Our Origin

Founded in 2024, the Georgia Water Polo League (GWPL) was established with a clear mission: to safely, effectively, and strategically grow the sport of water polo across the city of Atlanta and within the state of Georgia. A group of coaches, Masters-level athletes, and parents came together, partnered with USA Water Polo, and founded the GWPL to advance these ideals.

In its inaugural year, the GWPL quickly gained traction. Seven Georgia water polo clubs joined the league, forming 19 teams in total. This rapid growth was a direct response to the community's need for a more structured and supportive water polo environment. In addition to regular season games in a Boys division, Girls division, and Developmental division, the GWPL also hosted Splashball clinics, which are specifically designed by USA Water Polo to introduce the basics of water polo to beginners aged 6-11. The GWPL believed that an early entry to the sport was key for long-term growth and skill building for athletes.

Our Mission

The vision of the Georgia Water Polo League is to expand water polo programming in the state of Georgia, the long-term goal of making it a varsity sport. 

The mission of the Georgia Water Polo League is to provide a structured and inclusive platform for student-athletes to compete, develop their skills, and build character through the sport of water polo, inspiring a lifelong passion for the sport. 

Our Methods

Our Objectives 

  • Foster community amongst student athletes 

  • Increase number of programs by 5% yearly

  • Increase water safety for youth in Georgia 

Our Strategies

  • Facilitate the creation of new water polo programs, first in schools in Atlanta, and then in other cities across Georgia

  • Prioritize geographical designations for athletes in order to grow local program strength to strengthen water polo holistically in Atlanta and beyond

  •  Partner with local swim leagues to identify interested geographic regions and provide targeted outreach 

  • Include Club leadership in league-wide discussion + voting to engage all stakeholders in decision-making

Benefits of USAWP

We chose to partner with USA Water Polo to provide a safe environment for athletes, with the ultimate goal of growing water polo throughout Georgia. The USA Water Polo organization assists with these initiatives through various programs which include introductory play via the Splashball program, club and league activity, premier regional and national tournaments, the U.S. Olympic high performance program, a commitment to safe play via SafeSport and extensive opportunities for players, coaches and referees to learn new technical skills. In addition to these foundational elements USA Water Polo oversees over 50,000 members and 500+ clubs across the United States as the largest water polo governing body. Its focus on regional growth and willingness to help fund and partner with new clubs and leagues across the country provides GWPL with an experienced playbook and strong financial backing to develop and expand into the future.