Why Kids Love Splashball

Splashball is designed to introduce the sport of water polo to children 5-11 years old. The intent is to provide basic skills and understanding of the sport in a recreational format. Although water polo is known for its toughness and endurance, SplashballTM harnesses all the fun, dynamic aspects of the game in a safe, easy to learn aquatic experience that will motivate kids to swim and stay fit.

USA WATER POLO SPLASHBALL RESOURCES & VIDEOS

USA WATER POLO

HISTORY

Founded in 1978, USA Water Polo is the National Governing Body for water polo in the United States of America. Originally governed by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) with assistance from the YMCA, the organization was formed following the passage of a federal law designating the US Olympic Committee as the coordinating body for all Olympic activity in the United States. Based on a volunteer structure, USA Water Polo moved to a more formal corporate model in 2006 consistent with reforms championed by the United States Olympic Committee.

USA Water Polo is a member organization with nearly 500 high performance club programs across America, and 45,000 active participants annually. The organization hosts a variety of national championships to serve the clubs, including Junior Olympics, Masters Nationals, the US Open of Water Polo, Champions Cup, the Rock-tober PCA 12 & Under Classic and more. The US Open of Water Polo, formerly the Indoor and Outdoor National Championship along with the Junior Olympics are the two oldest membership events and started in the time of AAU governance.

USA Water Polo's mission includes governance of the U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Water Polo Teams and the development pipeline of future athletes for the Olympic Games. Toward that end, USA Water Polo launched an official Olympic Development Program in 2009. The program serves approximately 3500 athletes from throughout the US, who are introduced to high performance methods and may be identified to participate in elite level training and competition opportunities. Some of these athletes are selected to join Junior, Cadet, Development and Youth National Teams by virtue of their participation in our ODP Championship and National Team Selection Camp events.

USA Water Polo includes a high performance division, which collects and shares information to help each club and athlete reach their potential through sport. The high performance group shares learning from Olympic and international competition with clubs, athletes, coaches and officials through a special Team USA app and a proprietary YouTube Channel. USA Water Polo is also a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance and the US Olympic Committee "SafeSport" programs, both designed to provide encouragement to athletes within a safe environment. USA Water Polo also maintains a Hall of Fame, honoring greats in the community, founded in 1976 and revamped in 2010, inductions are held annually. In 2009, the organization launched Splashball, a program designed to introduce water polo and water safety to children ages 5-9.

For the history of USA Water Polo's participation in the Olympic Games and other major international championships, please visit the Team USA section of this website.

Mission

Want your kids to be personally trained and mentored by an Olympian?

5meter Water Polo Camps give them an unique opportunity to experience the lifestyle, nutrition and training of an Olympian. They also get practical training tips and drills designed by some of the best coaches in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 

• World class drills and training
• Open to all genders and levels of ability 
• Complete immersion in Olympian lifestyle and training regime
• Emphasis on game appreciation and fundamentals

Designed by the top coaches and athletes in the country, the camp provides in-water instruction to make an immediate impact on an athlete’s game. Young athletes will have the opportunity to learn first hand how Olympic Athletes train, meet their nutritional needs, and balance their lives.

We want our campers to come home with experiences that enrich both the quality of their play and their life through a better understanding and greater appreciation for sport. They will  develope new techniques and a heightened level of self-confidence.

5meter Water Polo Camps and Clinics provide the highest level of individualized coaching for aspiring water polo athletes. Whether you are learning the rules of water polo and how to eggbeater or preparing for college level competition, we have the best water polo camp for you. Upon arrival at camp, campers are placed in groups with other players having similar abilities and goals. Our camp staff will do their best to accommodate your needs, keeping in consideration your experience and desire to improve.

• Superior instruction from USA Olympians and College Coaches
• Olympians get in the pool with you to demonstrate and lead drills
• Daily emphasis on fundamentals, position training, drills and scrimmages
• Position Specific Training for Divers, Shooters, Goalies & 2 Meter Offense & Defense
• Water Polo specific dry-land training. 

Genai Kerr is a USA Water Polo Olympian, coach, mentor, and true ambassador of the sport. Genai was a member of the United States Men's National Water Polo Team for 12 years and played in the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2003 & 2007 Pan American Gold Medal games, and multiple World Championships. He has coached at every level from Splashball to college and National Teams. He is a USAWP Sport Growth Manager, FINA Subject Expert, and consultant with a variety of countries.

Miguel lives in St. Louis with his wife and two sons, both of whom he taught at Wilson. He is an accomplished water polo player and coach, serving as the Assistant Coach for the US Water Polo Men’s Development National team and the head water polo coach for Desmet Jesuit High School Club, Club Director for the St. Louis Area Polo and the USA Water Polo Chairperson, Midwest Zone.

Colleen Lischwe serves as the head coach of both the men’s and women’s water polo teams at McKendree University. After serving as the program Graduate Assistant in its inaugural year, she was named the head coach for the women's water polo program in February 2017 and in June of 2018, Lischwe was named head coach for the men’s water polo program. She is currently the only female head coach of a men’s NCAA water polo program. 

On the women’s side, in her first season with McKendree, Lischwe was selected as the 2017 CWPA Midwest Division Coach of the Year. She took over the reins of the program as head coach in February 2017 and led the Bearcats to their first Midwest Division Championship match. The following season, Lischwe lead the Bearcats to a 9-16 record in their first season as a varsity program as a part of the WWPA Conference where they placed 7^th overall. Lischwe coached Emily Westlove who was given the program’s first All-American nod. Most recently, Lischwe helped the 2019 Bearcats to an 11-15 record, their winningest season to date.

After serving as assistant coach to the men’s program for its first two seasons, Lischwe became head coach of the team in June 2018 and delivered the team’s most successful season in program history. Lischwe lead the team to their first winning season in 2018, finishing with a 15-13 record overall. During her first season at the helm, Lischwe earned the 2018 Coach of the Year Award at the CWPA DII Championships and was presented with the Dick Russell Coach of the Year Award at the 2018 MAWPC-West Conference Championships. Additionally, McKendree won their first MAWPC-West Conference Championship, ending the 20-game winning streak of Gannon University along the way and defeating Salem International University in the finals. Following the win, McKendree made their first appearance at the MAWPC Championship Tournament. Lischwe coached Joseph Mahan to earn the program’s first men’s All-American award. In 2018 Lischwe was honored with the 2018 Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Coaching Award for the Midwest Zone by USA Water Polo.

As a player, Lischwe had a successful high school and college playing career. Named Missouri High School Female Player of the Year from 2005-2007, Lischwe was named to numerous All-Conference and All-District teams. Following her high school career, Lischwe starred at Marist College, a Division I program in Poughkeepsie, NY. As a starter and successful player for the Red Foxes, the attacker helped lead the team two MAAC conference championships. During her time at Marist, Lischwe competed in the NCAA National Championship tournament twice, finishing eighth in 2008 and seventh in 2009.

Prior to coaching at McKendree, Lischwe served as the head water polo coach at Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, MO. Additionally, Lischwe acted as the Midwest Zone Women's Cadet Coach for from 2010-2016 through the USA Water Polo's Olympic Development Program and will reprise this role in 2019. In addition to her collegiate coaching duties, Colleen also coaches both the boys and girls groups at St. Louis Area Polo, a club team in her home town of St. Louis, Missouri.

In 2018, Colleen received her masters of business administration from McKendree University.

Jake Ehrhardt finished his career at USC as the sixth all-time leading scorer for the Trojans while being named a five-time NCAA All-American. Ehrhardt helped his team to a National Championship in 2018 and three other appearances in the National Championship game. He was also named a Peter Cutino Award Finalist as one of the Top-three players in the NCAA.

In national competition, Ehrhardt was the Team USA Captain in the 2019 FINA World U20 Championship and the 2019 Final World University Games. He was a member of the USA Water Polo Men's Senior National Team from 2016-22.

Alana Burgess was named as the first-ever Head Coach for both the Men’s Water Polo and Women’s Water Polo programs at Wheaton College on October 10, 2022.

Wheaton announced the addition of Men’s Water Polo and Women’s Water Polo as the 22nd and 23rd varsity athletic programs at the Norton campus. The addition marks the first new varsity athletic programs since the baseball program was announced in 1996.

"We are thrilled to welcome Alana Burgess to Wheaton as our inaugural head coach of both Men's and Women's Water Polo,” said Viano. “Coach Burgess has played and coached at the highest levels of the NCAA and we are incredibly excited to partner with her to build our varsity water polo program and have her on campus as the leader of our newest teams. The future of Wheaton Water Polo is bright!"

Burgess is not only the first coach for the sports in school history, she is also just the fourth current female coach for a men’s program at the NCAA level.

"I am beyond thrilled to be named the Head Coach of the inaugural Men's and Women's Water Polo teams at Wheaton College,” exclaimed Burgess. “I will gladly accept the challenge of building both programs from the ground up and I am excited to be a part of an Athletic Department with a strong support system and winning culture. I would like to thank Gavin Viano, Lisa Yenush and the rest of the hiring committee for giving me this incredible opportunity."

Burgess most recently served on the coaching staff for the water polo program at Brown University. Prior to landing at Brown, Burgess was the Head Coach for the Women’s Water Polo program at Division I Saint Francis College (N.Y.). The West Coast native spent two years with the Terriers, including a year as the Head Coach and a season as an Assistant Coach. Her first season at Saint Francis’ mentor in 2020 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but prior to the season’s untimely cancellation, she led the Terriers to victories over La Salle University and Siena University. 

In her only full season with the women’s team in Brooklyn, Burgess served as an assistant on the squad that produced the highest win total at the school since the 2011 season. The Terriers highlighted the 2019 campaign with Burgess on staff during an impressive 3-1 home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference weekend from April 6-7. Saint Francis collected a trio of conference victories as it defeated Villanova University, La Salle, and Virginia Military Institute.  

In addition to her time as the Terriers’ women’s coach, she also served as an Assistant Coach for the Men’s Water Polo team, before being elevated to Director of Water Polo for the men. She helped the 2019 edition post a 19-14 record, The Terriers were unable to compete in 2020, but came back in 2021 to register a 16-7 record, including their first-ever appearance in the Northeast Water Polo Conference Championship.  

Previously, Burgess gained coaching experience as an assistant with the San José State University program, where she helped direct the Spartans to a 17-15 record during the 2016 season. 

In between her collegiate stops, Burgess received her first head coaching opportunity, leading the Menlo School Girls Water Polo squad in Atherton, Calif. for two seasons.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University in 2013. Burgess was a four-year member of the nationally-ranked Aztec’s women’s water polo team from 2008-12.