The National Varsity polls are compiled based upon the votes of a select and informed committee comprised of varsity head coaches and sports information directors.

To guarantee clarity and an unbiased result, each poll has a unique set of pollsters that rank the teams. For example, there are 10 pollsters that rank the varsity Top 20 polls and five that rank the Division III Top 10. These pollsters represent all areas of the country and are drawn from each of the conferences and independents that make up collegiate water polo.

Pollsters examine scores and rank teams in light of results submitted to the office. They are charged with ranking the teams to the best of their abilities without considering their subjective feelings about the strength of a team or individual factors affecting a team’s performance, such as injury or illness to specific athletes. Past history may affect the rankings, although the most recent scores bear more weight than earlier results.

Pollsters must be official representatives of their institutions and can be either coaches or staff from the institutions’ sports information or athletic communications office.

New pollsters are selected through a nomination process and chosen by the staff of the Collegiate Water Polo Association. Nominations are received from current pollsters, sports information directors and administrators at institutions.

Pollsters represent all regions of the United States.