About Us

Club Culture

We are a budding water polo program that combines fundamentals and the joy of competition in order to develop the best possible athletes and people. At Palms Water Polo, our priorities are safety, sportsmanship, and fun. Everyone deserves to enjoy the sport of water polo in a positive and encouraging environment. We do not yell at athletes nor do we tolerate disparaging comments or actions from anyone involved in the program. Our belief is that athletes should be developed into creative thinkers who play to the situation, not to a one-dimensional position.

Club Structure

We welcome all experience and skill levels at Palms Water Polo, and offer our athletes the first week of practices free in order for them to really get an idea of whether water polo and our team are right for them!
Our age group/gender structure is as follows:

*NOTE: Players under the age of 8 will be allowed to participate following a water safety evaluation and using coach discretion 

Meet the Coach

Paul Rave
Head Coach

Paul started his aquatics career as a swimmer at the age of 3. He soon switched to water polo where he excelled as both a goalie and a field player.

As a club and high school player, he was the starting goalie for the Navy Aquatics Club that finished first at Junior Nationals and second at Junior Olympics in 1995. The following year, he was the MVP of the Eastern High School Championships as a field player while also playing for the US National Youth team as a goalie. 

Paul continued his water polo career at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he was a 4 year letter winner for the Division I Gauchos as a field player. During his senior year, Paul was named captain and led the team in both goals and assists. 

   After graduating, Paul continued to spend time on the pool deck as a coach for the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club. His 18U boys captured the gold at the 2006 National Junior Olympics. Paul also coached at the Division I collegiate level; first as an assistant for the UCSB men’s and women’s teams alongside former Olympian, Wolf Wigo. During their tenure together, the men’s team achieved its first 20-win season since 1990 as well as two #6 standings in the national polls. 

Paul continued to coach Division I as the assistant coach at Bucknell University for the men’s and women’s teams. During his tenure, the women’s team achieved its first ever division title and the men’s team earned a spot in the division title game which was their best season finish in a decade.


Awards & Accolades

Club/High School (Navy):

Eastern High School Championships MVP

Gold - Junior National Championships 1995

Silver - Junior Olympics 1995


College (UCSB):

UCSB MVP, 2000

UCSB Team Captain, 2000

McCormick Memorial Leadership Award, 2000 

SBART Men's College Water Polo Athlete of the Year, 2000


US National Team:

Member of Youth Team, 1996


Coaching (UCSB, Bucknell, SBWPC):

UCSB Assistant Coach 2006-2008

UCSB Interim Head Coach

Bucknell University Assistant Coach, 2008-2010

Bucknell University Interim Head Coach

CWPA Southern Division Champions, 2010 (Women’s)

CWPA Southern Division Runner-Up, 2010 (Men’s)

SBWPC Head Coach Boys’ 18U

Gold - Junior Olympics, 2006

Silver - National Club Championships, 2006

Silver - Winterfest Tournament, 2006