Development Centres AB

Alberta’s Regional Development Centers

Alberta is home to two National Development Centers: The Calgary Legacy Centre and the Edmonton Regional Development Centre. These centers support athletes in the high performance pathway and operate from October through May. As the only province in Canada with two National Development Centers, these programs illustrate Alberta Water Polo Associations’s (AWPA) commitment to supporting high performance athletes. AWPA supports the training centers through financial subsidies, Age Group National Team (AGNT) athlete scholarships, managing the operations of the development centers, and through routine meetings with the Water Polo Canada (WPC) Pathway Manager to ensure program alignment with the National Athlete Development RDC. These Regional Development Centers are jointly supported by Water Polo Canada and AWPA who work together closely to ensure their success, alignment and implementation.

For more information and questions on the Alberta National Development Centers please contact the Alberta Water Polo Executive Director (Dayna Christmas) at office@albertawaterpolo.ca.

Benefits of the Alberta National Development Centers

The Alberta development centers were founded in 2017 and since their inauguration have boosted high performance opportunities and success in Alberta. A few of these program highlights include:

• Countless Alberta athletes advancing to play university (OUA and NCAA) and/or pursue professional water polo careers.
• Alberta representation on ALL Canadian Age Group National Teams (AGNT) since 2017.
• Development and support to various Team Alberta coaches who went on to coach at with National Team programs.
• A regional training center for numerous Senior National Team athletes including Olympians Kyra Christmas, Kelly Mckee and Kindred Paul.

• Personal skill development in a team environment

Through the development centers AWPA is able supplement the training environment of Alberta’s high performance athletes; building on an already strong competitive club system with the Calgary Renegades, Calgary Torpedoes and Edmonton Tsunami. Youth athletes participating in the development centers receive the following benefits:

1. Increased weekly/monthly training time, intensity and skill repetition.
2. Alignment with the Canadian LTAD framework.
3. Opportunities to work with National Team coaches and programmers.
4. Delivery of National Team training content such as technical skills and tactical philosophies.
5. Eligibility for Age Group National Team (AGNT) selection. All Alberta athletes looking to be considered for an AGNT must participate in their local development center.
6. National Team scouting opportunities.
7. Access to AGNT athlete scholarships (more information coming winter 2024).
8. Compliance and alignment with the WPC National Team Identification process. 
9. A training base for Alberta’s National Team identified pipeline athletes during holidays and training breaks.

Who can participate in the Alberta Development Centers?

For the 2023-2024 season athletes interested in the Calgary Legacy Center and Edmonton Regional Development Center but meet the following requirements:

• Born in 2009 and earlier.
• Be a registered and active member with Water Polo Canada, Alberta Water Polo at “Competitive” level insurance.
• Affiliated with an Alberta High Performance Club (ie. Calgary Renegades, Calgary Torpedoes or Edmonton Tsunami).
• Youth athletes (grades 12 and under) must compete in the Canadian National Championship League (NCL).
• An athlete who has not registered with the RDC in the past can sign up for the first 2 weeks and if the coach/athlete feels this training opportunity is suitable, athletes will register and pay for the season.

Calgary Legacy Centre

In Calgary the Legacy Centre offers weekly training opportunities for athletes. These sessions take place before school and on weekends. Athletes involved in this program are encouraged to take a first period space if possible.

Weekly Practice Schedule:

•  Tuesday/Thursdays 7-8:30am & Saturdays 9:30-11am
• Starts October 16th 2023

Coaches: Andrew Muir/ Gyula Toth/ guest coaches to substitute 

Training Location: MNP Community & Sport Centre

Cost: $575.00 

Free-Trial Opportunity: At the start of each RDC season first-time athletes are eligible to trial two-weeks with the Legacy Training Centre free of cost. This trial will allow athletes to see if the schedule and training structure is a good fit. This trial period also allows for the coaches to assess the skill level of the interested athlete to ensure it is an appropriate training environment for them. For the 2023-2024 RDC season, the Calgary trial dates will be October 16-28th.

Register Here

Edmonton Regional Development Center (RDC)

RDC was restructured in 2023 to follow a hybrid format with each Sunday practice and a monthly camp format. These monthly camps consist of several sessions over a weekend including water training, dryland/weight room practices and additional high performance support (ex. sports psychology, goal setting, nutrition, etc).

2023/2024 Camp Dates:

• Oct 20-22, 2023/ Nov. 17-19, 2023/ Dec. 27-29, 2023/ Jan. 6-7, 2024/ Feb. 9-11th 2024/ April 12-14, 2024 

Coaches: Marina Radu Sundays/select weekends and guest coaches

Training Location: Kinsmen Sports Centre

Cost: $575.00

Free-Trial Opportunity: At the start of each RDC season first-time athletes are eligible to attend the first Edmonton RDC training camp free of cost to trial the program. This trial will allow athletes to see if the schedule and training structure is a good fit. This trial camp also allows for the coaches to assess the skill level of the interested athlete to ensure it is an appropriate training environment for them. For the 2023-2024 season the Edmonton RDC free-trial camp will be held on October 20-22, 2023.

Register Here

Testimonials

“ RDC provided me with the opportunity to train with like-minded elite athletes and highly experienced coaches. By having extra hours in the pool with a smaller group, I received more technical feedback and learned more skills to further grow and develop in order to not only play but succeed at a higher level.”
- Alia Burlock University of Hawaii Class of 2026/ Junior National Team 2024

“I felt the RDC provided a solid program for Calgary’s high performance athletes. National level coaches demonstrate skills and drills to a more concentrated group of athletes at a more competitive level. It brings a higher quality experience, and helped me grow into a more disciplined athlete.”

• Liam Rodgers (Age Group National Athlete, 2023-24 France Men’s League)

“The Regional Development Centres, or Legacy Centres are a critical component of Water Polo Canada’s athlete pathway. These centres seek to provide supplemental training opportunities for athletes who are aspiring to high performance water polo. Closely connected to Age Group National Team Programs (AGNT), content is delivered based off of opportunities identified at AGNT programs helping to drive athlete development across Canada.

Moreover, RDC programs are the first step of the athlete pathway and must be attended for athletes wishing to make provincial teams and National Teams. Here, they will receive the latest National Team curriculums while being evaluated periodically throughout the season.

• Andrew Muir Water Polo Canada Senior Manager Leagues & Pathway

AWPA Athlete Exemption Form 2021-22