Cover story: Polo, anyone? Cover story: Polo, anyone? (August 03, 2005)

This summer clinic is about a lot more than water polo

By Katie Bearman

Special to the Almanc

"The last thing I'm doing is trying to recruit more water polo players," says Jack Bowen, a former Olympic goalie who runs a water polo clinic at the Menlo School pool that pairs young kids from the Boys & Girls Club with high-school-age players.

The point of the week-long clinic, sponsored by the South Peninsula Water Polo Club where Bowen is head coach, is to help boys in elementary and middle-school years learn about motivation, challenges and self-confidence.

"This is a well-rounded experience for the kids," he says.

Most of the 16 kids at the late-July clinic, which is in its second year, may never play water polo again, he says. But they can take other things away from it.

The high school players discuss favorite books and preferred study habits with the kids, as well as issues of success and failure.

"The kids learn that it's OK to be a male athlete and talk about failure," Bowen says.

Because the sponsoring club trains boys only, the clinic is limited to boys, but Bowen says he's working on creating a girls' clinic in the future.
Help with coaching

In addition to the talk sessions, everyone gets to play some water polo.

For five afternoons, the Menlo School pool reverberates with splashing sounds and verbal support from Bowen.

"Outstanding effort," he yells out frequently. "That's picture-perfect water polo we've got there!"

While Mr. Bowen directs the clinic, he relies on help from an entourage of brawny SoPen Club members. Each high school player serves as a personal coach and role model for one of the kids, Bowen says.

These "coaches" help him plan drills and discussion topics, and guide the kids through passing, shooting, and water-treading drills.

Each day, the boys take breaks to review what has gone on and discuss ways they can be their best -- not only in water polo, but also in school and other contexts, says Sally Howard of Atherton, whose 17-year-old son Pete, a SoPen Club member, participated in the clinic.

On the last day, the kids get to play their own game of water polo.

The program is no cake-walk for the coaches, who, at one point, are treated to an extra workout -- courtesy of their own coach. While the high school players are treading water, Bowen instructs the kids to jump on their shoulders and push down with all their might.

"That's it! Work Coach Ben," Bowen shouts. "He needs it!"
Gains for everyone

While the clinic is largely for the kids, it's also a great leadership opportunity for the high school players, Bowen says.

"They get to be individual teachers, and teach as they see fit. It's cool for me, as a coach, to see that."

Alex Ryles, 15, of Atherton, plays water polo at Menlo School and has helped out with the clinic both years.

"It's fun working with the kids," he says.

Pete says the boy he worked with did not speak much English, and that it was interesting to get around the language barrier using motions and demonstrations.

"It was fun to see the kids learn water polo -- something new -- and see what they got out of it," he adds.

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