The World Champion USA National Water Polo Team and the Chinese National Team arrive in San Mateo County this weekend.  College of San Mateo coach Randy Wright has arranged with USA Water Polo for both teams to train at College of San Mateo’s new aquatic facility over the coming week.  The teams will play exhibition games in the area just prior to the FINA World Super League Final and will headquarter at the Sofitel Hotel in Redwood Shores.

They will participate in a major exhibition event at CSM on Monday evening.

Schedule at CSM:

Daily practice sessions at CSM, Monday through Friday, June 21-25, 8 to 11 a.m. (except Thursday special PACE clinic, see below).  Individual 90-minute daily practice sessions for each national team.

Special events:

Monday evening, June 21,  5-8 p.m.:  USA and China combined public session at CSM, includes half court, scrimmage, and specific game-type competition situations.

8-9:30 p.m. (following USA vs. China session): CSM vs. Foothill College exhibition game.

Thursday morning, June 24, 8 a.m.-noon: USA Water Polo P.A.C.E. Clinic, followed by Q&A social with Team USA:

1-day clinic designed to introduce coaches and athletes to the USA “System of Play” in a fully interactive setting.

Open to all coaches and to athletes 10-18 years of age.  Registration includes ticket to Thursday evening’s USA vs. China game at Stanford.  Contact: pace@uswaterpolo.org.  (P.A.C.E. = Programs for Athletes and Coaches Education.)

National Team Series evening game schedule / USA vs. China:

Tuesday, June 22, 8:30 p.m.: USA vs. China at UC Davis, Schaal Aquatic Center.

Wednesday, June 23, 8 p.m.: USA vs. China at Dougherty Valley High School, 10550 Albion Rd., San Ramon.

Thursday, June 24, 7 p.m.: USA vs. China at Avery Aquatic Complex, Stanford.

Tickets for each game are $9 general admission; $5 for children, students, and seniors.

NOTES FROM USA WATER POLO:

The USA Women’s National Team is the reigning World Champions, their third title in the last decade.

From the other side of the world comes the Chinese Women’s National Team for a trio of exhibition matches in Northern California. The USA will take on China June 22 at the University of California-Davis, on June 23 at Dougherty Valley Aquatic Center in San Ramon,  and on June 24 at Stanford University.

China fell out of the top ten rankings following the 2009 World Championships — but has been competitive since hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. The two teams last met in Rome in 2009 at the World Championships, with Team USA victorious in group play.

Just days after completing their exhibition series the Team USA and China will to San Diego County for the 2010 FINA World League Super Final June 28-July 3, at the Coggan Family Aquatics Complex in La Jolla.  They will be  will be joined by six other elite women’s water polo squads.

The Super Final returns to U.S. soli for the first time since 2004 (at Long Beach).  Qualifying for the event has been taking  place throughout the spring to determine the final field.  The Super Final is expected to be the most competitive women’s event of 2010.
“The World League Super Final is undoubtedly the marquee event of the summer, as we will play host to the best 8 teams in the World,“ said USA Women’s Head Coach Adam Krikorian.  “With so much parity between the teams, every game  promises to be very competitive.”

USA NATIONAL SENIOR TEAM ROSTER