Game Schedule

Here is the game schedule for next weekend... please be at the pool at least 30 mins before your game.

A Bracket: Bruno - Mid Valley - ASU
B Bracket: Kaos - Canada - Los Al
C Bracket: TVH A - San Diego - Reno
D Bracket: Denver - East Bay - TVH B

A's - Sat 9 am and 2 pm
B's - Sat 9 am and 11:30 pm

DONT FORGET DAMON'S BBQ AFTER THE LAST GAME - 4:30 PM DAMON WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS.

Sunday's schedule depends on finish in brackets: could be 1st game 9 am last game begins at 1:50 pm.

The following players have paid and are on the A team:
Marcus - Rob - Mark St - Tony - Robert - Jake - Ryan - Zach - Edwin - Rich: not paid Magee, Peter, Dandy, Joe, Whitney.

The following players have paid and are on the B team:
Shannon, Will, Vaune, Wasik, Damon, Paul, Greg, Dustin..(not paid yet: David, Louie, Alex, Larry (from Utah) Poole (from Utah), Andrea

Goalies: you will be responsible for caps - check out from Valerie and return to Valerie after each game - Thank You.

Workout Thur August 7th

Remember all the club players are at Whitney 6:45 pm to 8 (younger) 9 pm (older)

Masters at MGP 6:30 to 8 pm

Olympic Water Polo - Viewing

This is from Bernie:

Hello everyone,



Just received this from a friend at NBCOlympics.com... the games will be streaming live online, for those of you with out cable, it may work to watch over the internet (if you don't mind 1am water polo)

NBC Olympics Water Polo page:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/waterpolo/index.html

China is 15 hours ahead of the west coast and 12 hours ahead of the east coast, so in some cases the west coast will be watching the game on the "day prior".

First game, Aug 11 vs. China at 5pm

Aug. 13 vs. Italy at 3:40pm

Aug. 15 vs. Russia at 2:20pm



If we win our bracket, the next time we will play will be Aug. 19 in the Semi Final. If we are second or third in our bracket we will play on Aug. 17 in the quarterfinal.



Happy viewing!

Bernice

Olympic Post

Here is another post by Bernie the Olympic Goalie Coach:

Ni Hao!



Well, we are all moved in, into the BEST Olympic Village ever! I know I should stay true to my village experience in Sydney, but this set up is amazing! The details the Chinese have put into everything is spectacular. Especially since I was here in March of this year, thinking, there is no way this will be ready! Never underestimate the power of unlimited workforce.



Our adventure in Daxing was a very positive one. We were fortunate to have a guest speaker on August 1st, April Heinrich’s, 1996, 2000, 2004 Olympic Women’s Soccer Coach. She was able to welcome our athletes to the Olympic Family. April explained to the team the glory of once an Olympian, always an Olympian, never a former. She continued for the next 10 minutes to inspire our athletes. I felt bad for the Netherlands, since we played a scrimmage with them after this meeting and crushed them by 10 goals! I would say the team was inspired!



In Daxing, we were not able to leave the hotel/pool area, due to security, so August 4th we were ready to leave and move into the Village. We had a day and a half off to enjoy the wonders of the village. I am not sure I am able to describe what this Village is like… there are 42 apartment buildings, composed of 6 story and 9 story buildings. The dining hall is wonderful, the food has been delicious! I ate steak and potatoes and fresh salad for dinner. The International Zone has everything to offer from a General Store, Olympic Store to Dry Cleaning and Florist shops. And, when the commercials say VISA is the only card excepted at the Olympics, they mean it!



For my day off, I had a little adventure to Ikea; went to gather some odds and ends for the apartments. The Ikea here is the same as Ikea’s at home and apparently around the world. The taxi from Ikea to the village was another adventure all by itself. The taxi driver did not speak a word of English, so I show him my little English to Chinese direction card to the Village and ended up getting a complete tour of the Olympic Green. Everywhere the taxi went to turn, he was turned around by security. We could see the village, but had no way of getting close. So, here are three Americans carrying 5 BIG bags of Ikea gear, through secure zones, medal detectors and about 200 volunteers. Oh I forgot to mention the weather is about 90 degrees and 90% humidity!



Speaking of weather, I am sure all of you are wondering about what the air quality is like. We heard on the news China has a rating system in place 1 to 500, 500 being the absolute worse pollution. We were getting ready to hear them say the air quality is at about 300, but turns out it is at 80…if this is an 80, I would hate to see what a 500 would be! The visibility could be better, you can see about 8 blocks away…some evening the air clears up and you can see the blue sky directly above you. The limit of cars on the roads is happening…on Monday, Wednesday, Friday if your license plate ends in an even number you can drive…Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday it is the odd number days.



Well, the next few days we will be training, touching up on the last few details. The team and I will be walking in the Opening Ceremonies, which is promising to be a great performance! So make sure you watch or DVR!



I hope the earthquake didn’t rattle too much back home and everyone is safe and sound!



Miss you all!

Bernice

Olympic Stories

Here is something Heather (Oly Player) wrote:

http://hpeatree.blogspot.com/

Did you know that China hid the game clocks and goals from the USA so when they wanted to workout there was not equip there. The USOC (United States Oly Comm) had to fly goals and clocks out - and China still found a way to hid the shot clocks.

The good ole Olympic Spirit lives on.

Workout Schedule Aug 7-15th

Here is the schedule for the following days:

Aug 6th Wed - Masters - No Workout
Aug 7th Thur - Club - all younger players at Whitney 6:45-8:15
- all older players at Whitney 6:45-9 pm
- Masters at Multi Gen 6:30-8 pm
Aug 8th Fri - All Club MGP 6:20-8 pm
Aug 9th - Sat - Normal
Aug 12th - Tue - Same as last Thurs - for Club and Masters
Aug 14th - Thur - Same as above - for Club and Masters
Aug 15th - Fri - Same as last Friday.

Jake will be giving club players working assignaments for the tournament August 16 and 17th.

Workouts for Club & Master

The UNLV pool may be closed (Master come to UNLV today Monday Aug 4th) till early Sept. Check this blog for updates as to where workouts for Club and Masters.

or call Tony or Mark.... for locations.

Junior Olympics - Finals

On the last day in the semi final game we just did not match up well against Huntington Beach but most of all we did not make adjustments in the water and turned the ball over many times which lead to their counter attack goals. Losing this game meant we were headed to the Bronze Medal Game.

We played Laguna Beach again - last time we got lucky and tied them 2-2. It was a very close game throughout. In the third quarter we found the back of the net several times and took our biggest lead 7-4. In the 4th Laguna cames out and scored on their 1st two possessions which made it 7-6. The rest of the game was a defensive battle... for the next 3 mins the Vegas players were so involved in scoring because we have not scored we did not play defense - but watch what we were doing on offense. If it was not for Derek staying back and playing defense, making steals on a few bad passes from Laguna when they were up on counter attacks 3 on 1's we would have lost that game... Steven also made a few great saves on their counter attacks. We one 7-6 and took home the Bronze Medal and a team trophy. Awsome job!!

ps: I would hate to be the 1st person who puts their hand on top of the ball at workout on Tuesday!!!

Junior Olympics

Sorry for not writing in a few days but we have been pretty busy! For a team that was seeded last and we are now in one of the medal games - not bad for the only team from outside of California.

Recap: Day 1 Game 1 -Beat CB Lancer Game 2 Tied Laguna Beach
Day 2 Game 3 -Beat Set Game 4 Beat Newport
Day 3 Game 5 -Beat Commerce - after this win our team made it to the medal
Games. Game 6: Lost to SD Shores
Tomorrow: 8:45 am Game winner of this game against Huntington Beach goes to
the Gold Medal Game - Loser to the Bronze Medal Game.
Our Medal Game will be against either Laguna Beach or SD Shores.

Right after the game we will be on the road home so I won't be posting till Monday (if I get up from all the missed sleep I have had since July 14th). I will have to post things because I have no voice left at all!!!

Our little ones have been great in and out of the water!!!

JO's - Last Day

Last day of Junior Olympics - after 9 games in 3 days and on the last day we had our last game against Greenwich again.... we started off great again but made the same mistakes and just did not play like we were in the 18 age group and more like 16 age group. All in all we had great games only one game were we ever out matched and were not on the same level... but the other 9 games we were right there.

Good news: We made it to the Top Bracket and placed high then over half the team (48 total).

Tomorrow the little one come out and begin playing on Thursday. So stay tuned.

JO - Day 3

It was a long day today - we had 4 games (one of the games was schedule yesterday but because of a mistake in the schedule we had 4 games instead of 3 games).

Game 1: 9:30 vs 680 - 1st we started off getting on the freeway that was backed up because of an accident on the freeway - so we had to take side streets for 25 mins to get 2 miles. Again turnover killed us, bad passes or stolen balls on the wing. Again we were in the game every mistake we made the other team took advantage of. We lost by a few goals.

Game 2: 2:30 pm vs Greenwich - this was a heart breaker we were tied then with 1 min left we scored to go ahead by 1 goal - it was an awesome quick hard pass and shot!! Then we did not press and they got the ball into set and we got kicked out - they scored the man up. So now we are tied with about 20 second, we line up pass the ball back make a pass to the wing who is not looking and the ball is stolen - they get the ball back and we get kicked out again and they score with 1 second left game over.

Game 3: 5 pm vs Splash (San Jose) this game did not matter if we won so and the team need this win to go 1st in our bracket, if they lost they would move to 2nd in our bracket.... so we talked with (both coaches) were going to play everyone!! This game we could have won!!! easily!!! We were finally clicking!! But we rested our players for our 4th game of the day!! It was pretty funny the parents could not understand our subbing!!

Game 4: 7:30 PM - Sacramento... we got off to a great start 4-1 then the old habits came back - bad passes - turnovers on the wings and the next thing we know the game is tied at the end of the 3rd quarter 4-4. Fourth quarter we traded goals - and ended in a tie 6-6 so we had a shootout.

Sac went 1st - they made it
TVH missed
Sac made it
TVH made it
Sac missed it
TVH made it
Sac missed it
TVH made it
Sac missed it = we win and our last shooter did not have to shoot.

Our last game will be at 10:30 am

It has been a great experience for all the players - Adam and Zach got playing time and really did an outstanding job!!! Jake stepped up his game... Ryan played well and learn to take a press!! David played in the field and in the goal for 2 quarters in one game and the entire game.... even though he was playing in the field all summer, he stepped it up and did a great job in the cage!!!

Good Night it is way pasted my bedtime after 4 games, in the sun all day and all the stress..... but Loved it!!

JO's - Day 2

Well we went from a high to an all time low - but picked ourselves back up. Today we played two teams that were 1st in their brackets - LAWPC they smoked us on both ends of the pool. 16-0 They were good and we played poorly... even if we played out best we would not have come close to match their play.

The next game was against another team that won their bracket - Coast from the Newport/Long Beach area. We played better but still not our best game. Lost this gaem too. Which puts us in another bracket with team playing for 17th place to 24th place.

We have 4 games tomorrow because of a mistake in the game schedule - our firt game is against Red 608 a team from Northern California they place in the top 8 last year. Our 2nd game will be against Greenwich another team that finished in the top 8 teams last year. Our 3rd game is aginst Splash Valley. Our 4th and last game will be determined by our win lost record in this new bracket.

Good news is we will finish ahead of 24 other teams!!! The game is being called very different, when on the wing they are allowing the player to push off when making a wing pass, the can come over the top of your head to steal the ball when on the wings..... I am going to make a copy of page 10 of the rule book and show the ref's the picture of a player pushing off and keep calling out page 10 when the other team pushes off.

Wish us luck - we will need it!!! It is a good thing to be in the top level but the games are very hard - every player on the other teams are very big, strong, fast and have loads of experience but we will hang in there. This is better than being in the losing bracket and playing weaker teams.

till tomorrow..... Sandy - Mark and Manage Max!!!

Junior Olympics Results - Day 1

This year's JO are being played a little different: there are two Levels Plat (Top Level - strongest teams) and Gold Level (bottom level - weakest teams). There are 16 Brackets - all the winners of their brackets go to the Plat - all the 3rd place teams go to the Gold - all the 2nd place teams play off one game with another 2nd place team - winners of these games to to Plat and losers go to Gold.

We were seeded in the A bracket which meant we had the best team in the tournament.. the other team was San Diego Shores.

So our 1st game we did not play a good game at all and gave them 6 goals and we tied 7-7.... which now means we could not let the #1 team score more than 11 goals. Lamorinda beat Shores 12-7. For us to get to the Plat level we had to only play defense. Bottom line we lost the game but won the war. We lost 9-4! This meant we had another game against the team that was 2nd in their bracket... The Trojans (USC's club team). We beat them 8-3... great defensive game again!!!

So now we are playing with the big boys - college coaches will be coming to watch teams/players in the Plat level - and Team Vegas/Henderson is there!!!!

So you might see us lose more games then we win because we will be playing the top team in the nation!!!

Mark, Max and I were up from 6 am and just got back from dinner at 9 pm and we have a game against two #1 teams at 8 am. Good Night!!!

JO's Boys 18

We arrived in Costa Mesa Hilton today - checked into our rooms - the boys went to the Expo - some of the boys talked to college coaches, not many colleges there.

Had our team meeting and ready to go tomorrow!! Our 1st game will be a very important game against San Diego Shores, if we will our team will have an extra game to see if we can advance into the top flight of teams. If we lose we will be placed in the lower flight.

We will be playing with 4 new players: 3 from Penn and 1 from Park City. All the other players have played before, either in Maui or last year JO's. Will be interesting.

Will write when I get a chance tomorrow.

JO Parents

Parents attending the Junior Olympics you can pre 0rder tickets for admission today and get a discount. Today is the last day to pre order tickets.

Go to: usawaterpolo.com - go to the Junior Olympic story about 3 from the top and you can find how to purchase tickets to watch the games.

Last day is today!!! July 24th.

Summer Tournament

The Summer Tournament we host in August is for our Masters team only!! The club players will be working the table - concessions - clean up - set up etc.

All profits from the Concession stand will go in the clubs fund.

Fish for Masters and Pineapple for 18 Boys

The Masters played in the Gold Medal game against Oahu (UCLA). In our 1st meeting they beat us pretty bad (about 10 goals) so we knew we had our work cut out for us. For most of the game we were either tied or just 1 goal down. Without our two meter player Kyle and our lack of experience began to take a toll and lost 8-11. Masters took home a Hawaiian woodend fish for their work.

The 18 boys also played in the Gold Medal Game against Golden West Blazer. In our last meeting we won by 2 goals and were lucky to come away with a win they had 4 counter attack and a 6 on 5 in which they should have scored but they missed with no help to our defense... they just missed. So without Kyle our set and the player who scored 4 of our 6 goals we as a team had to step it up. The game was a very close and low scoring game.. towards the end of the 3rd we lost Brayden (Reno) with 3 major fouls... and they were up by one goal. By the beginning of the 4th quarter we lost our two meter defender Josh (Utah) and put in Zach (14 yr old) for the last quarter and were tied 5-5. At 2:49 Zach was kicked out, they called a time out and we set up our defense which they ran perfectly and stopped them. At 49 seconds we drew a kickout and we called a time out - set up Fore Play and scored!! This goal really broke their spirit and their next possession they lost the ball on a bad pass and we scored another goal making the final score 7-5... and got a First Place Hawaiian Pineapple Award.

Both the Fish and Pineapple will be displayed at Whitney Ranch!! We now have two full days to see the sight (not like they have not been at the beach everyday, body surfing, wind surfing, snorkeling, swimming with turtles, going to a midnight show of the new Batman and who knows what else). As I write this (stayed back not feeling good) the group took off at 2:30 am to drive to see the sun rise on top of the crater. When they get back some are going to ride bikes some are going to the beach again. Tomorrow our last full day off we are going to Hana they have many awesome water falls. Then it is back to the real life and have to pack up and head home.. we will get back to Vegas at Midnight.

The games were great - the team played great - everyone had such a great time, everyone seemed to always be smiling!!! Maybe in two year we will do this again!!

Maui Results

Hi All

After 9 games we have the day off today (Saturday). The 18 Boys have won all their games so far - Sunday they will be in the Gold Medal Game. We are losing two of our boys on Sunday and one is our main set!! ouch!! The Masters is also in the Gold Medal Game and this set was also our main set - again ouch!!! Everyone is doing a great job!

Now for the stuff you really want to hear about!!! So far the team/players have gone to the beach - swam with turtles, jumped off cliffs, body surfing, sugar cane plantation tour, team BBQ on the beach, went to the midnight show (1st day) and saw Batman!! Today on their day off some are going to wind surf, beach and snorkeling, going on a day trip to Molaki (another island)on a boat, deep sea fishing.

See you next week!!!

ENTIRE CLUB TEAM AT ONE POOL!!

ALL CLUB PLAYERS -

WORKOUT WILL BE AT WHITNEY RANCH ON THURSDAY THE 17TH FROM 6:45 - 8:30PM YOUNGER PLAYERS AND 6:45 - 9PM OLDER PLAYERS.

Saturday July 12th

Don't forget workout is at Whtiney Ranch 1-2:30 pm club. Masters 2-2:30 help the club players - 2:30-4 pm Masters.

Stories by Sandy on Planet Polo

Stories by Sandy on Planet Polo - go to:

http://www.waterpoloplanet.com

Due

Dues Owed Masters: David 2 months - Greg - Edwin 2 months - Jacint - Wasik - Will - Dave - Rich - Whit - Zach Jr.

Club: We will be checking with the desk tomorrow anyone not paid will be sitting watching the workout.

Maui

Just got news: they don't give out the game schedule till the Coaches meeting July 15th. So everyone has to call me on Tuesday about 7 pm for game times.
702-612-5005
The address to the pool is:
Kihei Aquatic Center, 303 Lipoa St.
Kihei, Maui.

Everyone:

-45 mins on the pool deck - don't be late!! Team Meeting then warm up.
-Cut nails - take off rings - etc.
-Sun Screen - make sure you rub the sun screen in - if your body is greasy you will be kicked out.
-Adam - Zach - Ryan - David - Jake - Patrick - Josh all 18 boys you guys don't make a move without letting me know!!!

Our Summer Tournament

Just a reminder we are hosting our Summer Tournament:
August 16 - Sat
August 17 - Sun

I would like to have a head count how many want to play. I am thinking about entering 3 teams: A - B and High School all playing in the Open Division. The cost is $20.00 per person. Please respond to this post if you are going to play.

All the club players will be running both desk - Jake and Eleanor will be heading up club players. Valerie will be in charge of concessions. Aniko will be doing the Awards. Vaune and Louie are getting tournament T-shirts ready. Mark set up (Mark is in charge but will assign people to set up). Tony in charge of set up and break down each day (club players). Joe has gotten ref's.

Happy 4th of July

Everyone have a safe 4th - BBQ's, swimming and sun!!

No workout Friday or Saturday - back to regular schedule July 7th.

Master - BBQ

Damon and Robin have been hard at work remodling their home, the work is far from done, but they could really use a break.

Damon would like to invite the Masters for a BBQ on Saturday August 16th - after our last game at our Summer tournament!!!

Where: 5328 Holmby Ave - Las Vegas NV 89146

RSVP: by August 9th - to damon101325@yahoo.com or 702-250-1805

Thanks Damon this is really nice of you and Robin!!

Kearns Results

Sat Games:

We played Colorado "A" and beat them by a few games - it was a close game all the way, they even lead at one point.

Our next game was against Murray - we did not have the two players from Reno along with playing our worst game this was a hard game but should have been a very very easy game.

In the final game against Kearns ended in a tie and we played sudden victory. The game was a break down in our defense by field players and goalie - any break down in defense spells defeat - we lost in sudden victory....

All in all most players improve from our tournament in April (Commerce).

Jake and Ryan played with Reno - they too placed second. Ryan's play has improved so much!!! With his growth, swimming and working out with the masters has helped his game so much. I was sitting next to one of the Reno parents (Fran - Kyle's mom) and I told her while we were watching the final game "Boy I did not know Jake was this good" Jake plays like one of the big boys now!!

June Due

June 30th - Last day in June. There are still several players who have not paid this months dues: Edwin (which is rare) - Marcus - Dustin - Bill - Mike - Dave - Whitney.

Club players I am getting the rosters today from the City.

KEARNS UPDATE

The club team is doing great so far in Utah!!

Game Results for Friday

TVH vs Colorado B 19 - 4
TVH vs Kearns 13 - 7
TVH vs New Mexico 16 - 6

The teams great defense led them to convincing victories in all 3 games.

Game Results for Saturday

TVH vs Colorado A 12 - 8

With the team winning all of their games they now play for the championship today at 6:30pm against already beaten Kearns.

Keep up the hard work and team defense!!!

Masters

Tony and I will be out of town with the 15 & Unders Kearns, Utah Tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Mark St John will be taking over all workouts - if you are free please help Mark out with the club players. There are about 3-4 different level of play with about 25 players.... Mark would love any help he can get.

Thursday - Multi Gen 6:30-8 pm
Friday - Multi Gen 6:30-8 pm
Sat - Multi Gen 1-2:30 pm

See you Monday - (with a better frame of mind then tonight).

Thanks Sandy

Kearns

We will meet at the pool 7:30 am for our team meeting. Remember move your clock up one hour. We will have at least one tent for shade and one ice chest - bring your own water (for games and between games). Bring sun screen, it is going to be hot and cool at night.

Don't forget everyone have your money (check or cash) to pay for your hotel before we leave on Sunday!!!

Split the cost of gas with your driver!!!

Club

Workout schedule this week:
June 26th - Thursday - everyone at Multi Gen Pool 6-8 pm
June 27th - Friday - everyone at Multi Gen Pool 6-8 pm
June 28th - Saturday - everyone at Multi Gen Pool 1-2:30 pm

Next week no workout: Friday July 4th and Sat July 5th.

Back to regular schedule 7th....

Sandy in the News

Story in the New York Times:





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June 18, 2008
Olympics
Water Polo’s Premier Springboard
By PETE THAMEL
COMMERCE, Calif. — The most improbable American water polo pipeline began here one generation and four trash cans ago when a coach wanted to give her youth swim team a rest.

To break the monotony of training, the coach, Sandy Nitta, plopped four trash cans into the pool to serve as makeshift water polo goals.

Fast forward 30 years. Commerce, a working-class industrial city of 12,500 southeast of Los Angeles, has developed one of the most prolific and sophisticated youth water polo programs in the United States. The city employs two full-time and three part-time youth water polo coaches and spends more than $250,000 a year on its programs.

“It’s not a rich community, but what the city has done for water polo there has opened so many doors,” said Nitta, a former Olympic swimmer who now coaches youth water polo teams in Las Vegas.

With the United States women favored to win their first Olympic gold medal in water polo this summer in Beijing, two Commerce alumnae are part of the backbone of the team. Fittingly, the captain Brenda Villa and the sniper Patty Cardenas are so appreciative of the doors that the Commerce youth program opened for them that their ultimate goal is to play well enough to open doors for others.

Villa understands that the explosive growth of women’s soccer and softball in the United States was fueled by the gold medals the national teams won in Atlanta in 1996. She is eager to see if water polo gold, which the United States won at the 2007 Pan American Games, will lead to more trash cans being dropped into swimming pools throughout the country.

“It’s our country and our culture — it’s gold or it doesn’t matter,” said Villa, 28, who has earned bronze and silver medals in the last two Olympics. “To me, it’s my hope to bring home that gold medal. Then we’ll see. We’ll see if that’s what we needed all along to get our sport to be a national sport, not a California sport.”

Few places have Commerce’s water polo heritage or infrastructure. The city has a median family income of only $34,040, but children play water polo free year-round in a $20 million facility built with water polo in mind. The pool is designed to Olympic specifications and occasionally hosts the national team.

The city pays for its youth players to take bus trips to tournaments, their entry fees and for pool time. All a child needs is a bathing suit — and the cost of that is sometimes covered by booster clubs.

“We’re surrounded by areas prevalent in gangs and we’re very fortunate we don’t have gang problems in Commerce,” said Jim Jimenez, the director of parks and recreation, who has worked in the department for 35 years. “Our kids are kept busy in swim lessons and water polo and other things. It’s a community effort and it shows.”

Villa and Cardenas are first-generation Mexican-Americans. Cardenas’s parents and Villa’s mother have roots in the Mexican town of Tecalitlán. In Commerce, their mothers worked as cleaners, and Villa and Cardenas stumbled into water polo by tagging along with their older brothers. Before long, their weekends were crammed with as many as 10 games. The pool became their social hub.

“It was the thing to do,” Villa said.

Villa competed with and against boys at Bell Gardens High School, enduring plenty of snide comments. But the competition only improved her game, helping her develop the smarts and instincts that have contributed to her becoming one of the best players in the world despite being just 5 feet 4 inches.

“She’s small,” United States Coach Guy Baker said. “But she makes up for it with intelligence and being deceptively strong for her size.”

Villa, who played at Stanford, is a celebrity in Commerce, and is called upon to appear for Cinco de Mayo, Fourth of July and Mexican independence day celebrations.

Villa is so revered that when Cardenas spoke recently to a fifth-grade class in Commerce, the first question was, “Do you know Brenda Villa?” When Cardenas laughed and answered yes, the students, in unison, said, “Wow!”

“Their inspiration is immeasurable,” said Gabriel Martinez, one of the city’s full-time youth water polo coaches. “We ask the girls before the season who their heroes are, in and out of the water. One hundred percent say Brenda and Patty.”

Bell Gardens formed a girls water polo program when Cardenas, who is 23, was a freshman. By the time she graduated, the team had won four California Interscholastic Federation titles and lost just three games.

Like Villa, Cardenas spent her childhood playing with boys and being toughened up by her older brothers. One brother, Ivan, would kneel on her arms to execute something he called the Happy Slapper, which involved him slapping her face until she screamed for help.

Cardenas became so tough that after the webbing between her toes was ripped open during a youth game, she insisted on being taped up so she could continue playing.

Now a senior at Southern California, Cardenas will be playing in her first Olympics. She plans to continue competing through the London Games in 2012.

Water polo may be a fixture in Commerce, but it is not nearly as popular in the rest of the United States. None of the members of the women’s national team have the individual sponsorships that are common in swimming, soccer and gymnastics.

The team’s training headquarters is on a military base in Los Alamitos, Calif., a step down from the facility in Commerce. As the national team finished practice there one day recently, children paddled around on kickboards for swim lessons. The backdrop includes soldiers running and shouting, “I don’t know what I’ve been told,” and the constant reverberations from landing helicopters.

“We feel very safe there,” Cardenas said, smiling.

The spartan facility is a window into the sometimes thankless world of Olympic training. The United States Olympic Committee pays each athlete $2,500 a month, which does not support a glamorous Southern California existence.

“Obviously, we’re not in this sport to make money,” said Villa, who has played professionally in Sicily. “I’m grateful. It paid for school and I’ve traveled the world playing this sport. I think if more people knew how cool and special and unique the sport is, more people would play.

“But we’re not in it to be Shaq or Kobe status,” she added.

For now, Villa and Cardenas will settle for having that level of status in Commerce, for being contributors to an impressive legacy that sprung from the humblest of beginnings.

“The program there has just boomed,” Nitta said. “Every major youth national championship, whatever age group it is, Commerce is right up there.”

She paused and smiled. “And it all started with trash cans,” she said.



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Kearns Tournament

We will be meeting before each game - times to be announced.

Fri. game times:
8:30 am vs Colorado B
1:30 pm vs Kearns
6:30 pm vs Duke City

Sat game times:
9:20 am vs Colorado A
12:40 pm vs Murray
Last game ? Depends on our overall record

Sun: early am 1 exhib game and then leave for home.

Please make sure you cut your nails - no jewelry. This is your responsibility, if you have long nails or jewelry you will be excluded from entire game.
(Jake - Ryan - your game times: 9:20 am vs Colorado - 2:30 pm vs Murray -7:30 vs Duke
Sunday: 9:20 am vs Colorado A - 11:50 am vs Kearns - last game?

We will be staying at:
Crystal Inn - West Valley City
2254 West City Center Court
West Valley City, UT 84119
(801) 736-2000
www.crystalinn.com

Team Defense

Last week we worked on Two Meter Defense - playing from behind and fronting two meters. For the next few weeks (June 16 to 28th) we will continue to work on two meter defense and also force on team defense.

Our #1 Defense will we Front and Lane. If the two meters is too good and we cannot continue to front or the team is able to move the ball around quickly with our press/lane defense we will to to our #2 Defense.

Our #2 Defense - Crash. Crash is when the 4 and 5 defenders help back at two meters as the ball in being passed into set. If the set moves to the middle or further to the right (strong side)side of the pool, this is too far for our 4/5 players to help back we will go to our #3 Defense.

Our #3 Defense - "M" - This defense looks like an "M" from our goalies view. The base is playing man to man - the 4 defender drops and position themselves in front of the set (about 2 strokes from the set) and the 3 and 2 defense now play in the gap between 2 and 3 and the other playing between 3 and 4.

June 14th - Sat

Don't forget this Sat June 14th we will be at Whitney 1-4 pm. BCH has a special event going at the Multi Gen Pool.

Louie Bejarano (one of my players from Commerce) is coming down to workout with us. Louie will be playing with our team in Maui and at our Summer Tournament. This is Carmen's brother and is always helping us out when we are in Commerce.

Team Vegas/Henderson Summer Tournament

DON'T FORGET WE ARE HOSTING OUR SUMMER TOURNAMENT AUGUST 16-17TH (SAT AND SUN). WE PLAN ON HAVING TWO MASTERS TEAM FOR SURE!!!! ALSO WE WILL ENTER A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM (JAKE-RYAN AND THE GUYS FROM UTAH).

ALL CLUB PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED TO WORK THE TABLE AND CONCESSION STAND.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THE FOLLOWING:
-IN CHARGE OF THE CONCESSIONS - VALERIE MELIA
-IN CHARGE OF THE CLUB PLAYERS TO WORK THE TABLE - ELEANOR/HUNTER
-IN CHARGE OF SETTING UP TIMING AND DESK - JAKE
-IN CHARGE OF CAGES IN WORKING ORDER - MAGEE
-IN CHARGE OF AWARDS - ANIKO/ADAM
-IN CHARGE OF T-SHIRTS - DESIGN - LOUIE
-IN CHARGE OF ORDERING T-SHIRTS - VAUNE
-IN CHARGE OF BANNERS - TRISH
-IN CHARGE OF TABLE EQUIP (SCORE SHEETS - KO SHEETS - PEN ETC - LARGE POSTER
BOARD WITH SCHEDULE POSTED) - JOSH/JARED
-IN CHARGE OF BALLS AND CAPS - SKYLER - CONNOR
-IN CHARGE OF REF'S - JOE

EVERYONE MUST STAY TO CLEAN UP ON SAT AND SUNDAY!!!!!! LAST YEAR ONLY A FEW PEOPLE STAYED AND HELPED!!!

Trips and Payments

A parent has asked if it was OK to make payments for trips? That would be fine - example: $80 due and you have 2 kids going - $160 total, you can make $40 a month payment... or whatever amount fits your budget.

Tournaments for Masters and Club

I am giving notice 5-7 months in advance - in the past it seems like it has been so hard getting players to say they will play in tournament. THEN THE HARD PART OF COLLECTING MONEY ON TIME comes into play. Team Vegas/Henderson will give a date for everyone pay either a deposit or in full, if you have not paid you will not go!! If we do not have enough players we will not enter!!!

This 5-7 month notice should allow everyone time to raise/earn/work money to cover the cost of the tournament.

December 5-7: ASU
Masters: would like to take an A and B team
Masters: would like to enter the players we took to 18 JO's
Age group: Top 14 Age groupers

Cost: Approx $80 - plus your own hotel - transportation - meals
DUE DATE FOR PAYMENT: OCT 15THDecember 13-14:

Commerce
10 & Under
12 & Under

Cost: $80 - plus cost for transportation and meals (We will stay in the Warehouse)
So there is no cost for hotel.
DUE DATE FOR PAYMENT: OCT 15TH

Master we will also enter in the U of A tournament and our annual BBQ at Thor's house. This will take place sometime in Oct or Nov.... I have not gotten a date for this event yet.

Two Meter Defense

The week both club and Masters will be working on defending Two Meters. Here are a few pointers to think about before we work on this skill in the water.

1. Hips Up - so the 2mt can not grab your suit, if they try to grab your suit when your hips are up the ref will be able to see their arm/hands on the surface and call a turn over.

2. Defending a right handed set: stay to the left should - the set will want to turn inside water and will do so turning to their left (they are right handed and right footed and will have to step across their body).

3. When the ball comes in and the set reaches for the ball - do not reach!! Reaching to get the ball with your right hand will turn your body/shoulder and allow the set to turn inside water.

4. If they back hand - hold your hand open and block (don't grab the arm) BLOCK the arm. Smart sets will begin to backhand and when you reach and turn your shoulder they will come back around and sweep or turn inside water.

5. If you have a crash (crash when a player from the top - weak flat comes back to help steal the ball) use your legs and upper chest to push the set into the crash.

6. Many times a set will put their head under water... when they do this put your hands up - esp if we have a crash. Be careful with two hands up, if they get the ball and turn to shoot drop your right hand and push/hold their body and with the left hand block the shot/ball.

7. MOST IMPORTANT!!!!! Know where the ball is at coming down on the counter attack and front (stay between your man and the ball). We will work on fronting - stay fronting - getting around - KNOW WHERE THE BALL IS AT - Asking for help on your back doors.

June 14th - Sat

This Saturday June 14th workout will be held at Whitney Ranch (swim team has an event). This will be the only time we are at Whitney till late fall. Same time:
1-2:30 pm Club 2:30-4 pm Master.

Masters a Big Thanks for helping the club players!!!

New Player - Rules of the Game

We have had several new players join the team and asking about the rules.

Here is an introduction to the game:
How to Play...

A brief look at what is involved in the sport of water polo, the oldest team sport in the modern Olympic Games.

What is the object of the game?

The object of the game is to maneuver, by head, feet, or hand, a ball 27 to 28 in. (about 70 cm) in circumference into net-enclosed goals at opposite ends of a pool. The two competing teams consist of seven players each, one of whom is the goalie. Only one hand may be used to advance the ball.



How many players on a team?

There are seven players in the water for each team at any given time- six field players and a goalie. The home team wears white caps, the visiting team blue caps, and goalies wear red caps with the number "1" in white or blue.

How does the game begin?

A game begins with the ball in the center of the pool and both teams sprint for it from their own goal lines. The ball can be advanced by passing with one hand or "dribbling," swimming with the head above the water and the ball between the arms so it rides on the wave created by the swimmer's head. No player except the goalie can hold the ball with two hands.

Are there referees?

Yes, there are two referees that pace the sides of the pool calling fouls. Defensive players are not allowed to interfere with an opponent's movements unless the player is holding the ball. A penalty shot, taken from the five-meter line, is awarded for fouls near the cage that prevent a probable goal.
For minor fouls, a free throw is awarded from the spot of the foul. The player taking the free throw may pass the ball or drop it onto the water and pick it up again to put it into play. At least two players must touch the ball after a free throw before a goal can be scored.

How long is a game?

A game is divided into quarters that are seven minutes in length. After a tie, there are two overtime periods of three minutes each. If the game is still tied after the overtime periods the teams participate in a five-meter penalty shoot-out.






What is Water Polo?

Water polo can best be described as contact soccer in the pool, in which athletes use their arms, not their legs, to throw the ball through the opponent's goal. This game of strength, quickness and endurance consists of a team of seven in the water at once, including a goalie.



The Field
The playing area is 30x20 meters (25x17 meter for Women), with a minimum of 2 meters (61/2 feet) of depth.

Teams
Each team is allowed 13 players, with a goalkeeper and six field players participationg at any one time. Players tread water the entire game and cannot touch the bottom or side of the pool. No player except the goalkeeper may handle the ball with more than one hand.

Duration of Play
The game is separated into four quarters of 5, 6, or 7 minutes, depending upon the level of competition, with a two minute interval between quarters. Substitutions are permitted only after a goal is scored, between periods or for an ejected player. Each team is allowed two-one minute time-outs.

The Start of Play
Each quarter is started with teams lined up on opposite goal lines. On a signal (whistle) from the referee, the teams spring toward center pool/side of pool for the ball. The ball is placed in a pull start or dropped by a referee. Teams then sprint to the ball in an attempt to gain the first possession.

Time Clock
As in basketball, there is a shot clock. Each team has 35 seconds to shoot the ball at the goal; if no shot is taken a free throw is awarded to the opposing team. In addition, a game clock keeps track of the time left in each quarter of the contest.

Sat June 7th

Masters - Thank you for coming early to workout and helping the club players! They think so much of all of you.... and it is so helpful for the team.... plus the City of Henderson gives free pool time on Sat's in exchange for this help.

Sat: 2 pm - helping club players - 2:30 Masters Workout.

Once again thank you!!

Kearns

The following have not paid for Kerans $75.00 Please do so before Thursday,
June 5th!!

Hunter - Connor - Josh - Gabby - Eleanor - Emilie - Nelson - Santana

Maui Info

Hello all,

Below is the updated (as of today, June 2, 2008) information for the condos I have reserved for our coach and various team members. Keep in mind, if you have a balance owed it is due to me one month prior to our trip (June 9, 2008, one week from now) or you will lose the reservation and deposit. (This condo complex does not accept credit cards).

The Condos are called "Kama'ole Beach Royale" and they are within a mile or two from the pool. To view the condo description, go to:

www.wizardpub.com , Hit "Maui Accommodations; then hit "South Maui"; and finally hit "Kama'ole Beach Royale". This will give more detail of the rooms as well as photo's of the actual 6 story complex.

Kama'ole Beach Royale

Reserved (6) rooms total:

Room 411 - 2/2 1 queen size, 2 twins, no sofa sleeper Sleeps 4
(9) nights July 14th - 23rd
Rob, Robert, Jacint and Tammy
$1,308.63 total (includes 10% discount plus tax)
$300 deposit collected with a balance of $252/person due to Rob by June 9, 2008.

Room 302 - 2/2 2 Queen size beds,no sofa sleeper, Sleeps 4
(8) nights July 15th - 23rd
Melia Family
$1,163.22 total (includes 10% discount plus tax)
$300.00 deposit collected with a balance of $863.22 due to Rob by June 9, 2008.


Room 305 - 1/1 King size bed, queen sofa sleeper Sleeps 4
(9) nights July 14th - 23rd
Patti Shovlin (Ryan's mom)
$1,083 total (includes 10% discount plus tax)
$300.00 deposit collected with a balance of $783.00 due to Rob by June 9, 2008.



Room 306 - 1/1 Queen size bed, queen sofa sleeper,Sleeps 4
(9) nights July 14th - 23rd
Zach, his mom, Adam
$1,083 total (includes 10% discount plus tax)
**** Have not made contact with Zach's mom. Will not be able to hold room *******
$100.00 deposit due each person. $261/person total balance due to Rob by June 9, 2008.


Room 311 - 2/2 2 Queen size beds, no sofa sleeper,Sleeps 4
(9) nights July 14th - 23rd
Sandy and Vaune
$1,308.63 total (includes 10% discount plus tax)
$1,083.00 collected with a balance of $225.63 due to Rob by June 9, 2008.


Room 603 - 2/2 2 Queen size beds, queen sleeper (premium location/view) Sleeps 6
(9) nights July 14th - 23rd
Marcus, Louie (Commerce), Ryan, (2) Utah boys
$1,444 total (includes 10% discount plus tax)
1) Marcus - Paid in full - $289 collected, $0 balance due
2) Louie - Paid in full - $289 collected, $0 balance due
3) Ryan - $60 deposit collected, balance of $229 due to Rob by June 9, 2008
4) Utah boy- $0 collected, balance of $289 due to Rob by June 9, 2008
5) Utah boy- $0 collected, balance of $289 due to Rob by June 9, 2008

Rob

Party

That was a great party yesterday!!! We will all miss the Brooks at workouts and team gatherings...but they will play with us on occasions.

The reports the club players researched, typed and read was great!! I learned some new things.

We gave our new players a special small little water polo ball: Eric, Estelle, Hannah, Lake, Serigo, Molly, Jessica, Omar, Sarah, Maci, Mia and Ben.

All the club and Masters were presented with a Water Polo Key Chain. Special Awards were given to our Team Captains: Jake and Eleanor. Other Special Awards were giving to: Rob Wills - Rob is not only our awesome goalie and improves with each workout, he motivates other players, supports our team with outside functions: Rob is in charge of our Marathon Fund Raiser, he applies for grants whenever they come our way. Thank You Rob!!!

Dave Thorson: Dave is our silent all around good guy!! Dave has improved so much this past year, I have loved all his questions about the game.. Dave takes the answers and puts it to work in the water. Dave also is our host when we play in the UofA tournament.

Shannon the Cannon was not present - so she is reading that she won this award. Shannon too has improved so much this past year - the last few months Shannon has really shown her stuff!! I think everyone is so proud of Shannon and what she has done for herself in and out of the water. Also I have made Shannon our official time keeper!!

Lee another master player who has come a long way!! Lee is a real fighter, all the guys pick her up out of the water and sometimes toss her but she comes back with a smile and let's them have it again. Good job Lee.

Gabby has a school graduation dance and could not make the party. If Gabby continues her hard work and dedication she is going to be one heck of a player!! Gab has got the size, when her mind grows into to her body watch out.

Zach is our Tackle Football/Water Polo Player (he sprained his arm playing around in PE) Zach has also worked hard, his swimming speed has really helped his game. Zach can play all positions and all position well... The trait that has help Zach game is his attendance and his willing to stay with the task at hand.

The slide show Louie Chanove made for the Brooks capped the night off - full of pictures our the club from the Fallbrook tournament, Commerce, Bowling, other parties - seeing how much everyone has changed was something special the Brooks can take with them to California.

The kids loved it when Tony got in the water - think I saw a few paybacks. It was fun watching all the kids having so much fun in the water, watching the slide show. A great evening of fun and memories!!

Brooks We will miss you all!!!

Sat - Party

Don't forget club players you are going to read/present your report Sat during the Party - then every one's report will be place on the wall so everyone can see.

NEWS

May 31st - Sat Going Away Party for the Brooks!!! I am also giving out awards and a little something for our new club players. See older post - what you should bring to the party. Maps will be given out at workout on Sat.

Congratulations to Mary Brooks and Eleanor Marrs both made the United States Youth Water Polo Team.

Our Sat workouts are at the Multi Gen Pool!!!

Dues: The following players have not paid their dues for May (today is May 29th):
Santana - Al - Danny - Omar - Gabby - Emilie - Jessica - Dr Phil (april) - Steven (april) - Derek (april) - Joey (april) - Magee - David 2 months. Please pay before Sat May 31st and bring a receipt.

The JO forms and deposits due date has past, since we only have a few players for all age groups we are going to cancel the Junior Olympics.

Also the Kearns forms and payments are due today May 29th - and we only have 2 players form and payment. If all players do not turn in today this tournament will also be canceled.

WORKOUTS

REMINDERS: NO WORKOUT ON FRIDAY SAT AND MONDAY.
CLUB: OLDER PLAYERS - MULTI GEN POOL 6-8 PM - TUE - THUR - FRI AND SAT 1-2:30
YOUNGER PLAYERS - WHITNEY POOL 6:30 - 8:30 TUE - THUR
- MULTI GEN POOL FRIDAY 6-8 PM AND SAT 1-2:30

MASTERS: UNLV - MON & WED 7-9 PM
MULTI GEN POOL 2PM PLEASE COME EARLY TO HELP THE CLUB PLAYERS - THE CITY OF
HENDERSON GIVE THE MASTERS THE POOL FREE IN RETURN FOR THIS SERVICE. WE
ONLY GET A FEW MASTERS COMING OUT EARLY TO HELP!!! WHEN YOU DO HELP, YOU
CAN'T BABY THEM - EXAMPLE: WING PASSES YOU SHOW THEM AND THEN PLAY EASY,
EASY, EASY DEFENSE ON THEM AND TELL THEM GOOD JOB!! WHAT YOU TEACH THEM
HAS TO BE LIKE A REAL GAME.

SAT 2:30-4 PM

Older Club players!!

We will be workout out at the Comp Pool (Multi Gen Pool) from tomorrow May 20th Tuesday. 6-8 pm.... 6-6:30 dryland - 6:30-8 pm water. We will be outdoors on Tue and Thurs till late Oct or begin of Nov.

Jake - Eleanor - Hunter - Connor - Zach - Max - Gabby - Adam - Josh - Dr Phil - Steven - Mary - Santana - Nelson - Ryan - Emilie. As you can see if everyone comes we will have just enough to scrimmage so your attendance is important not only for yourself but for the team.

The younger players will remain at Whitney T & Th 6:30-8:30 pm.

Cate and Dad

Reminders

No Workout this Sat May 24 and Monday for Master May 26th.

May 31st - Party for both club and Masters - Going Away Party for the Brooks. We will also be giving out a few Awards. After workout Sat May 31st (we are now outdoors on Sat).

Don't forget to pay dues for May!! A few of you still have not paid for April.

Aniko (Adam's mom) will be in charge of the Kearns Tournament - let her know if you are going.

Contact Info

Jake is making a club and masters contact list.... please email Jake your info:


Name:
player home phone:
player cell phone:
Player email address:
CLUB PLAYERS FILL OUT ABOVE AND BELOW:
Parent's name:
Parent's cell phone #:

email Jake at: jake-2@cox.net

USWP Registrations - Masters

The following need to register with USWP:

Rob Wills - Robert Wills - Jacint - Edwin - Alex Melia - Marcus - need to turn in the Maui Rosters.

6 on 5

We have been working on 6 on 5 all week both club and masters. Sorry if I get a little upset - it is because this is the best part of the game. I love playing video games and like most awesome video games there are so many different formations on offense and defense..... it is a never ending game!!!

We will continue to work on 6 on 5 adding some 5 on 6.

Know all the #'s for both offense and defense (defense is referred as X1 - X2 etc)

This us something you do not memorize but understand the basic concepts.
Basic Offense: create a 2 on 1
Basic Defense: Do not allow a 2 on 1

This week everyone should know: Why we pass and we do not fake the ball. How to leg out into the open pocket. What the dice is. Watching X4 and X5 who will be open. If you are playing on the post and you are not ready, it is not a good pass or the defense is all over you: KICK THE BALL OUT!!!

Offense: you have got to be able to pass and catch the ball. Pass means to pass the ball to another player so the can shoot off your pass (you got them up - you passed the ball hard enough to move their arm back and all they have to do is shoot the ball).

This week we will learn another 6 on 5 play and begin to work on different formations on defense beside the usual 3/2 defense.

Sat - May 17th

DON'T FORGET NO WORKOUT SAT MAY 17TH - ALL THE HENDERSON POOLS ARE CLOSED FOR THEIR LIFE GUARD IN SERVICE MEETING.

ALSO ROGER WONG (MASTER PLAYER) AND ANIKO (ADAM'S MOM) WILL BE WALKING AT UNLV!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Club you will be back at Whitney 6:30-9 pm older group 6:30-8:15 pm younger group.

6 on 5 What if?

6 on 5 - what if:
1. what if: X4 or X5 move to toward 4 or 5 - who is open?
2. what if: X1 jumps out towards 1 when he gets the ball - what happens next?
3. what if: X3 jumps out towards 6 when he gets the ball - what happens next?
4. what if:2 pulls out of the dice and X1 moves with 2 what should happen next?
5. what if: you are on the post and you are not ready for the ball - what should you do?
6. what if: your team only has 8 second till the end of the quarter - where should the ball go? what should happend? who should think go back on defense?

Answers:
1. the post will be open
2. 1 should pass the ball to 5 - 5 into the 2 post for the shot
3. 6 should pass the ball to 4 - 4 into the 3 post for the shot
4. make sure the 5/6 side sets the goalie and gett he ball to 1 for the shot, there is no X1 there.
5. pass or tip the ball back to the outside - don't take the shot when you are not in the correct postion and pray the ball goes in.
6. get the ball to the 5/6 side - fake so the defense is looking at you, the 1/2/4 side should move into a shooting lane without the ball and shoot off the pass. No one should be going back defense since it is at the end of the quarter.

Notes for 6/5 wk: May 12-15th

Few important notes for this week:
1. Move the ball - DO NOT fake the ball - all this does is let the defense get into a better position - let's the defense rest - you may think you look good but you look like you don't know what to do with the ball so you sit there waving the ball.

2. When you move the ball you move the defense and sooner or later they will be out of position which will create a 2 on 1 for the offense. When you move the ball the defense has to work hard to move from spot to spot, it takes a lot out of you when you have to keep moving back and forth.

3. Faking is only allowed: 1) end of 20 second and should only be on the weakside of the pool - 6 or 5, and what you are doing is making the defense look at you and someone on the opposite side is moving WITHOUT THE BALL for a shot.

4. If you DO NOT catch the ball you CAN NOT shoot the ball after you pick the ball up. The shot must come off the pass.

5. Do not pass 1 to 6 - Do not pass 6 to 1 - for this week even if they are wrapping in. If 1 is open get the ball from 6 to 5 to 1 for the shot.

6. Post 2 & 3 must follow the ball - turn your body to follow the ball. Post should be going in and out of the dice to open up the outside or to open yourself up. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE BALL DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT SHOOT THE BALL - KICK THE BALL BACK OUT.

7. If you are at 6 and you are a righty - face the goal and catch the ball cross face - do not face the ball and then turn your entire body to shoot the ball.

8. Last: Know where you want to pass the ball before you get the ball - which means you know where the defense is, you know the player is in your passing lane and the defense can not steal the ball.

9. I lied - last one: Do not fake. fake and them make a bad pass... fake, fake (boy I look good faking this ball) fake, fake, (boy everyone is looking at me). Always look like a shooter (this is done by getting a good pass - a good pass is a pass that will get you up so you can shoot off the pass) and be a better passer!!!!

Thinking caps on this week!!!! There may be lots of sitting out - watch, listen, learn!!!

WE ARE ON FOR SAT!!!

WE WILL BE AT THE MULTT GEN POOL ON SAT USUALLY TIME
CLUB 1-2:30 AND MASTERS 2:30 - 4 PM (MASTER PLEASE COME AT 2 PM AND HELP US OUT WITH THE LITTLE ONES.... SOME OF THEM JUST NEED STROKE LESSONS. THEY LOOK UP TO THE MASTERS!! THANKS

SAT - MAY 10TH WORKOUT

JUST FOUND OUT TONIGHT (THURSDAY) THAT WHITNEY IS CLOSED ON SATURDAY - THEY ARE TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IN MULTI GEN POOL FOR SAT MAY 10TH!!!

CHECK THIS BLOG BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TO WORKOUT SAT FOR BOTH CLUB AND MASTERS.

CLUB: FOR SURE TUE AND THUR WE WILL BE AT MGP 6-8 PM.

CLUB AND MASTER FOR SURE WE WILL BE AT MGP ON SAT 1-2:30 CLUB AND 2-4 MASTERS.

C H E C K THE B L O G - BEFORE YOU GO TO WORKOUT ON SAT!!!!!

Next 2 week: 6 on 5

For both club and masters we are going to work on 6 on 5 Man up and 5 on 6 Man down. #1 you must be able to catch and pass!! Really work on getting your legs under you and pass with your legs and stomach - not just your arm. Take a look at this site - it will help you with the #ing and basic concepts of the part of the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcqKhsHHFC8&feature=related

Schedule Change for Club and Masters

Masters: We WILL have workout May 14th -7-9 pm.

Club: Whitney Pool will be closed May 13th and 15th next week - we will be at the Multi Gen Pool TIME: 6-8 PM 6-6:30 DRY LAND 6:30-8 PM WATER
MAX - ZACH - JOSH - HUNTER - ADAM - BRING BALLS FROM WHITNEY TO MULTI GEN POOL AND
THEN BACK TO WHITNEY.

Club and Masters: All City of Henderson Pools will be closed May 17th Saturday for their In Service Meeting.

Holiday Weekend: No workout May 24th Sat - both club and Masters.
No workout May 26th Mon - Masters

Don't forget May 31st - Sat after workout we are having the Brooks going away party.

Masters

Vaune said there were loads of police giving tickets through the tunnel - be careful! Don't forget next Wed May 14th - no workout - high school swim meet.

See you tonight - Sandy

Thank You Nabu and Trish

Nabu and Trish will be making a list of all team members (Master/Nabu and Club/Trish) with your contact info - phone and email address.

Thanks

Carlos

Got a call from Carlos today! He graduated from Basic Training: Carlos Tied the record in shooting 39/40. Won the Hand to Hand Combat Tournament (he said two meter really helped him). He is now enrolled in Airborne School (jumping from planes) and then he goes to Special Unit: Rangers (this is the group that backs up the Delta Force) He hopes to be stationed in Washington State so he can bring his family Heidi and Maya close to where is mom and sister. Maya is 11 months and is walking and talking... Carlos really is a proud daddy!!

I asked Carlos if he was late to anything? Carlos said he was always there 5-10 mins early. In fact when his unit was off for Spring Break he stayed back to take extra classes. I think Carlos is really on his way!!!

Club

Great workout last night - understanding and executing the counter attack! All of you need to watch all parts of the workout, not just when you are doing the drill BUT helping your teammates, correcting teammates. Also when someone is doing it correctly to learn and do it correctly too.

Everyone who turned in your report did a good job - make the few adjustments and have it ready for May 31st - at the Brooks Party.

Masters Workout

THERE WILL BE WORKOUT WEDNESDAY - APRIL 30TH!!! SAME TIME SAME PLACE.

Masters

Wed - April 30th - No workout - Diving Meet

The past few Sat workouts have been low in attendance - if this continues we will drop Sat workouts. (Last Sat we had 8 players).

Club - Assignaments

Don't forget your group assignments are due April 29th - Tuesday. I have added email address to help you email to that person or someone that you can ask about the person you are reporting on. Once I look them over I will return to you/your group, make corrections or additions and you/your group will read at the Going A Way Party for the Brooks on May 31st.

No Workout

Masters: May 14th - UNLV has a special event going on so no workout.
May 24th - Sat and Monday - no workout - Memorial Weekend.

Club: May 24th - Sat Good Luck to all our players going to Zone Championships!

Dues for April

Following players have not paid for April:
Club: Dr Phil, Steven, Jake, Derek, Joey, Josh, Jared, Hanna, Serigo

Masters: Wow a 1st - only Bill and he is new.

Zone Team - Youth Girls

CLEAN SWEEP!!!! WE WERE FIVE FOR FIVE!! ALL OF OUR GIRLS MADE THE ZONE TEAM!!! Congrats to: Mary, Gabby, Emilie, Santana and Eleanor!!!

Representing Team Vegas at the National Zone Championship's are the following:
Jake - Ryan - Hunter - Zach - Adam - Max - Josh - Mary - Eleanor - Gabby - Santana
and Emilie.

Players/parents you need make plans on how you are getting to the Championships - if you have any problems let Mark - Tony or I know.

Al - what is it?

So Al what is it going to be? Al is going to be a big sister - she wants a little brother - Mia told her to have a sister!!!

Master World Championships - Australia

Just got a call from some of the players I coached when I lived in Queensland. Vaune is doing good - her team (50+) is going to win the Gold Medal. The Aussies are having Vaune's (yanks)team over for dinner. I told the Aussies to make sure they have Veggiemite for them (Veggiemite is this awful beef extract they put on crackers).

Some of the Aussies are going to join Team Vegas Masters in Maui - which will be so much fun!!!

Great Lesson!!

Check this out - pay special attention to the part where the coach rides Randy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLlcoYtLGw&feature=related

Rotator Cuff

Check this out - will be very helpful when we are doing our dryland.

http://www.asmi.org/SportsMed/throwing/thrower10.html

Summer Tournaments - Events

SUMMER TOURNAMENTS
AND EVENTS


May 31st Going Away Party for the Brooks
Tony’s Place 4:30 pm after Masters Workout
Pot Luck – See Blog for dishes to bring.

June 26-29 Kearns – Utah Invitational
18 & Under Boys – Jake and Ryan playing with Reno
15 & Under Boys – Hunter – Adam – Josh – Max – Zach –
Gabby – Mary – Eleanor – Emilie – Nelson – Connor –
Santana.

July 15-23 Maui – Masters: Rob – Marcus – Robert – Jake – Joe – Edwin
Jacint – Wasik – Tony – Vaune and a few from our 18’s
18 & Unders: Jake – Ryan – Adam – Zach – Reno: Kyle
Brendon – Justin Goalie – Utah: Josh – Partrick (Scottie
Teddy).

July 25-30 Junior Olympics 18 Boys: Same team as Maui
Junior Olympics 12 Boys: Skyler – Connor – Steven – Tyler –
Danny – Jared – Derek – Max

July 31-Aug 3 Junior Olympics 10 & Under Coed: McCarthy – Al –
Joey – Mia – Omar – Sarah – Macie – Hanna – Jessica
Serigo - Reno: 2 players.

Aug 16-17 Our Summer Tournament: Masters only we will have an A and B team – club players to work Table. All players mark this down on your calendar. After this Tournament we will take a 2 week break.

Junior Olympic

Team Vegas/Henderson will be entering in the Junior Olympics this summer. We plan on entering the following divisions: 10 & Under Coed - 12 & Under Boys and 18 & Under Boys.

Dates: 12 & 18 Boys July 25-30th
10 & Under Coed July 31st - Aug 3rd

Location: Irivine, California

Cost: Est: 10's - $150 per player
12's - $175 per player
18's - $200 per player
Plus cost for hotel, meals, transporation, t-shirt

We will be passing out flyer next week, please let us know if your child is able to attend so we can make the arrangements.

18: Jake, Ryan, Adam, Zach, Utah players: Patrick, Josh, Scottie, Teddy, Reno: Kyle, Brendon, Justin goalie.

12: Max, Sklyer, Connor, Steven, Derek, Connor, Danny, Tyler, Jared

10: McCarthy, Treavor, Joey, Maci, Sarah, Mia, Al, Hanna, Jessica, Serigo, Omar, Steven.

Zone Team: Youth Boys

Congrats to our Youth Boys for making the Mountain Zone Team:
Adam - Josh - Max - Hunter and Zach!!!

This weekend our Youth Girls will be trying out - go get em: Mary - Emilie - Gabby - Santana and Eleanor.

Junior Zone Team

Congrats to Jake and Ryan - they both make the Mountain Zone team and will be competing at the Naval Academy this May.

We will find out about our Youth boys by this Wed.

Our Youth girls are going to ASU next weekend. Good luck to: Mary, Gabby, Santana, Emilie and Eleanor.

Club Assignaments

I have put players into groups to work on History of Water Polo. These reports are due on April 29th - Tuesday. I will go over them and hand back with additions or correction. These report will be read at the Going Away Party for the Brooks on May 31st - Sat 4:30 pm.

History of Water Polo: Zach - Joey & Treavor
History of Women's Water Polo: Eleanor - Mary
Theresa Breckon Bixby USA: Gabby - Emilie
Debbie Handley AUS: Al - Mia - Sarah - Maci - Santana
Tamas Farago HUN: Dr Phil - Josh - Derek
Craig Wilson USA: Hunter - Steven - Danny
Manuel Estiarte Spain: Skyler - Connor - Jared - Max
Barbara Kalbus USA: Adam - Omar
Abe Fuchs BEL: Jake - McCarthy - Serigo

Who were they? What did they do for Water Polo? What are they doing now?

Another Pic from the Warehouse

Pictures 12 & Unders at Commerce

Take a look at some of the pictures Alan from Santa Barb took:

http://www.mywaterpolopics.com

Click on Photo's - click on coed - click on 12&U - click Vegas vs COLA.

Sacrifices

From Debbie Watson - Hall of Famer

Debbie Watson is the 1st female water polo player to be in the International Hall of Fame. Debbie was a great player, worked hard, always working to improve her game and she loved the game!! I asked Debbie to write to you and tell you just some of the opportunities you have ahead of you. Debbie has included her email address if you have any questions.

Hi Sandy,

It is great to hear from you and I'm impressed you have a whole new bunch of juniors ready and willing to play.

Wow, I don't really know where to start except to say that water polo is a brilliant game - which I'm sure the kids have already worked out and there are many reasons why I played for so long. The friendship, the challenge, the travel, the game - and not necessarily in that order!

I remember many a car journey to play games and I think sometimes we had as much fun in the car as we did in the pool. I recall one road trip which was post the 1984 World FINA Cup, we travelled from Orange County to Las Vegas.

We had many laughs along the way and we had a brilliant time in Vegas! Australia and the USA have had an amazing rivalry right throughout the history of Women's Water Polo. I am honoured to have been a part of that journey.

The Beijing Olympics will be another chapter and I am very lucky to be going as an employee of Australia's media team where I will be commentating on the women's polo.

There are so many opportunities that come your way when you put in your best effort and you remain focused and dedicated to your dream.

I am very happy to answer any questions the kids may have.

All I can say is enjoy what you do and aspire to be the best person you can be.

Have a great road trip, enjoy the polo and enjoy the experience.

take care deb xo

Debbie Watson PD/H/PE St Luke's Grammar School 210 Headland Road, Dee Why, NSW, 2099 Ph (02) 9438 6200 e: dwatson@stlukes.nsw.edu.au

Air Force Tournament - Masters

We have an invitation to the Air Force Tournament May 3-4th (Colorado Spring, CO) - cost per person if we have at least 10 players will be $50 along with your travel - hotel - meals. Let me know this Sat: April 12th.

Commerce Results

Our team stayed at Carmen's warehouse again - we had some great team games and some good talks on water polo as you can see from the pictures. McCarthy was voted the KING of the team from his awesome play on Sat. he was playing defense against some kids that were huge!!

Four months ago when we went to Commerce I was very happy how we played, this time I am really really really shocked how well we did. See if you can follow this: In Dec our 10's did well and placed 3rd and this was a smaller tournament. Well this 10 team had to play in the 12 & under division - last Dec our 12 team also did pretty good and they got 3rd place - our 12 team would have killed our 10 team - so I am thinking our group this time would get killed. They did not!!! Our 12's got 1st place in their bracket then played winners of other brackets, our only lost came from SET by 3 goals which in my mind we should have prevented at least 4 of their goals. We tied for 3rd with 1 lost and 3 wins. We will be doing some SET shooting drills!!! Good job!!

Our 14's also did a great job: from the scoreboard side we won 3 games and lost 1. But in my books the game we lost I put as a win because we played the best we have ever played and just came up against a team that was very good. Our inexperience played a part of this lost, they were afraid of this team - The Titans: the team that we tied last Dec and they gained about 3-4 bigger players, but we were still in the game and came back in the second half. The last game we beat Rose Bowl by 2 goals but I consider this game a lost because we did not play a very good game, making all kinds of basic mistakes. This tournament was a great experience for our players!!

Everyone behaved, played hard, learned tons and had a great time!!!

Hard Rock 777 Where was Greg?

While we were at the Hard Rock having a nice dinner - Greg and Liz were at the hospital!!

On April 2nd Cate was born at 5 am - 7lbs 4 oz. and 19" long. Congratulations!!

We had a great time at the Hard Rock - did you know that Edwin got his Rib Prime all you can eat dinner free, plus I gave him half of my Apple Pie... lucky guy!! But Greg was the real lucky guy April 2nd!!!! Welcome to the world Cate - Team Vegas/Henderson

Commerce Game Schedule

For those driving the morning of the your game: you must be at the pool 1 hour before game time.

12's: Sat
10:15 am (at pool 9:15 am)
11:45 am
Two more games - Sat

14's: Sun
10:15 am (at pool 9:15 am)
11:45 am
Two more games - Sun

Master's Tonight - Wed 4/2

Don't forget after workout we are going to the Hard Rock for $7.77 - Steak/Shrimp Dinner.

Commerce - Driving

We will leave for Commerce on April 4th - Friday after school 3 pm - location to be announced.

Here is what I have - let me know if there are any changes:

Adam - Driving out Sat am
Eleanor - Driving out Sat am
Max - Driving - with: Josh & Emilie
Derek - Driving with Jared and Danny
Gabby - Driving with Zach
Skyler - Driving
Santana - Driving
Hunter - Connor - Driving
Mary & McCarthy - with Sandy

We will leave close to the 15 Highway.

PLEASE BRING A CARD AND GIFT FOR CARMEN!!!!

Parents: Here are a few hotels close to the pool:

Here are a few nearby Hotels in Commerce:Double Tree Commerce - $99 per nightAttn: Laura Mendoza - 323-887-4305
Crowne Plaza Hotel - $109 per nightAttn: Koko Judge - 323-823-4004
Ramada Inn - $59 per nightAttn: Toti Zabayle - 562-806-4777
Embassy Suites Downey - $119 per nightAttn: Melissa Gordon - 562-861-1900

The players and Coaches will be staying at:C-Trade Enterprises Inc.5945 E. Washington Blvd.Commerce, CA 90040

The pool is located at:5600 Harbor StreetCommerce, CA 90040

Going Away Party - Club and Masters

The Brooks are moving to California this June. They have been such a large part of our team: both parents on the Masters - and all four kids playing with the club and Masters. We will miss them - but before they leave we want to have a get together to wish them well.

May 31st - Saturday after workout
Tony's house - If you need direction - see Tony, he will have maps on that Sat
Bring: Your own drinks; Side dishes: Guys on Club and Masters - Deserts: Gals on Club & Masters - All Goalies: Chips and Dips.

Masters - 777

OK it is time for an outing to the Hard Rock for dinner after workout. Next Wed April 2nd!! Steak, Shrimp, potatoes and salad for $7.77

Next Wed - April 2nd

Commerce Tournament

Last min details:



1. Still looking for drivers:

Tony can take 1 player

Derek's Dad can take 2 players

Sandy is taking the Brooks

Adam is driving up on Sat am for his Sunday games.



2. Let Sandy know what time you get out of school so we can set the time we will leave.



3. We are staying at Carmen's Warehouse again - Last time Carmen had all kinds of drinks,

snacks, bagels, muffins, candy, chips, cheese, apples, oranges, strawberries for everyone and

saved everyone at least $50 in hotel cost. And some of you did not bring her anything!!!

Carmen has not asked for anything in return but we all know this is not how we return the

favor.



4. There are still players who have not paid their part of the trip, this has was due almost three

weeks ago!!! Dr Phil, Steven, Connor and Hunter still owe their share!!!



5. We will be staying at:
C-Trade
5945 Washington Blvd
Commerce, CA 90040

6. Pool is located at:
5600 Harbor Street
Commerce, CA 90040

Zone Team

Congratulations to the following players for making it to the next Step 2.

Junior Men:
Jake Melia
Ryan Shovlin
Dr Phil

Youth Men:
Adam Hedegus
Zach Jones
Max Taylor
Josh Parisi
Hunter Chanove

Youth Women:
Eleanor Marrs
Mary Brooks
Gabby Cooke
Emilie Myers
Santana Garcia

At Step 2 if they are selected they will compete against all the other zones across the United States. At this Clinic/Camp/Tournament/Tryout they will be trying to make the United States Youth or Junior Team and will compete internationally. Good Job - Good Luck!!!

Team's Web Site

Jake is working on our new website and should be up very soon. We have our Mission Statement - How To Join - What is Water Polo (great story) - Coaches Bio's - Parent Guidelines - Calendar - Order Forms - Links - Video's - email address for coaches and captains.

I would also like to use our website to advertise your (members in good standing) business: Tony's Meat Company, Thor's Financial Services, etc.....

When you see Jake give him your business card for the website.

website: www.teamvegaswaterpolo.com

Hawaii - Maui

I am going to send in the entry fee (s) for the 18 & Under Boys and Open Team. The following had paid or gave me a verbal "Yes". If you do not attend this mean you will lose your $100 deposit, if more than 2 players can not attend the entire team will lose their deposit too.

Boys: Jake, Ryan, Kyle, Josh, Jake, Branden, Logan, R. Hogan, Adam, Patrick, Zach.
Open: Marcus, Rob, Jacint, Edwin, Vaune, Alex Melia, Joe, Tony, Mark St. John, Magee.

Mary St. John will be in touch with you regarding travel arrangements.

Commerce

We need to know if you are driving to Commerce, if so how many can you take with you. Please let me know this Tuesday! Driving so far:
Derek's Dad and has room for two
Tony and has room for one
Sandy - taking Brooks

Still waiting for payment from: Dr Phil, Steven, Hunter, Connor.

Hawaii and Master Nationals - National Entry Forms !!

Master's National Entries are now out - and we do not have enough players to attend. Let me know if you want to play - we need at least 6 more players.

The following teams have enough players to attend the Maui tournament:
Boys 18 & Under (Jake - Patrick Ross - Kyle Norton - Josh Olsen - Adam - Ryan Hogan - Branden Orcco - Logan Woods - Zach Jones - STILL WAITING FOR DAVID AND RYAN!!)

Masters for Hawaii: Rob Wills - Marcus - Vaune - Edwin - Jacint - Tony - Alex Melia -
Mark St. John - Joe Peila - Magee - Mark Wasik - John Melia and a few of the 18 boys.

Masters Nationals: Entries will be coming out very soon - and I only have the following who have paid - If I do not have enough money to cover the cost of National when the entries come out we will not enter: Rob - Marcus - Edwin - Tony - Zach - need at least 6 players to enter.

We did not have enough of the younger players to sign up - I will refund the $100 deposit to:
Tyler - Max - Zach if you do not want to play with the older boys I will refund your money too.

I have the following parents attending with the team: Valerie Melia.

Mary St. John will now be in charge of all travel arrangements.

Movie Day and Step 1 Tryouts for Zone Team

The movie was great - tell us about some history on our sport! It was really nice to see my 1st water polo coach in the movie.

The test Mark gave everyone was interesting - it made everyone think about what we see, hear and do. Don't forget to do your assignment: watch TV on any sports team and report and understand what you were watching.

The Ice Cream game was funny!!! Mary you made a mess all over Al. Derek you were pretty funny just sitting back enjoying the ice cream while Joey feed you. And I saw you Eleanor giving up the front position and making Gabby get messed up. Pretty funny everyone!!

This fun carried over to workout along with the Tryouts for the Zone Team. The players trying out for the Zone Team did great - everyone (Max, Josh, Zach, Adam, Dr Phil, Mary, Eleanor, Gabby, Emilie and Santana) really stepped up their game which make your team look good!!! Many of the masters watching were very impressed!! Good job.

Don't forget your payment for the Commerce Tournament. Paid so far: Mary, McCarthy, Zach, Max, Adam, Eleanor, Derek.