Swimming World Presents “Boom Time: The Growth of USA Water Polo”

Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo

Boom Time: The Growth of USA Water Polo

USA Water Polo is expanding…but it is not without its share of growing pains.

USA Water Polo, the governing body for the sport in America, will take over the majority of pools in and around San Jose, Calif. next month for the 2018 edition of the Junior Olympics. For more than a week, almost 10,000 age group players will bound into 30 pools as their parents occupy all available hotel space in the vicinity of what has become the world’s largest polo tournament… and one of the largest youth sporting events in America.

The Junior Olympics—or “JOs” as it’s commonly known— are an increasingly popular phenomenon from May to July. Fully one quarter of the organization’s more-than-45,000 members will participate in regional and national competitions.

“(Junior Olympics) is our signature event—an opportunity for our members to compete on the national stage,” said USA Water Polo Chief Membership and Management Officer Stephanie Krogius with pride. “It allows for the athletes and their families to be part of something bigger.”

There’s been impressive growth in membership, consisting primarily of athletes ages 8-18, who compete for clubs all over the country. Krogius noted that, since 2006, membership has doubled in size.

To learn more about the growth that USA Water Polo is experiencing, check out the June 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

[PHOTO COURTESY: THE LEDECKY FAMILY]

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Take a look inside Swimming World’s June 2018 issue:

FEATURES

016 PLENTY AT STAKE
by David Rieder
Although the Americans will not be facing all of the world’s best swimmers this year as they do during an Olympic or World Championship year, so much is on the line at this summer’s Pan Pacific Championships— including U.S. team selection for the 2019 international meets.

020 BOOM TIMES
by Michael Randazzo
USA Water Polo is expanding…but it is not without its share of growing pains.

023 LONG SWIM THE QUEEN
by Bruce Wigo
Queen Elizabeth II, now 92, used to be quite the swimmer. Those who saw her swim described her as a “very strong and graceful swimmer,” and she inspired many other children in the British Empire to follow her good example.

024 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH MARGO GEER
by Annie Grevers

026 THE NEXT CHAPTER
by Annie Grevers
After two years of college at Stanford University and two NCAA team championships—and with two years remaining before the 2020 Olympics— Katie Ledecky, the world’s greatest women’s swimmer, is transitioning into life as a professional swimmer.

030 NUTRITION: AROUND THE TABLE WITH LIA NEAL
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JACK SIMON
by Michael J. Stott

014 STAYING FOCUSED
by Rod Havriluk
Swimmers who want to swim faster must continually focus on technique. However, even those with the best intentions face many obstacles to maintaining focus throughout a team training session. This article suggests strategies that can help.

032 SWIM BENCHES: THE COACHES’ FRIEND
by Michael J. Stott
This installment is the second in a multi-part series in which Swimming World explores the role of swim benches in dedicated training.

039 SPECIAL SETS: REACH FOR THE (BIG) SKY!
by Michael J. Stott
Great things are happening in Big Sky Country. In December, Montana’s Ethan Harder and Katharine Berkoff became the state’s first-ever junior national swimming champions.

042 Q&A WITH COACH TOM HIMES
by Michael J. Stott

043 HOW THEY TRAIN BETH BOTSFORD
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

038 DRYSIDE TRAINING: FIT AND FAST FOR SUMMER
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

035 GOLDMINDS: MAIN SET RESET
by Wayne Goldsmith
Over the past few years, there has been a big change in swimming coaching—and more specifically, a revolution in the way main sets are being completed.

045 UP & COMERS: DAWSON JOYCE
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
046 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

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