Jake's Care Package

If anyone wants to send Jake any care packages his address is:

Cadet Jake Melia
P.O. Box 3686
USAF Academy CO 80841

Maybe some See's Candy!!!

Dandy

Dandy after a night out with the fellas...

NEW SCHEDULE!

CLUB TEAM -

Younger Club team is back at Whitney Ranch starting Sept 1st!
Tuesday and Thursday - 6:30-8:30pm Whitney Ranch
Friday - 6:30-8pm at Multi Gen

Older Club team stays the same with workouts -
Tuesday and Thursday and Friday - 6:30-8pm Multi Gen

LABOR DAY WEEKEND -
NO WORKOUT FOR ALL GROUPS ON SATURDAY SEPT 5th
NO WORKOUT FOR MASTERS ON MONDAY SEPT 7TH
BACK TO NORMAL ON WEDNESDAY THE 9TH

Happy Birthday Jake

Hi Jake - Did you think everyone forgot about your birthday? I want to send you a goodie box of things you would like - let me know!!! Muscle Milk? lol Leave your list on this blog and other will send stuff too!!!

Joe is going nuts, he has no one to play with in the water!!! He needs you so you can beat him up.

Happy Birthday!!! Does the Air Force sing Happy Birthday or give you the day off?

From Tony

SPECIAL THANKS

HEY GANG I HAVE HAD A WEEK TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TRANSPIRED LAST WEEK AND THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS WOW!
WOW, I TURNED 40 YEARS OLD. WOW, WE HOSTED ONE OF OUR BEST TOURNAMENTS EVER. WOW, WE HAVE THE BEST PARENTS AND PLAYER PARTICIPATION EVER.

PARENTS, A SPECIAL THANKS FOR HELPING HOST A GREAT TOURNAMENT. FROM THE SCORE TABLES, THE CONCESSION STAND AND SHIRT TABLE. YOU GUYS MADE THIS EXPERIENCE A GREAT ONE, NOT ONLY FOR US COACHES BUT FOR ALL THE PLAYERS THAT ATTENDED THIS TOURNAMENT. I THINK JEN LEADERS SUMMED IT UP THE BEST WHEN SHE OVERHEARD A COUPLE OF PLAYERS AND COACHES COMMENT ON HOW ORGANIZED AND SMOOTH THIS TOURNAMENT WAS. THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO SIGN UP FOR NEXT YEAR. SHE TOLD ME, IT MADE HER FEEL PROUD TO HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. I HOPE ALL PARENTS FEEL AS PROUD AS JEN BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. GREAT JOB PARENTS!

KIDS, YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A COACH WONDER WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. WELL I GUESS I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE OF YOU ALL. I TRULY LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH EACH OF YOU KIDS. YOUR SUCCESS & YOUR FAILURES, I TRULY FEEL ALL OF THEM. I TRULY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH EVERYONE OF YOU KIDS. YOU MAKE MY LIFE THAT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE, YOU MAY NOT SEE IT EVERY TIME I AM COACHING YOU BUT IT IS THERE. YOU KIDS GAVE ME THE BEST GIFT A COACH LIKE ME WILL EVER GET. YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR FEELINGS ON PAPER ATTACHED WITH YOUR PICTURES. THANK YOU KIDS IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

THANK YOU TO MY TEAMMATES AND ALL THE PARENTS THAT WISHED ME A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. YOU ALL MADE MY DAY VERY SPECIAL.

TRISH & MAT TAYLOR, I CANT SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. TRISH A SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU BECAUSE A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME YOU HAD A LOT TO DO WITH ORGANIZING MY SPECIAL GIFT FROM THE KIDS. ON TOP OF IT ALL YOU MADE THE TIME TO DO THAT FOR ME. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT, THANKS.

TO MY WIFE AND KIDS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A COACH. I KNOW IT IS HARD FOR ALL YOU AT TIMES BUT YOU ALL HANDLE IT WITH CLASS AND A LOT OF PATIENTS. YOU GUYS ARE MY INSPIRATION!

TO MY WIFE ANGIE, I LOVE YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR ME.

COACH TONY

Team Fundraiser

Team Fundraiser:

Please Help!! We still have See's Candy Bars that need to be sold, quickly. Urgent! Urgent! Colleen, Cheryl and Trish will have the boxes at practice. Please bring $48.00 to purchase them and sell them for $2.00 a bar.

Thanks for your help!! All monies go to the team?

More Pic's from Summer Slam

More Pics

SHALL I LOB OR LOB?

Truck Needed

Next week everyone will be at the MGP for workouts. We need the following items to be moved from Whitney to the MGP on or before Monday:

2 Pitch Back Nets
3 Hoola Hoops (things Tony made to keep balls in)
half of the small Red balls (10 & Under)

Please let me know if you can bring this equip from Whitney to MGP.

Thanks Sandy

More Pic's - click to enlarge

Abbi - Shannon and Vinny

UP's Baby

UP's baby girls and the B Team... she likes the water polo ball already!!

Time Off

As usual we are taking time off after our Tournament but upon request we are only taking 1 week off. We will begin workouts on August 24th Monday. When we come back workouts will be "Back to the Basics"

Monday - Wednesday Masters at MGP 6:30-8 pm
Tue - Thur & Fri Club both Younger and Older 6-8 pm (if any masters want to come and help at club workouts, your help will be welcomed!!
Sat also at the MGP - Younger 1-2 pm Older 2-3:15 and Masters 3:15-4:30 pm

Back to Basics for everyone!!!

Great Weekend - Team Vegas/Henderson

What a great weekend of water polo - Tony's Birthday - Wendy's Birthday - Diana's Birthday.

Everyone did such a great job - I know I will miss someone so sorry now!! Thank You Very Much:

Matt Taylor for taking on the job of Tournament Manager!!! Mark St John for getting the clocks to work. Tony - Matt - Rob - Robert for helping Mark. Louie C - Rob - Tony - Matt - for getting the goal backing up. Collen for our drinks and snacks (all all her helper) Jen for selling t-shirts, suits and all Jen's help. Everyone who worked the table - I saw John and Corey working the table a lot! Trish getting all the kids and table set with workers. I know I missed tons of parents, players who helped this weekend... go ahead and list them under comments.

Younger club players this is the 1st time I did not have to get down on any of you for not doing your job - for this I am very thankful.... and most of all very proud of our team!! The Pool staff was also awesome... funny thing happened during one of our games - the lifeguard asked us during the game "Where are you guys from" Louie said we came all the way from Henderson!!

If you have pictures you want me to post on the blog sent them to me!! If I missed anyone write under comments on who else did what - as most of you know when I get in my game mode....I only see water polo games, that polo zone...and may not even see you walk by or say hello...

SUMMER TOURNAMENT

(Click on Brackets or Game Schedule to enlarge)

Teams:
TVH A - Rob, Robert, Magee, Joe, Dandy, Cody, Jacint, Thor, Adrian, Tony, Edwin, Hana (player of mine from Oregon)

THV B - Hunter, Zach Sr, Chris, UP, Tamas, Louie, Ian, Dustin, Lou, Will, Joey (from Commerce)and Max

TVH C - This team will be playing in the "B"Division: Rob, Shannon, Carrie, Vaune, Whitney, Carmen (Commerce), Wasik, Vinny, David, Kevin, Lee, Paul and Alex.

Club: Hunter, Max, Zach, Eleanor, Connor, Brenden, Steven Kass, Ashton, Santana, Adam. (Josh - Gabby?)

Dues!! For August

The following owe dues:

Masters: Thor 4x - Edwin 3x - Jac - Tamas 2x - Kim 3x - Mike 3x - David 2x - Tim. (2x=2 months dues..etc)

Club: Gabby 2x - Josh 2x - Jarrod 2x - Sam - KC - Mur - Parker 2x - Tanner - Nick 2x.

Please pay dues before your 1st game this weekend!!!

View Athleon

Please go to Athleon: Take a look at 6 on 5 --- 1) 5 In 2) fore play

Also look at offense: Get Out

Monday: Counter Attack - go down!! Move Ball forward!! Stay out of dummy land

Wed: 6 on 5: 5 in and Fore Play.

Tournament

Vegas/Henderson Summer Tournament - here are a few rules for the weekend.

1. Everyone you must be ready for our team meeting 45 mins your game. Don't ask can I get dress, you should already be dress, don't ask can I go to the bathroom, do your business before our talks and the game. Later in the tournament your time to be ready might be less than 45 mins.

2. NO ONE IS TO GO IN THE BACK ROOM AND GET WARM UP BALLS - WARM UP BALLS WILL BE CHECK OUT AT THE CONCESSION STAND ALONG WITH THE CAPS. THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS WILL BE IN CHARGE OF GETTING WARM UP BALLS AND GAME CAPS: A'S: Robert Wills B's: Dustin C's: Shannon Club: Adam These players will be in charge of getting balls and caps and taking them back to the concession stand. Ask one of the little kids to take the warm up balls back to the concession stand before the game begins. LAST YEAR WE LOST 22 BALLS BECAUSE SOMEONE WENT IN A TOOK OUT WARM UP BALLS AND NEVER PUT THEM BACK. 22 x $27.00, we lost $594.00.

3. Masters will use the TVH Caps Club will use the smaller caps.

4. No one leaves until you ask - Please come early (ask Matt Taylor) to help set up and help clean up at the end of each day. During the day (between games) please ask if the table needs any help.

5. Bring your own water, snacks - only ref's get free water and snacks!!! Please do not eat and drink our profits.

6. Stay away from the desk if you are not working.... do not stand around and talk to the workers during or between the games.

7. Let's have a good tournament, everyone helping out and taking pride in running a great event that our guest enjoy and want to come back.

8. Evey one be respectful to our guest Ref (guess Joe too)... make sure they have water or snacks.

Monday - Counter Attack

Monday we will be working on Counter Attacks!

-Anticipate the shot, the steal, the bad pass and take off to offense or defense.
-To anticipate you must know where the ball is at ALL times.
-1 on zero: if you are past half way, turn on your back so the goalie can hit you on your hand.
-1 on zero: if you are not past half stay on your stomach and look swim for the ball.
-The top players must release for the ball!!! THE BALL LEADS THE COUNTER ATTACK!!
-We want to get the ball out - Left, Right, Center or in smaller pools Long Right, Center.

IF YOU ARE DEFENDING AT THE TOP AND YOU GO TO OFFENSE YOU MUST RELEASE OUT IF YOU ARE NOT A RELEASER YOU MUST SWIM TO THE 2 METERS OR BASE, GO BACK DOOR AND WRAP BACK UP TO THE TOP AND MAY DRIVE AGAIN (THIS IS SO HARD FOR THE DEFENSE TO PLAY DEFENSE ON YOU). IF YOU ARE THE BACK LINE YOU MUST SWIM DOWN TO THE 2 METER OR BASE.

DO NOT STOP AT HALF OR CALL FOR THE BALL TO GO BACKWARD!!!

-Always stay an offensive threat - you may become the free player. If you stop you defense will pick up another free player and our counter attack is gone.
-If you know we are going to shoot the ball go back to defense. DO NOT WATCH, you can and will watch from the bench.
-If you are on the two with a defender on you and you have a man free with the ball swim away from him/her so they can go to the center of the cage.
-If you are a release and your defnese is pressing, do not try to draw the foul, make the pass!!!

Defense on Counter:
-Know we when we are going to shoot, lose the ball and go back defense.
-Jam back to defense and once you see eveyone is picked up press!!!
-We have a goalie = you do no good to have your arm up and let them shoot or make a perfect pass to another player open on the opposite side. PRESS - PRESS - PRESS!!!

Sat Workout

The MGP will be close (swim meet) so workout will be at Whitney.

Younger Group: 1-2:15 pm
Older Group: 1:50-3:15 pm
Masters: 3:15-4:30 pm

Please read post below - notes on Offense, we will work on this tonight!!

If you have any questions on our Defense or Offense so far please email me.

Wed's Masters Workout - Offense

This offense when they are doing some type of dropping defense.

Offense – On Front/Lane Defense

They are fronting, we are having a hard time setting…. WE MUST:

Set must get out – swim out away from the ball, do so with one stroke on your stomach then backstroke out!!

We always want the ball on the weak side of the pool (lefty side). Turn keeping the ball shoulder and arm length away, head down half a second then get your head up!! This is the only way you will be able to get the ref to call a foul for you. If you try to draw a foul you will not get a foul!!

When there is a foul (and you want to anticipate this foul) the strong side flat drives down to the base and stops in front of the former setter’s defense. The former 1 now balances to 2.

What do you think should happen next? Voice your opinion at workout on Wednesday!!!

Vaune and Mary got Gold

Vaune got Gold at Senior Championships - Mary got Gold at Junior Olympics 14 Girls. Congrats to both.

Jake at Jacks

Defense for August

Know this - Understand these plays: Ask Questions!!

Everyone team must know how to Front and Lane

We may go to: In/Out Defense and the "M" Defense

M Defense

Defense In and Out

Front and Lane

Blue Ball Video

Sat's Club Workout - Big Blue Ball