US Club Championships 2026 Girls

General
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Quite possibly the saddest post I’ve read on water polo exchange because you are right. Some parents would indeed do this and tbf to this coach, he isn’t the only one.

There is a difference between college and 13 year olds. Anyone who does not understand that as a parent has lost the plot.

The only good thing I can say now is that at least youth sports are a free market. People can leave. Change clubs. Talk to safe sport. Talk to each other. Talk on water polo exchange. Or even have their own coming to Jesus meeting with the buffoonery that existed at US Club Championships by literally confronting the guy who is so far out of line for this age level that I would be shocked if he doesn’t get a response prior to JO to fix it asap because there is no way this should continue on the pool deck on full display making the story about him instead of the sport. At the Diablo 3rd place game, he embarrassed his program, the host, his girls, and the parents who had to witness it. A conversation is needed or this crap will continue.

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Let’s walk this back a bit. First of all what was said and what was done by this coach. I was not at the Diablo game but I was at the Stanford/CHAWP game. I saw him yelling, but nothing more than I usually see with coaches. This is why I made a statement earlier all along. I really didn’t see anything malicious or out of line.

If what you saw at the Diablo game was that bad then you sir should make a statement. That lady with the said “video” is irrelevant in my opinion. The video is probably nothing more than a coach yelling at refs and acting crazy about a call. Was that video also at the Stanford game? Hence,the reason I’m not so inclined to think that anything was that bad because I was able to watch that game and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

What kind of video is this anyway? Was she near the bench (doubt it). Is the video of him yelling from almost 50 yards away which is probably low quality and hard to understand (most likely). The person with the video probably doesn’t have anything compelling other than some crazy coach yelling and trying to work the ref. They all yell at the refs. Is it wrong… yes and no. These kids are facing a far more dangerous outcome when refs miss crucial fouls. I watched some really poor officiating this weekend and also saw some good officiating. These children have to learn how to protect themselves and when poor officials fail to recognize crucial calls that could turn a game or worse injure a player then I have a big problem with the refs at that point. Let’s just be honest here, USAWP officiating is horrible. It’s so inconsistent.

Do we also understand the accused coach’s background. Would it surprise you that he also reffed collegiately? I’m sure he gets pissed when critical calls are not being seen.

Keep in mind I’m trying to just play devils advocate here. No one should be accused of anything without the proper analysis and facts. Especially in a forum like this. I saw the SC coach a few weeks ago yelling at refs and I thought his behavior was a bit much. I’ve seen a Patriot coach have a temper tantrum on deck and thought it was out of control. What you perceive as maybe embarrassing is only your opinion unless there is fact to prove otherwise. Were those parents upset? Were those children upset by anything other than the loss. Was the officiating bad? Too much has to be explained.

I am a coach too and I think too much is being assumed by one or two people. I’m not trying to start something but this is your opinion. We have all seen crazy coaches out there. Also, I don’t think any club coach is peddling anything to parents when you end up on a big stage such as USCC. Those anthletes obviously earned the right to be there because the coach is probably a good coach. What I meant by D1 is nothing more than he is an established coach in the community that is able to develop good players. How he does it (as long as the children are safe) is up to the parents that keep their kids there. I can tell you this that coach is old school and many people in today’s society do not like that style. I mean come on, as a parent, I’m not spending countless hours sitting on pool decks for my mental health and well being. My daughter has a dream and I’m trying to help her get there. If someone on this forum has video then I implore them to make a complaint.

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Bar-n , you just don’t get what they are trying to tell you. It does not matter which way the calls were being made or not made, there is a way to talk to 13 yr olds and a different way to talk to college athletes. Even if his style is to yell a lot, you can cross the line, and apparently he crossed it.

The person that mentioned releasing the video did us all a great favor by bringing this up, and I hope she does send it to USAWP and to Safe Sports. That video will not be an’ opinion’ it will be loaded with ‘facts’, and whether that coach has been a reff before or not, does not matter one bit on how he should be acting as a youth coach.

The biggest issue here that i see, in a case like this, or with many other coaches, is that all these reffs also have to take the Safe Sports course and I have never understood why they let the coaches yell at them the way they do. All reffs make mistakes, just like all coaches do and all players do, but if they started yellow carding coaches right from the beginning of the game and red card to follow, I can guaranty you the coaches would tone it down, otherwise they would never finish a game.
It is also the job of the reff to protect the minor kids. I had reffed hundreds of soccer games, and back then, if I ever heard a coach, verbally abusing a kid, that coach was gone and reported immediatly. No warning. He was gone right away

You can say all you want about good or bad reffs, but without them, there are NO games, so we better start treating them with more respect.

Also, you mention that you are also a coach, which means you had to take the mandatory , Safe Sports course, and you should know that what is being recommended on this thread, is the appropriate thing to do. I know what is in Safe Sports course, because i’ve had to take it a few times.

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I didn’t want to be specific because SafeSport is the appropriate venue, and the parent with the video can provide whatever evidence they have. But now you’ve asked and want to separate it, so here it goes.

What I witnessed during the Diablo game was far worse than what you’re describing. That’s why he received multiple cards throughout the tournament and why so many people are talking about it. This wasn’t just another coach arguing with officials.

Every coach gets frustrated. Every coach has moments where they yell at referees. Newport, 908, Patriot, Lamo, Stanford, Diablo, Greenwich. Every single one of them. I wouldn’t want any coach judged solely by their worst moment.

That’s why this was different. Then you ask around and see it was an issue at all the games. If you go back to the original thread, I initially took the same position you did. I know this coach. I assumed it was the same old sideline theatrics and temper tantrums that everyone has seen before. His act is tired and predictable. Then I witnessed the Diablo game myself, and it changed my opinion. He has gotten worse.

In my view, threatening retaliation against another team because you’re unhappy with officiating crosses a line that no youth coach should cross. These. Are. 13. Year. Old. Girls. Threatening officials and advocating dangerous play to “send a message” is completely out of bounds. That isn’t passion. That isn’t being old school. That’s an adult losing control. That’s why I believe the Stanford mom. Because I saw it too. Because the refs saw it and took the abuse. Guy should go back to college if he wants to act this way. If I had a kid on the team, I would pull them immediately

You say he’s a good coach because he develops talented players. I disagree. A coach’s character and conduct are part of being a good coach. In my opinion, someone who behaves this way is not a good coach, regardless of wins or how many athletes reach the next level.

He may get temporary results through fear and intimidation, but at a tremendous cost. The kids pay the price. The sport pays the price. Every family on that pool deck pays the price by watching an adult model behavior that has no place in youth sports. To me, it was embarrassing and completely beneath the standard we should expect from any coach.

That’s exactly why so many people are calling this out. This isn’t about whether coaches yell at officials. They all do. It’s about whether there is a line that should never be crossed. In my opinion, that line was crossed, and that’s why the proper place for it is a SafeSport complaint, where the facts and any available evidence can be reviewed fairly.

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Dynamite reply. Agreed.

He needs to be carded every single game at JO from the first moment he gets out of line and send a message and if he gets a red card out of the game, so be it. This is one guy who needs to be reigned in.

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I concede. You answered my question. I am a firm believer that no remarks should be made without evidence and you provided that. We hear people judge and talk bad about others all the time, I just want it to be fair. If he was threatening then that’s all I need to hear. If I said he was a good coach it was not meant to come out that way.

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Yes I understand, but at the same time most of us do not know each other. People lie, complain, perceive things different all the time. Hell, a lot of people reading this stuff may not understand waterpolo well. They just like reading the forum and chiming in on their opinion. I don’t think it fair to accuse anyone on this platform without the proper facts. The lady originally just gave an opinion and claims to have evidence. We still don’t know truly. WPdad gave more clarity which definitely helped me with understanding the situation. I just don’t like when someone says a coach behaved badly without more insight. Surely we can under the basic principles of making accusations without facts

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I had your position until I saw the Chawp coach at US Club Champs with my own eyes and ears. Yes, I knew of him for many years. Yes, I think it’s gotten worse. Yes, I think he’s coaching the wrong age 100% and things have to change. Quick.

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I was not at the games, so I cannot comment on what happened at USCC.

If there are no lines crossed I see nothing wrong, in principle, with old school coaching. However, in my experience, when coaches complain about refereeing non stop too much, it also leads to “us against them” mentality among players and parents, which I do not find helpful, especially at the age group water polo.
It goes without saying that alleged advocating for retaliation at this age group is a big NO in Coaching 101.