Water polo fast-growing sport at Schaumburg Park District
Water polo is rapidly becoming one of the most popular sports among teens and is a fantastic way to get active at the district.
The program was introduced to the park district in 2010 and participation has been steadily increasing. With the sport quickly becoming more prominent, kids are starting to learn at a younger age. Children as young as age 8 participate in the park district’s program.
“Water polo is a great way for people of all ages to get active,” said Stacy Johnson, assistant supervisor of aquatics. “It works all of the muscle groups and builds stamina so it keeps players in good shape.”
Water polo combines concepts of basketball, hockey, soccer and rugby into one game in the pool.
Participants must tread water the entire time using an “eggbeater” kick making it a whole-body workout. A player can burn up to 930 calories on average in a single hour of practice or play.
“It’s easy to learn so participants pick it up quickly,” said Johnson.
The game is quickly gaining attention in the world of sports as more and more players join.
Alec Grabowski, 13, has played water polo for two years and really loves spending his summer mornings playing the sport.
“The coaches are great and a bunch of my friends are in class,” said Grabowski. “It’s really an interesting game since it combines many different sports into one.”
The district’s program teaches the basic concepts of the game including throwing, catching and strategy. A typical day includes drills to practice basics and a short game at the end of class to give participants experience in competition situations.
“It’s great to see the excitement from the kids when they learn something new,” said Patrick Halpin, one of the coaches. “They love getting the opportunity to be in the pool and learn the game.”
This summer’s program will conclude Aug. 8 at Meineke Pool, 220 E. Weathersfield Way.
For information, call (847) 490-7020 or visit www.parkfun.com.
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