The Magic of Working With Kids!

Date: 11 Mar 2010 Comments:0

Yesterday morning marked one of the longest mornings I had EVER had in my life. Without getting into it, by the time I arrived to the pool a little after 2pm I was in one of the worst moods ever! I couldn’t imagine how I was going to get through my practices and be able to coach my athletes in a positive and productive way.

3:55pm rolled around and it was almost time to start our Pee-Wee practice. A handful of kids were there early and eager to hop in! I let them get in early and start their warm-up. By the time warm-ups were over, the events from the morning were out of my mind. Practice went well – energetic and fast paced as always! We did some relays, passing, keep away and then a brand new game: “water polo football.” The kids had a blast and consequently so did I!

After practice was over I was cleaning up and all the sudden realized: I’m in a great mood! Not just “not a bad mood,” but a GREAT mood. I thought to myself “how is this possible?” At that moment it became glaringly evident that I had the best job ever! Seeing my young athletes enjoy my favorite sport put everything else out of my mind and changed my whole outlook on the day.

After a short break, I went back out on deck for my 14U practice and had a similar experience (although I was already in a good mood). We had a great practice – the kids had fun, worked hard, and improved! What more can a person ask for?

Thanks to all my athletes for their high energy, commitment and hard work! And thanks to BAC for this great opportunity to work with these kids daily!

Women’s BEGINNER Masters Team – Messages from the athletes!

Date: 10 Mar 2010 Comments:0

BAC’s BEGINNER Women’s Masters Team is having a New Athlete Day on March 23rd! Take a look at what some of our members have to say about the program, and feel free to contact them with questions about their experiences. We hope to see all you BAC moms out there in the pool!

“Before I found BAC Master’s Water Polo, I didn’t have the nerve to try the sport. In college, it was all people who’d played in high school. After college, it was people who’d played all through high school and college. Then I kept getting older and more out of shape, especially out of shape for swimming.

“Then I found BAC…and I had the answer. All women, all ages, many of whom had never played before! I could learn without feeling like I was the odd woman out. I’m so glad I decided to give a free practice a try. I learned that water polo is fun, that it’s never too late to learn, that it’s an amazing workout, and an even more amazing group of women – women who’ve become my team and my friends. ”
– Maureen
Reach out to Maureen and ask her about her experience at: m.kilkeary@gmail.com
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“I joined the BAC Women’s Water Polo team at the age of 49. I knew I needed to improve my fitness from sporadic exercise to something more consistent and more effective than walking on a semi regular basis. I know for me it’s about fun and connection and though I did swim in college I was not the fastest swimmer and had never played water polo. The challenge was a little daunting. At first I fell into bed completely exhausted after 2 hours of doing my best to keep my head above water. Little by little I got stronger and faster. The coach and team members made it so easy to be part of the group and encouraged me each step of the way. Today I’m more confident but more importantly I’m continuing to have fun and always learning new things. Not to leave out the objective results – I’ve dropped two dress sizes, lost 20 pounds, reduced my blood pressure from 130 over 86 to 111 over 59 and haven’t measured those biceps but they’re looking good. I’ve made new friends, competed at the Senior National Games and found a sport that energizes me and motivates my fitness goals. Who would have ever thought at 50 I’d be taking on the challenge of team sports but here I am and hope to see you in the pool.”
– Julie
Reach out to Julie and ask her about her experience at: jhaas2004@yahoo.com

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“I’ve played with BAC for almost 2 years, before that I didn’t know what water polo was! I learned every thing I know about the sport in the Burlingame pool! I never even swam on a swim team before, but the ladies were welcoming and helped me along my way. Despite not swimming much, I have some advantages: a background in other team sports ( field hockey, softball, basketball, and rugby to name a few!) and a competitve spirit! Water polo is surprisingly easy to catch on for someone who is generally a land lover.”
– Melissa
Reach out to Melissa and ask her about her experience at: melissa_marie_cross@yahoo.com
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I have been on the women’s team since it’s inception nearly 2 years ago. I was interested in the the game because both my sons played and one was coached by Amy in the summer league. The coaches at BAC are fun to work with and have taught us all to understand the game and continue to teach us the skills to play. It is a great way to get in shape and the women that are on the team have become friends. There are women of all ages and abilities and we rally for one another. I am one of the oldest on the team, just celebrated my 55th birthday and I try to keep up with girls that are young enough to be my daughter, but that’s me, I love a good competition and what better way to stay in shape. The thought of going to the gym bores me to death! I highly recommend BAC and our team, come join us!
– Nancy
Reach out to Nancy and ask her about her experience at: jnp614@sbcglobal.net

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“My name is Anita and I grew up loving the water. I was on the swim team and was a synchronized swimmer. I never did play water polo. For over 20 years I rarely touched the water and I missed it a lot. When I heard they were starting a women’s team I wanted to try it, but I was afraid since I am in my 40’s. I am so glad I did it, I love it and rarely miss a practice, even in the rain and cold.”
– Anita
Reach out to Anita and ask her about her experience at: ASPRINKLES@SFGIANTS.com
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“I started playing water polo 5 years ago, at the age of 48, and had absolutely no experience when I started. I had watched my daughter play in high school and college, and it looked like it would be a new challenge, great exercise, and a lot of fun, and it turned out to be all of that and more! The first master women’s water polo team on the peninsula was forming at that time, in the hope that age-group teams could be put together to compete in tournaments in the Bay Area and throughout the state. Only one of the women who joined the team at that time had played before, so we all started as beginners and built ourselves into a team little by little. After two years of practicing and working together, our 50’s team helped break new ground by being one of the first women’s teams to play water polo at the FINA Games, the international senior tournament for aquatic sports. It was a priceless experience, made even more special by the friendships formed along the way.

Water polo has become an important part of my life. Although I’m still not in the shape I want, it helps me get a little closer every week. I feel so much better after playing every week that it motivates me to get out there for every practice. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve learned to play a very demanding, physical game and am mastering new skills all the time. Most of all, I thoroughly enjoy the people I’ve met and gotten to know through this sport, and the relationships that never would have happened without joining a team.”
– Kerry
Reach out to Kerry and ask her about her experience at: kerryhansell@yahoo.com

Say Hello!

Date: 9 Mar 2010 Comments:0

So, after resisting what has seemed to me to be a strange new-age cult, I have finally gone to a yoga studio to see what it’s all about. At my most recent class (in which I must have been 5x less flexible than anyone there) I had an experience with one of the teachers saying hello, asking me how I was. Of course, this is not a groundbreaking thing for someone to do but I did notice that it really had a positive effect on me and made me feel more excited to be there. I have noticed that same result happening when someone else in the class says hello. I feel more relaxed, more at ease, as if I am in the right place. It changes the whole experience for me when someone says hello, asks how my day has been going. Especially since the whole “yoga world” has an intimidation factor for me, it’s nice to know that both the people running the class and the people in the class take the time to say hello, encouraging me to continue the practice.

When I was thinking about this and reflecting on it, it reminded me of BAC and about how we can, both as coaches and as athletes, replicate that same experience of support and comfort. Everyone knows that some days are harder than others, that sometimes it’s intimidating to try something new and to push yourself to truly be your best. Knowing that those around you see you, support you, and want you to continue working hard, really goes a long way. I want to encourage all of our athletes to experiment with this. Next time you’re at practice say hello to someone you don’t always talk to. Ask someone how their day is going. You don’t have to have a long in-depth conversation in order to let someone know you see them. Just say hello and see what happens, see how it makes the both of you feel.

And maybe, just maybe, try yoga sometime. In truth, it’s actually really fun!

9 swimmers + 1 coach were selected to represent Zone-1-North

Date: 26 Feb 2010 Comments:0

A total of 9 swimmers and 1 coach from BAC were selected to represent Zone-1-North all-star team! Swimmers were selected base on their performances at the 2010 Zone Championships, and Coach Tom was also selected to coach the 11-12 girls team. These swimmers are:


Courtney W.

Nicholas S.

Ashley B.

Camille H.

Joey M.

Brandon S.

Kawei T.

Joshua Y.

Joseph (Jojo) K.

The meet is on March 7, 2010 at the Morgan Hill Aquatic Center. All selected swimmers will meet in Palo Alto on Saturday March 6th for combined practice, they will then travel to Morgan Hill to stay overnight, and then compete the next morning. Please wish them luck as they will swim against the best swimmers in all of Pacific Swimming.

Former BAC Star Starting For SSU

Date: 12 Feb 2010 Comments:0

Gina

Former BAC and Current SSU Goalie Gina Uliana

Former BAC/BHS standout goalie Gina Uliana is starting this season for her collegiate team, Sonoma State University. Congratulations to Gina on having all her hard work and training pay off with the chance to be her squad’s starting goalkeeper. Last Sunday Gina recorded a season-high 12 saves to help her team move past Redlands in a tournament in Southern Cal.
SSU will be playing Stanford this Saturday at Stanford, starting at 9:45am. Come out to the pool and make some noise for Gina!

14U Boys Water Polo Team Complimented

Date: 9 Feb 2010 Comments:0

This weekend the 14U boys water polo team competed in our final tournament of the season at Saratoga High School. For the first time this season our 12U and 14U boys competed together and the whole group was entered into a 14U tournament. Although it might seem that the combination of the two groups would lead to a lower level of play, this was not the case!

During our first game we looked more like a team than I have seen all season! The boys were working hard, setting up correctly, and making smart passes – many of which were assists! Our defense was strong and unified. As a club we focus on improving our skills and understanding of the game more than on winning, but it was great to see the boys’ hard work rewarded with a win in that game!

After the game I shook hands with the other team’s coach and he told me “your boys have come a long way in the last month.” It isn’t often that coaches compliment other clubs. Although I could clearly see the change in our level of play, the fact that another club’s coach noticed our improvements says a lot! The boys truly have come a long way, and everyone involved should feel very proud of the strides we have made!

Congratulations to everyone! I look forward to another great season!

Photos From The Distance Meet

Date: 9 Feb 2010 Comments:0

Be sure to check out BAC’s SmugMug photo page which has recently been updated with photos from this weekends home meet! Congratulations to all our swimmers on a great weekend!

http://burlingameaquatics.smugmug.com

Parents, if you would ever like to post any pictures from meets, games or other club events, please email me for instructions: Amy Gardner – amy@burlingameaquatics.com.

What the BAC Girls 14U Water Polo Team Demonstrated

Date: 8 Feb 2010 Comments:0

This past weekend the BAC 14U water polo program sent its girls group to compete in a day of girls-only competition, the first time that BAC has had enough respresentation for girls of that age group to have them play as their own team. Numbers were tight so the girls were short on rest, but they made up for it with great enthusiasm and an intensity that only seemed to build throughout the day.

The group faced many challenges through the day, not least of which was competing against teams that have a longer history of competition and who have already gone through the building staging that BAC is in the midst of right now. There’s always a certain level of intimidation that rises when you compete against those teams, and it takes tough athletes to be able to move past that and stay focused on the true task which in the end is team and player improvement. The BAC group did just that, loosening up and relaxing as the day went on, playing harder and harder and making more and more great plays. There were many subtle improvements to our play throughout the course of the day, from spacing to matching-up on defense, safer passes, and ultimately, more goals. It was amazing to see this group of girls make such quick adjustments. They became more relaxed, more confident, and worked through the anxiety of trying something new so that ultimately they proved they weren’t afraid to jump in the pool with anyone.

The best moment of the day was probably the one that came at what could have been the worst moment. After a three hour break between our second and final game, the team had gotten in the water to warm-up. Twenty minutes later and right before game time, the other team had still not appeared. They were a no-show, and it seemed we had waited around to play a game that wasn’t going to happen. As I brought the team over to the wall to tell them there would be no game, they all started shouting that they wanted to play anyway. “Can we play 3 on 3 with just us?”…. “What if some of those girls [on deck nearby] want to join us?”…. these were the kinds of things the team was asking, pleading to me. I looked to the parents to see if they would mind and they all shrugged their shoulders, “We’re here anyway, they’re in the water, let them play.”

We played about ten minutes of 3 on 3 and then a group of players from the club whose team hadn’t showed, a hodge-podge of different ages and levels, said that they only had five players but that they’d get in the water and scrimmage with us a bit. We accepted the offer with thanks, and played about a 15-20 minute scrimmage during which time every player made some of their best plays of the day, the girls were smiling and laughing, and when we substituted the player sitting out kept looking at me in that way that says: I want to go back in!

The whole day was a great success and an inspiring beginning for the future of 14U girls water polo at BAC. I’m proud of all the girls and am glad for them that years from now, when the team has grown and become its own established and intimidating presence, they can remember their important role at the start of all of it.

BAC Athlete Earns USA Water Polo Honors

Date: 1 Feb 2010 Comments:0

BAC water polo player Kirsten Tocchini recently earned the honor of being USA Water Polo’s co-Athlete of the Month for February, along with her sister Carla. To read more about Kirsten and her accomplishments as an athlete please visit the USWP link. Congratulations to Kirsten! BAC is very glad to have her as a part of our program!

practice update: 12/18

Date: 18 Dec 2009 Comments:0

Today’s practice (12/18) will be held at San Mateo High school. Below is the practice schedule:

Bronze 5:15 – 6:15 pm

Silver 4 – 5:30 pm

Gold 4 – 5:30 pm

Senior 4 – 5 pm

 

Also, there will be no Saturday practice tomorrow (12/19). Please check the website for updates regarding next week’s practice.