I am curious if you stack ranked the most meaningful championships to get as a player what they would be between Junior Olympics, Futures, Quicksilver, State Championship with their High School, or ODP championship. This is coming from a high school player perspective so I left out College championships.
Here is how our house ranked it.
I think this would be the top 5 but feel free to add something if you think I missed one.
Of the championships you’ve outlined, winning a HS championship (especially in California) is by far the peak. Playing in front of your classmates, parents and friends is the apex.
Your list looks good. JOs is top IMO because it is not limited to one state, and teams everywhere in the US make it their #1 event. Though Session 3 medals should probably not carry the same weight as Session 1 and 2.
What do we mean by state championship for those states without one, such as CA? Section championship?
I’d think it goes High School CIF Section championship (or state championship, if your state has one), then JO’s, then Futures. Would be cool if Quicksilver ascends, but I think it’s definitely behind the others. Not sure about ODP overall, but for those who make the Youth team, their World Championships probably supersede their club tournaments in terms of importance.
This subject has come up numerous times with conversations that I have had with players over the years, many of who have won at all levels. These are mostly players from CIF-SS, but also some from Northern California as well. A vast majority put a high school CIF Championship as their favorite pre-NCAA/Olympic water polo moment.
Quicksilver has not come up much in these conversations.
For those claiming CIF as top honors, did all of these athletes attend Cathedral Catholic or Newport? Sure there was an upset this past year and Cathedral lost, so I am sure those boys are on top of the world. That is an anomaly.
At least when it comes to JOs/club sports an athlete has a chance to try out for a team outside their immediate neighborhood and they aren’t imprisoned by their school district they happen to live in.
Alternately someone feels like a Div 1 or lower (not Open) win is anything other than a consolation prize?
My list, based on many conversations with coaches, players, and former players from Northern and Southern California, is the same as swimcoach’s, except I would place the Futures League ahead of the ODP championships.
Maybe we can ask the La Jolla boys what it was like playing in the CIF SD finals at their high school in front of their classmates and friends. There’s your answer.
CIF
Junior Olympics
Futures
CIF is by far #1. In the water polo hotbed of SoCal, prior to college, the top prize in polo is being CIF-SS Open Division Champion.
Yep. I am sure upsetting Cathedral has to feel mega. I guess attending one of the beach schools is the most elite thing someone can do and only the very best can afford it.
JO gold is #1 and imo it’s not even close
4 days of exhaustion leading to a National Title
That JO champ t shirt and gold the kids keep forever
(Then JO All American list comes out months later and sours it for half the team 
)
I’m not following the beach school logic. Winning a CIF championship is the pinnacle, regardless of proximity to the beach. Kids in the Bay Area (Moraga, Orinda, Atherton) are nowhere near the beach. Yet winning a CCS or NCS championship is epic. I would encourage anyone to check out any CIF championship (NorCal or SoCal).
Also, ask anyone who won both a CIF and a JO champ. 100% of them will tell you winning a CIF championship is better. It’s not even a real discussion.
Love the dialogue and debate. There is no right answer here. Kids are different. Everyone is right in this so I wouldn’t spend a ton of time convincing others. It’s all good.
CIF-Central Section entered the conversation
All good. I am sure it would be amazing to win CIF Open Div Championships. Just like every realtor says, “Location, location, location.”
US Club Championship’s has to be on this list. Some coaches will tell you that it carries more street cred than JO’s because JO’s is so watered down on day one whereas all the teams at US Club Championships are the Top teams only. This may not be true on the boy’s side anymore but certainly is on the girl’s side. I would rank
CIF Sectional Championship (not State)
Futures Super Finals
Junior Olympics
US Club Championships (Girls)
ODP National Championships
Really love this topic and discussion. I’ve always viewed CIF > JOs. Not too familiar with the rest of the club tournaments though. Just looking at rosters for like UCLA, Stanford, Cal, and USC, there seems to be more said about their HS accomplishments than JOs.
Not sure if that’s relevant or not, but something I did notice as my kids are starting to enter the college search.
interesting observation…I am on the CIF over JOs over futures train as well. will winning NL 18U get into this conversation at some point?
Club Champs have been added to the convo. NL 18u it may take atleast a cycle to mean much. Right now it feels more like an exhibition with a different roster each week.
Here is my humble opinion