As I write this column, the 2015-16 athletic recruiting cycle is well underway. High school seniors throughout the water polo world are just starting, have already finished, or are in the middle of their cycles. The target audience for this column is seniors in some stage of the process—but especially 9
th-11
thgraders who might aspire to be student-athletes, their high school and club coaches, and their families.
I encourage aspiring student-athletes and their parents to think broadly about their collegiate water polo options. While many set their sights on the traditional "Top Four," there are many intercollegiate varsity programs (62 for women and, starting in Fall 2016, 47 for men) to consider.
Unfortunately, some college coaches actually seem to "hoard" good water polo players, swelling their rosters to well over 30 players. This practice could be described as "preventative recruiting"—i.e., coaches recruiting good players for their squads to prevent them from going to the competition, even though they know the athletes will see little, if any, meaningful playing time over the course of their college careers.
It's always painful to hear about an athlete who starts playing water polo at age 10, is a strong year-round club and perhaps even ODP-level athlete who progresses well enough to be recruited into one of the "top" college programs—but once on campus only enters the water as a "practice dummy." And depending on the size of the roster, this athlete only practices with the "B" or "C" team, never gets a cap number, never suits up for games, isn't developed and is even ignored by the coaching staff. The worst part is this player becomes frustrated and not only quits the varsity team but also ends up abandoning water polo for good. Sadly, such an experience costs American water polo a potential supporter and perhaps even future generations of players.
It doesn't have to be this way. If all the high schoolers who aspire to play water polo in college critically examined their abilities and potential college opportunities, made honest choices, it's likely they would self-distribute more evenly among college water polo teams. Player hoarding would decline significantly. And student-athletes who spent years training would actually get to play water polo and continue to enjoy their sport, along with its peripheral benefits (great exercise, camaraderie among teammates, discipline, strong work ethic, etc.) throughout college and beyond. Ultimately, the sport of water polo would grow in the United States.
So as you progress through this or future recruiting seasons, evaluate your abilities and options realistically. Consider if you really want to be a student-athlete, and if so, what you want out of it. Are you advanced enough to contribute to an NCAA championship team? Are you willing to ride the bench, knowing deep down your efforts will have no impact on the season's outcome? Or do you actually want to
play water polo at other schools? If you want to collect a championship ring for your memorabilia collection, fine—but sign on with your eyes wide open. If you decide you actually want to play and nurture your love for the sport, consider all of the intercollegiate water polo programs and select the one that's right for you. Then at least you'll be able to look back on your collegiate water polo career and smile—because you actually
had one. Then all those years spent witnessing sunrises and sunsets from the pool on the same day will have been worthwhile
Angela Kraus is an experienced and certified college counselor providing comprehensive services to help students ensure eligibility for high school graduation and prepare for admission to colleges. A special focus of her practice is advising high school athletes as they pursue the athletic recruiting process, with emphasis on water polo players. Questions? Write her at angela@shootingforcollege.info.
