This Summer

Just a couple last minute announcements:

1) EVERYONE needs to play this summer. Even if it's part time, that's okay as I don't know of any club that requires 100% attendance. Most clubs are still having sign-ups and most start next Monday. PLEASE sign up to play for a club, ANY club. It's a simple fact that the more guys we have playing year round, the stronger our program will be. If you are having trouble or don't know where to start, send me an email or go to http://mowaterpolo.com and click on the "club teams" page. Personally, I coach for Jungle Cats and we will be practicing at Chaminade this summer.

2) There is a camp THIS WEEKEND at SLU that I think would be good for everyone. I don't know the coaching staff and this is their first camp in St. Louis, but they have really good credentials and it will be good for anyone to receive more coaching. I was promised that "the kids that are signed up will have an experience like none other." I will try and go on Sunday to meet the staff and check out what they are doing. Currently there are 20 spots available. This is their website: http://www.elitepolo.com/st_louis.html and I emailed all the CCP boys the brochure.

Summer Water Polo

I highly encourage everyone who wants to play water polo next year for Chaminade to play for a club this summer. There are a handful of clubs in the area and all have different advantages and disadvantages, but all are doing a good job at developing their players. The clubs that participate in the Strike Zone summer league are the ones I would recommend, and they are Daisy, Jungle Cats, Mad Dog and SLAP. Flyers is a good club as well, but I believe they don't have a club this summer because Lindbergh pool is under repair.

As for me, this summer will be my 5th summer coaching for Jungle Cat Water Polo. Jungle Cats was started when I was in high school by SLUH's varsity coach Paul Baudendistel and we just celebrated our tenth season. The last few years have been very successful as we have won the Strike Zone league three times straight and have gone out to California twice to participate in Junior Olympics. This summer, we will again be travelling to play in the Junior Olympics in Irvine, CA.

I would very much like everyone to play for a club, any club, as playing for a team and being coached year round exponentially increases a high school player's experience and ability. As I've said many times before, water polo in this city is not like soccer where everyone has been playing since they were 6 years old and by the time you reach high school you only get incrementally better each year. Since most kids START playing in high school, water polo is a sport in which you can increase your experience EXPONENTIALLY by playing during the offseason.

So again, PLAY this summer, for any club. There are different clubs with different practice times at different locations, so pick the one that is right for you. I will not play favorites to those who play for me at Jungle Cats.

FYI: Jungle Cats will be practicing at Chaminade this summer. Sign-ups have begun and more information can be found at http://junglecatpolo.com/

Summer Camps

Two different summer camps have come to my attention that I think might be worthwhile for some people.

University of Michigan Water Polo Camp: this camp is run by my former coach at Indiana Matt Anderson. With apologies to Don Casey, Charlie Busenhart and Paul Baudendistel, Matt is the best coach I have ever played for. He is the head coach of the Michigan women's team and has been a very successful boys coach as well. If you doubt his credentials, check out his bio on Michigan's website. I would highly recommend this camp, but travel is required obviously.

Elite Polo Camp: this is a camp run by guys with very good credentials, but whom I have never met so I can't personally recommend them. But, this camp is here in St. Louis and that is a big plus. Also, in St. Louis, just getting in the water makes you a better player, so there can be no harm in attending this camp (unless they teach bad habits, which I doubt).

These are just two of many camps across the nation and in town that you or your son can attend. My recomendation for this summer would be to play for a local club first and attend these camps only as a supplement to your development. These camps are short term and aren't subsititutes for routine practices and games that happen all summer long with St. Louis clubs.