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Ottawa Titans Water Polo Weekly Newsletter

January 9, 2008

Changes to Titan's Cup 2008

Message from Paul Massel, Titan's Competitive Director

The start of this year's Titan's Cup is fast approaching.  This tournament is our club's annual tournament for the U14 or Bantam age group.  It will be held the weekend of 25-27 January at the Nepean Sportsplex.  Twenty or more teams from Ontario and Quebec will be in attendance and we are looking forward to a fun, active and busy weekend of water polo for all who are involved.

The format for this year's competition is reflective of the changes in the direction the sport is taking for this age group as agreed to with the Ontario Water Polo Association.  This year's format will be a combination of AA coed teams divided up into 3 divisions and playing a round robin within each of those divisions, and one A division made up of teams of younger Atom age players also playing a round robin within the division.  With such a large pool of teams the tournament will involve two games going on at the same time across the pool, running time.

The objective of this tournament is to emphasize skill development and play time vice tactics and competitiveness.  The consequences are that players are being asked to not hold players off the ball; coaches are being asked to coach the bench and not the players in the pool; shot clocks will not be used in this tournament; and there will not be an overall championship round after the round robin.  All these changes are being made to better promote playing and enjoying the sport for the many learning and growing players who make up this important age group.

The Tournament Director, Sue Sidebottom, has been busy planning and organizing this event and will be relying upon many volunteers in various capacities to make the event run smoothly.

Sue's note: Volunteers are still needed for pool set-up late Friday afternoon, someone to run the 50/50 draw, and someone to assist making an additional kickout board.  Please contact me ( ssidebottom@gmail.com) for details or to volunteer, thanks!  Boris Hristov ( borishristov@rogers.com) will be coordinating the volunteer list for minor officials.


Kasia Hart Recipient of OUA Women of Influence Award

"Jennifer Brenning, Director of Recreation & Athletics is pleased to announce Kasia Hart, Women's Water Polo, is Carleton University's 5th recipient of the OUA Women of Influence Award. Each OUA school nominates a student-athlete from one of its Varsity Women's Programs as the school's Women of Influence. Kasia along with her 18 colleagues will be honoured at a Luncheon, in Toronto, on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008." For the full press release, please go to:  http://www2.carleton.ca/goravens/news/?p=548 . The Titans congratulate Kasia on being the recipient of this prestigious award. We are very proud of you!


Children's Fitness Tax Credit
Titans are in the process of preparing and distributing receipts for the Children's Fitness Tax Credit, and you will receive these by end of February at the latest.  "To be eligible for the children's fitness tax credit, the fees must be paid for a child who is under 16 at any time in the year."  Athletes born in 1991 and later are eligible for the 2007 tax year. You can claim a maximum of $500 per child. Titans are able to issue a receipt for income tax purposes for amounts paid in 2007 only. Amounts paid in 2006 do not qualify, even if all or part of the activity takes place in 2007.  Note that you may receive two receipts, as the Titans are issuing receipts for ILWP/ Rec House League/ Teen Polo/ Summer Camp in one batch, and Competitive programs in a separate batch. If you have questions/ concerns about your receipt, please contact Titans General Manager Deanna Barry at INFO@titanswaterpolo.ca or 613-741-1224. For further information on the Children's Fitness Tax Credit, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness/


Bantam Athletes Visit CAEM Sunday January 6th
Submitted by Greg Sidebottom

The Titans put together two balanced bantam teams, the J team coached by Jen and the B team coached by Blake, for a visit to CAEM last weekend.  Bringing back memories of trips to the Montreal metro league in years past, 19 kids and several parents piled into a yellow school bus for the trip to a 1pm to 5pm Sunday time slot at the CAEM pool.  Our teams played one game each against two CAEM teams, and then finished up with two more 15 minute games for those who still had energy.   The Titans usually kept it close in the first half of the games, but the CAEM teams proved to be stronger this weekend.  But as Blake said, there were lots of good things happening out there, and there were smiles all around on the ride home as it was a fun trip.

Titans Merchandise Sale

The Titans will be holding a merchandise sale at the Nepean Sportsplex on the following days:
  • Saturday, January 26th from 10am - 4pm
  • Sunday January 27th from 10am to 2pm
As always, sales are by cash or cheque only.  Any questions about merchandise can be sent to Christine at equipment@titanswaterpolo.ca.


Newsletter Submissions

If you would like to contribute an item to the newsletter, please send your submission to Sue Sidebottom at news@titanswaterpolo.ca .  Any submissions received before noon on Wednesday will go out with that week's news.   Photos from tournaments or other club events are always welcome.