occurring between 9 AM and 7 PM each day to ensure families have a chance to enjoy the recreational opportunities in the area.

Education
Throughout the Family Festival, seminars will be available to parents, coaches, and athletes featuring a variety of educational topics. Each seminar will be offered at least once during the event. All seminars last 30 minutes.

Recreation
Part of every Family Festival is a recreational component that appeals to individuals of all ages. At American Water Polo, we want to provide activities that interest siblings not involved in the competition, as well as ensure that those with disabilities are able to participate.

The Philadelphia Family Festival features recreational swim times available to all family members throughout the tournament. In addition, all participants will receive free admission and refreshments to the movie of their choice at a local theatre Saturday night.

Event Management
American Water Polo will coordinate all games. A championship program will be printed and made available throughout the event. Results from the competition will also be posted on the web site, along with a summary article at the close of the tournament. Teams may also request that results be forwarded to their local media as well.

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Date
The tournament will be held July 30-August 1, with games beginning early Friday. Game times are expected to be from 9:00 A. M. to 7:00 P. M. to allow time to enjoy the historic and recreational opportunities found in Philadelphia.

Location
The tournament will be held at two pools just five minutes apart. Villanova University, 30 minutes from the Philadelphia airport and 20 minutes from downtown Philadelphia, will serve as the main site of competition. The Haverford School will provide additional pool time for games with the older age brackets. Directions to each location are available by clicking the appropriate link below.

Haverford
Villanova

Accommodations
Sleep Inn / Mainstay Suites
440 American Avenue
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Contact Tara Murawski for reservations -- 215-238-1046
AWP room rate is $69 per night.

Includes complimentary breakfast. Conveniently located off the King of Prussia exit of the PA Turnpike, just minutes from Villanova University.

For a link to this hotel, click here.

Ground Transportation
Teams wishing to book car rentals may do so through any of the major dealers or through Kulp Car Rentals at a discount. Call Chris or Craig at 610-272-6277 for more details. Prices:

Cars: $28.95/day
Minivans: $64.95/day
15 Passenger vans: $129.95/day

Movie Night
All participants will receive refreshments and free admission to a movie of their choice on Saturday July 31, 2004. Individuals wishing to include friends and family may purchase tickets for a nominal cost.

Where: UA King of Prussia Stadium
300 Goddard Blvd, King of Prussia, PA
610-337-0282

Cinema is located just behind the King of Prussia Plaza on Goddard Boulevard. When traveling from the pool, take Lancaster Avenue south to 476 north. Exit 16 B and take 76 west. Exit at 328A which is 202 South/422 West. Merge onto West Dekalb Pike. Take your first left and then continue straight through the light onto Mall Blvd. Cinema is ahead on your left.

For a complete listing of the movies, go to their web site, click here.

Fastest Shot Contest
All athletes are eligible to participate. Winners will be determined in each age group. To enter the contest, athletes must purchase a ticket for $1 and register for a time to record their shots. Tickets may be purchased at the registration desk.

Each ticket provides the athlete with three shots. Each shot is recorded and the highest one is kept. Athletes may enter as many times as they desire.

The individuals in each age group at the close of the contest with the fastest recorded shots will receive a certificate.

Nearby Attractions
In addition to Philadelphia's numerous historical landmarks and tourist attractions downtown, including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Penns Landing riverfront, the region boasts fantastic shopping at the King of Prussia Plaza, one of the largest malls in the nation. Likewise, the surrounding area offers several historical and recreational opportunities including Valley Forge National Park, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, Six Flags Great Adventure, Camden Aquarium, and the world renowned Longwood Gardens. Philadelphia is also only 50 miles from Atlantic City, New Jersey, offering famous performers and entertainers, as well as beautiful ocean beaches.

Awards
In order to promote athlete self esteem, every participant will receive a participation award for taking part. In addition, athletes on the top three teams in each division will receive medals signifying their achievement.

Competitive Age Brackets
Competition will be offered in the following age groups: (brackets may be revised, dependent upon teams registered)

Each division will be guaranteed four games and will use NCAA rules with one timeout per half (to keep the games running on time). All competition will use the Arena ball (primary sponsor).

Rosters/Eligibility
Teams must turn in a roster prior to the event. Roster size is unlimited and athletes may compete in as many age levels as desired. However, coaches must realize that game times may conflict. Competitor's age is determined by the year of competition. For example, an 18 & under may not turn 19 at any time in 2004.

Athlete Registration Information
All participants in the competition will be required to be American Water Polo members. Registration information is available by clicking here, or teams may sign up at the site. No athlete will be permitted to compete without proof of membership and cards will be checked at the door.

USWP Members
We welcome USWP members! Unfortunately, unlike American Water Polo insurance that covers you wherever you play, USWP’s insurance will not cover their athletes unless they are playing at a USWP event. In order to solve this problem, AWP created a discounted plan that will provide insurance coverage. Therefore, athletes that have already registered as USA Water Polo members may purchase an AWP Limited Membership for just $15 (with proof of USWP membership). This Limited Membership will not provide full benefits or a shirt, but will provide insurance.

All Limited members must register by mail (not online) and should include a copy of their USWP membership card. Registration information can be found by clicking here.

Spectator Costs
American Water Polo is a non profit organization. All proceeds from the event are used to defray costs involved in conducting the activities. Entry fees and ticket prices are therefore a necessary requirement to ensure the event can offer a quality program to all in attendance.

Ticket Prices
Tournament participants are free to attend all educational seminars and recreational activities, including the recreational swim times. Spectators have the option of purchasing one of the following ticket plans:

Deluxe Family Package $40
Includes admission to all games, educational seminars, and movie night for unlimited number of immediate family members not participating in the tournament.

Basic Family Package $15
Includes admission to all games and seminars for unlimited number of immediate family members not participating in the tournament.

Deluxe Individual $15
Provides admission to all games and seminars for the pass holder, including the movie night (not transferable).

Basic Individual $5
Includes admission to all games and seminars for the pass holder (not transferable).

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Game Schedule

Spectators, parents, and siblings of competitors are welcome to swim during the recreational times indicated in red.

Click here to view the master schedule and final results

Click here to view the all-Tournament Team

Competitive Format Explanation

18 & Under and 15 & Under Divisions
Each division follows a five-team championship format that includes two brackets seeded completely at random. All team names were written on paper and then drawn for their respective seeds.

12 & Under Division
This division plays round robin one time to determine the seeding of the two championship round games. The teams with the best records at the end of Saturday's competition will play for First Place and the remaining two for Third Place.

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All Tournament Teams
Teams are selected by the coaches. The athletes receiving the most votes are named to the all-Tournament Team, while athletes receiving votes from more than one coach are named to the Honorable Mention Team.

Entry Procedure and Costs

There are two basic costs involved in entering a team; athlete registration and team entry fee. You can determine the type of athlete registration necessary based on the membership plan desired.

Athlete Registration
All athletes must be registered members of American Water Polo in order to compete. For registration information, click here. You may register by mail or online using your credit card. Every athlete registering as a full member receives a shirt.

If you are already a USWP member, you are eligible for a Limited Membership for a cost of $15. Athletes registering for a Limited Membership must provide a photocopy of their current registration card when they join and must register by mail.

Entry Fee
Each team entered in the Philadelphia Family Festival must pay a $395 entry fee. Athletes participating on more than one team may request a complimentary guest coupon for the movie night. Entry deadline is July 1st or until the specific age bracket is filled, whichever comes first.

Click here for an entry form you can print and send with your check.

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Seminar Schedule
Each seminar will last approximately 30 minutes and admission is included with your ticket price. In addition, all coaches and athletes are admitted free. All seminars will be held at Villanova University in the classroom adjacent to the pool. To get to the classroom, go through the door located underneath the main scoreboard.

For information about the seminar or the presenter, simply click on the topic or name.

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Rules Orientation; Tom Parisi
Session will cover the basic rules of the sport to help you understand what you are seeing and to answer the eternal question..."What are all the whistles about???"

Injury Prevention for Water Polo Athletes; Dr. Mike Duch
Discussion will cover some basic safeguards to reduce the chance for injury specific to water polo.

College Admissions Advice; Dan Sharadin
This session will focus on the myths surrounding college admissions and recruiting, in addition providing tips on what to do as a college recruit.

Water Polo Conditioning & Drills; Rudy and Sue Ruth
Session will discuss how to incorporate drills to achieve conditioning and strength for water polo.

Strength Training for Younger Athletes; Shawn Cooley
Topic will cover the do's and don'ts of training younger athletes in a safe and injury free manner.

Study Techniques and Time Management; Allyson Watson
Session will provide some great tips for students regarding how to manage their time commitments and get the most out of their study time.

Seminar Speakers

Shawn Cooley
Shawn Cooley has worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the University of Cincinnati and Drexel University before coming to Villanova University. He has a Masters Degree from Villanova and a BS & BA from Marietta College.

Dr. Mike Duch
A graduate of Villanova University and Temple University, Dr. Duch is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in knees and shoulders. He has competed in the sport of water polo for over 20 years.

Tom Parisi
Tom Parisi serves as the Director of PA officials on the high school level. He has been involved in the sport for over 20 years, including his days as an athlete at Villanova University. He understands the perspective of a parent, with several children of his own involved in the sport.

Rudy Ruth
Rudy Ruth graduated from West Chester University and began his foray into coaching, leading to numerous PA State and Eastern Championships and his selection as the USWP Developmental Coach of the Year. He currently serves as the State Chairman for high school water polo in Pennsylvania.

Sue Ruth
Sue Ruth works as a licensed Physical Therapist and has been an avid coach and volunteer in the sport for years.

Dan Sharadin
Dan Sharadin graduated from West Virginia University and has worked in all facets of the sport since that time. He founded American Water Polo in January, 2003, having worked previously as Collegiate Director for United States Water Polo. He currently serves as Commissioner of the Collegiate Water Polo Association, a member conference of the NCAA. Sharadin has coached at all levels, from age group to college.

Allyson Watson
A graduate of Bucknell University, Allyson works as the Director of After School Programs for the West Philadelphia Community Center. She has also served as a Villanova University Academic Mentor. Her involvement in the sport includes both coaching and playing on the collegiate and age group levels and she currently serves as the Head Coach for the Greater Philadelphia Water Polo Club.