Last weekend marked a major milestone in our journey as we headed to the USA Water Polo Dare to Dream Northern California tournament. It was an incredible showing for our club, and honestly, a bit of a “pinch-me” moment for our youth program: our athletes represented nearly 20% of all competing teams for the entire event!
We sent four teams across four divisions, and every single athlete took enormous strides forward in their game.
Growth, Grit, and a Whole Lot of Glee
In our program, we talk constantly about our cornerstones: Growth and Grit. Throughout the tournament, the athletes didn’t just play; they “talked the talk.” But beyond the hustle, there was an abundance of Glee. Seeing those ear-to-ear grins all weekend long was the real win.
Watch the Tournament Highlights
We captured plenty of the action, including some of those legendary “pizza point” goals! Check out the progress of our teams through the playlists below:
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Yolo Boys (Boys Division): Watch here
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Yolo Flamingo (Girls Division): Watch here
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Yolo Mixed Black (Co-Ed Division): Watch here
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Yolo Mixed Yellow (Novice): Watch here
Growth & Grit in Action
It was inspiring to see the kids applying what we’ve practiced in real-game situations:
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Defensive Growth: Fantastic “help defense,” “ELI” (matching up and calling out numbers), and keeping hips up to disrupt the opposition.
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Grit and Persistence: Whether fighting for a steal or stuffing shots in the cage, the determination was evident until the very last second.
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Game Awareness: Athletes are recognizing counter-attack opportunities and keeping a sharp eye on the clock during crucial plays.
“Talk the Talk” Homework
As we move into the spring season, we’re looking to emulate the high standards of top programs like Newport and San Clemente. We’re encouraging all players to keep watching their gameplay to master these three areas:
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High-Intensity Press Defense: Staying between the opponent and the goal with “hands on” and “hips up.”
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Fast Counter-Attack: Exploding into a sprint the moment we gain possession to create 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 advantages.
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Superior Half-Court Spacing: Maintaining our “DIAMOND” shape to keep lanes open for drivers and create “dry” passing opportunities.
Our teams are blossoming just in time for spring, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next!