Two aquatic sports will be offered at the Santa Monica High School aquatics center this summer and these popular water sports are none other then Splashball and U10 Youth Water Polo.
Splashball and U10 Youth Water Polo head coach Matt Flanders said that the program has been successful since it was first offered to children two years ago.
“This is the second year Santa Monica High school has offered the U10 Youth Water Polo program,” said Flanders. “We run two programs right now. Splashball, which is Water Polo modified for the kids at the shallow end with smaller goals and smaller balls non contact, and U10 Water Polo which is full Water Polo rules with smaller balls and smaller goals but with all the deep end.”
Splashball and U10 Youth Water Polo head coach Matt Flanders said that the program has been successful since it was first offered to children two years ago.
“This is the second year Santa Monica High school has offered the U10 youth Water Polo program,” said Flanders. “We run two programs right now. Splashball, which is Water Polo modified for the kids at the shallow end with smaller goals and smaller balls non contact, and U10 Water Polo which is full Waterpolo rules with smaller balls and smaller goals but with all the deep end.”
Splashball is non contact sport designed to encourage young athletes, both boys and girls, ages 5-9 years to play Water Polo in a fun relaxing environment and serves as an introduction to the fun sport of water polo.
Flanders said the rules of Splashball are modified rules of Waterpolo for children.
“The rules have been modified to allow the young athlete to develop water polo skills, game concepts, and teamwork,” said Flanders. “It is played in the shallow end of the pool allowing the kids to touch the bottom. We will work on swim skills as well.”
Flanders said that U10 Youth Water Polo functioned more as a transitional sport to the game of Water Polo.
“U10 Youth Water Polo is full contact with only minor adaptions made to the game of Water Polo,” said Flanders.
Flanders is the head coach of the championship Samohi Water Polo teams, and a teacher at Samohi. The girls and boys of the Samohi teams assist him with the practices.
It is advised that children should be water safe before they come to practice.
Spring practices are currently running Wednesday and Saturdays at the Santa Monica High School aquatics center from April 10-June 8.
Full day summer camp sessions run from June 12-14, June 17-21, and June 24-28.
For more information about the program or to sign your child up for the summer camp sessions visit the website at www.samohiaquatics.com.
