Where To Begin: In late-2003, East Bay Masters
originated as a co-ed group of water polo enthusiasts of all ages and
skill levels who wanted to establish a team for the East San Francisco
Bay region of Vallejo to Fremont, which was otherwise sparsely
populated with masters’ teams. After obtaining enough people, the East
Bay Masters (formerly known as XX-XY) obtained 501(c) non-profit status
in June 2004. Ever since, it has looked to provide an excellent place
to play their most beloved game and foster professional contacts and
friendships. Underlying East Bay Masters’ mission to promote the sport
is its desire to provide a venue where anyone who wants to play water
polo can do so in an informal yet competitive setting.
Homebase: The club practices at the El Cerrito
Community Center in El Cerrito, CA on Tuesdays and Thursdays from
7:30pm to 9:30pm and on Sundays from 4pm to 6pm.
Age Groups and Coaches: The club is coached by Matt
Maclear who spends his days as a district attorney while the club has
around 50-70 players both male and female. Since 2004 over 200 athletes
have become members.
Who do they play?: The club hosts the annual "Eastbay
Masters Classic" in October or November and its one of if not the only
co-ed friendly tournament in Northern California. In addition the club
plays in any local tournaments they can get their hands on and has hit
the road to Vegas, Arizona, Seattle, Masters Nationals and Masters
World Championships. Furthermore the club hopes to get on the
international scene with a trip to the Netherlands in 2009.
See how they grow: Since their start in 2003 the club
has seen membership quadruple and they hope those numbers to continue
to rise. The club gets a good deal of support from the Cal Club players
who they can scrimmage on a regular basis. In addition the backing of
the El Cerrito Community Center has been huge as they just recently
installed lights to allow night practices at the facility.
Five years from now: East Bay hopes to keep growing
and competing nationally and internationally. They'd like to expand
their teams, build a tradition for the club in the local area, and
lastly find a way to beat those guys and girls over at The Olympic Club
A place for everyone: One of the strong points of East
Bay is they are an Ellis Island of masters water polo. They will take
on former collegiate players, swimmers, international players, someone
looking to get back in shape, or people who are trying the sport for
the first time. With that in mind they really are a full service
masters club.