speaker-0: Welcome to this podcast.

speaker-1: Water Polo Expert Talk. Get the insights.

speaker-1: When you mentioned that you are playing in Greece and seeing right now your guys from the national team, younger guys playing also in Greece and Spain, are there any, did you get any emotions, any emotional things in mind saying, okay, that's great to see, yeah, so these guys playing in my pool.

speaker-0: Yes. And and sharing the stories too and and wearing wearing the threads, you know, wearing the the the three leaf green clover that, you know, Panathanikos has. And the other thing that you know, Deanadovich has done an amazing job of getting more players connected to European teams and getting our young athletes these opportunities to go play and grow amongst the best of the best. We you cannot compete. An underdog can never compete if they can't get in the same water. so we're we're Dan has done a great job. Some of our other collegiate programs have done a great job of placing their players some places and in rising the tide of our players and we're reaping the benefits now. You know, in the last four years, Team USA has been on the podium at some age level. That's never done been done before. we had two silver medals at twenty Us. We have now a silver medal at eighteen U, and we have a bronze medal in the Olympics. That has never been done before. so we're blessed. And it has there's so many people that have their hand in that, that have helped our program get to where it is. And I feel like we're just we're right there, we're we're getting there. And hopefully in the next couple of days, we can do say the same for our sixteen U team.

speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. So I think I remember on the, on the headline of the podcast with Dejan saying, okay, it's really essential and mandatory thing for us and our players to play in Europe. because only in Europe, they get the experiences for playing for the U S playing under pressure, playing on a high level of competitiveness and so on. So that's mandatory for us and for players to be successful. And then. think the podcast I think two or three years ago, you know, so time is running, then that's the fruits, then you mentioned that's going out everything in the same direction or in a good direction then.

speaker-0: And and it to go to that and go go even go younger, go at the younger ages, you know, even when we go to Europe to play, you know, we travel to your Italy or we travel to Spain, we travel to Hungary, whatever one of those countries, right? The first week, we're getting our kit. We are getting kicked. And we're like, wow, this is faster, more explosive, this is more physical. Wow, they can still function mentally in through all that contact. And our athletes are like, what is going on? By day six, day seven, we start to adapt, we start to grow. And it's not just us, you know, any country, Australia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and anybody that wants to go in Canada, when they go to these countries, because we live in the small bubble, we don't get the exposure and experience. But then day on it opens us up. Now we're starting to travel more, we're starting to get our butts kicked, we're starting to see the level of competition. And we are just now rising to that. And I think it's really spreading. And and you can see like this weekend, 16 years. Russia. Russia's destroying teams. And we're like, where do they come from? Well, they haven't been on the market for the last four to six years. But now they're beating teams that were like, well, this is phenomenal. Now they used to be dominant teams, you know, back in Sydney and Australia in the Olympics. I think Russia might have gotten top three. And now they're coming back into the stage, and that probably has a lot to do with Filipovich now leading that group and and being part of that. But it's just great to see When you well it's great to see when you get the opportunity, how these athletes can then rise. And that's part of us just trying to send as many as we can over there.

speaker-1: Yes, also another statement from another US player with the legs bone said, okay, you have to be coachable. Yeah. So it's not really then only the fact that you are have talent or go frequently to the, to the practice that you have to be coachable for your coaching stuff or your coach. And that's maybe if I understand it correctly, that is what your meanings are that they are able to. to adapt during the first, I don't know, six, seven, eight days during a practice camp saying, okay, there is something different, but maybe it's not on the other side, it's on us to adapt to the next level, yeah, so to the opponent on the other side.

speaker-0: And that usually comes with athletes that are not afraid to fail. Being adaptable and being understandable are not the ones that are emotionally tied to the failure of those first four days and they can't recover emotionally. If they can disconnect their emotions to their behavior, right, and then just see the moment as it is and grow from that instead of wallow or dwell in the misery of it, those kids can get a lot further along. They have a growth mindset. So once we can break that free, and I feel like there's more and more kids right now that are struggling in that fact, at least here in the States, it might be other places too. we really have to teach that. And and that's why I think our whole sport, you know, w here in the States, I don't know if it's happening in other places, I'm sure it is, is we're spending more time on the mental capacity of it, the emotional capacity of it as athletes that complement the physical. Where I said earlier. Physic physical was our always our first option of teaching. Let's just teach them how to do the skill. But they have no concept how to do it in the game. And there's the discussion whether they're emotionally tied to the situation or they're mentally puzzled. Like mentally, and then what happens is the skill set doesn't come in place because they're frozen in time because they have no clue how to function mentally.

speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. So this is maybe you, you mentioned that you are a little thief of other sports. Yeah. So this is maybe, but when I'm thinking about it, maybe something coming from other sports as well, where this is happening over the last decades. I don't know. from, from, from football, soccer in Germany, for example. So it's happening the last 20, 30 years. Yeah. So maybe, and this is something coming from other sports saying, okay, we need to get this somehow adopted. And this is maybe also a reason for the increasing speed or increasing complexity of the game. maybe this is a result of that.

speaker-0: Without a doubt. And again, I'm I'm doing a deep dive into Barcelona soccer, Barcelona soccer right now. I'm really trying to learn as much as I can about Tiki Tok. Tiki Tok. I'm not probably not even saying that right. but I'm trying to grow in that and just understand their development program, how they're doing it and and try to adapt their football style and cognitive awareness. And that's something that we want to try and adapt here is adaptive cognitive awareness is what we really are pushing now, we're gonna enter this into our phase of our pipeline programs and emphasize more of that than these twenty-five yards or twenty-five repeative skills. No, we need to get their mind challenged, then their body follow it.

speaker-1: Yeah. Yeah. So then maybe Barcelona, it's really the first place to go. Yeah. So we just, not only regarding water polos, it's regarding football and ball, basketball, you can name it. Yeah. So it's, of the sport then. Without a doubt. So when you see, example, the World Cup soccer, yeah. So it's at the end, it's not only Barcelona, yeah, but Spain.

speaker-0: It's correct.

speaker-1: Same school. You mentioned that it's maybe not at the end works out for you as a player to go to Olympics, but also attending three times the Olympic Games in several roles and several functions. When you joined the Olympic Games for the first time as a coach or video analyst or whatever, so what was that for feeling when you know, okay, I'm aware of my history and the story behind me? regarding all the reasons why it not happened as a player, what was it for the feeling as a team part of the coaching staff, for example, to join the Olympics the first time.

speaker-0: Yeah. You know, I I I was thankful that Terry Schroeder brought me on as a scouting coach in two thousand twelve, in London. And it was one of my most memorable Olympics because First of all, London did such a phenomenal job of hosting and the experience of all this venues and living in the village and outside the village and all that stuff. It it was a memorable moment for me, just to be part of it. And you know, he brought me in and I got to do all the things with the team and and really get the the exposure and experience I was always wanting as an athlete. And unfortunately, you know, it didn't happen that way for me. but I knew that I had to do whatever I could do to help the team in whatever c fashion that was for me to be part of that. so I'll always remember London. And then I was blessed enough to get hired on as the assistant coach for 2016 in Rio. And it was a different experience. I was an on deck coach and and growing in my own behaviors and manners of being an assistant coach. And, you know, I I struggled. I struggled a lot through the Rio Olympics. I grew a lot. I I think the team struggled and we learned a lot through that phase, Dayan and I together and trying to what how are we moving in this direction of of USA water polo? And but from that, again, being brought into Paris as my personal strengths is that's the scouting side of it. That's the dissecting of the game and tactics and seeing the game inside the game. I was thankful that Dayon trusted me and brought me back in and being part now of three Olympics, I feel like it's part of my D DNA. It's something that I I need. I I want to be part of. I see great value in it for not only the athletes but also the development of our sport here in the States. I want to try to implement the high level thinking that we're going in the right direction for Team USA. and that's that's part of creating the 16 under, 18 under, 20 and and bringing it all the way to all the way through the patterns from the senior team all the way down. the hardest part I'm recognizing for me is

speaker-0: Taking what's in my head and what's in Dayon's head and then translating it to other coaches, I'm trying to find the right path for that. I pr might not be the sharpest tool in the shed to to process those thoughts and put them on paper so other people can understand it. so I'm trying to surround myself with quality people that are strong in my weakness that can disseminate that information and with other other information and and come together and try to create. player education opportunities, coaching education opportunities, so that here in the States we can grow. at the same time, you know, help other countries, help the neighboring countries around here that we can compete against Europe. 'cause it's not just a Europe game, it's it's worldwide.

speaker-1: Yeah. And when you say, there was a time during the Rio Olympics, I guess you said, where you struggled a lot and also people around or the team as such struggling. What was really then for you personally, the biggest thing or the biggest...

speaker-0: That's a good question. You know, I I think now looking back, I probably didn't recognize it then. I I'm such a competitor and I can't stand losing. and I I let my emotions and something I talked about earlier about the athletes, I let my emotions carry the moment instead of thinking without the emotions and thinking clearly on what it the team needs first. so that was a big growth for me. now I try not to lead with the emotions. I try to set those aside and really think what is the solution to this situation and be adaptive in the moment. and that was a big curve for me. And I think I grew through that. I think us as a a team, you know, unfortunately I made, you know, some ridiculous moments in games. And, you know, acting as a head coach, as an assistant coach, you get red cards. And, you know, I learned from those moments. And You know, you can't you can't act the same. You gotta be a supporting cast. And that was new to me too, being, you know, I've been a head coach all the way up until then. And then you want me to sit down and not be a head coach anymore and be quiet? Like it was very difficult. And but I learned I learned through my mistakes, I've learned through my failures. And I feel like I've I can grow and and learn and be more, you know, receptive to the moment.

speaker-1: Yeah, so we just, could imagine not so easy as you mentioned, yeah. So with the history and long-term relationship to the sports, then not to carry maybe the moment with the emotions and with the feelings during a game. Yeah, it's, yeah. I think everybody is listening here. So it's a...

speaker-0: line because you wanna you wanna have emotions. You wanna show your care for the what you're doing and your passion. the problem is that fine line is when that passion becomes a detriment to your actions, your thoughts, and then your team's function abilities. So again, a lot of growth for me. A lot of growth

speaker-1: Yeah, it's also the expectation from the team maybe or from the teammates. So maybe this could also be then as a really small line, thin line between, okay, he's caring about us or he's not caring about us because he's not reacting. So it's a complicated situation for a coach sometimes.

speaker-0: Very very important. They must know that you're there for them first. And you know, if you if you're a coach, you have to make sure that your athletes recognize that you're there for them. They're not there for you. and I have a saying that, you know, connect should be for direction. I have to connect with everybody, whether that's a referee, another coach, players, before I ask to direct them. so I'm really trying to be really aware of that and personally. not only for my family, you know, I want to connect with all my family members before I ask of something of them. so I'm growing in that as well.

speaker-1: Yeah. So we just, maybe then a good advice, maybe for, coaches. Yeah. So we're listening to the podcast today. So, just to get the emotion somehow collected, directed in the same, in the good direction.

speaker-0: Absolutely. Absolutely.

speaker-1: So when you're back also during the career as a player or as a coach, what was then really the biggest thing you carried from your active career as a player to a coach career at the end? So are there anything you... Yeah. You mentioned it was not really the initial plan to be a coach at the end. No. But there are for sure a few things you... carried on from inside the pool to outside the pool.

speaker-0: For sure. you know, I I definitely think one is they're they're connected as being competitive. If you want to be successful in life, you have to be extremely competitive and want to dominate the moment. And that was something that carried on as an athlete into my pla my coaching ability and wanting to to to give that to my athletes. and then consistency. You know, consistency is another recipe for success. If you're not consistent with your lifestyle, your behaviors, your work ethic. you will fail. You you you will only train or only succeed to the level that you train. so those two things that you know I I grew in obviously it's a roller coaster, right? When you're sixteen, eighteen, twenty years old, you're being distracted by so many things around you. but I think the other thing that is really compar comparable or something that I learned from being an athlete to a coach is We as coaches need to make sure that we have their best interest and we try to get the athlete to recognize their greatness. and sometimes we go about the right way with some athletes because athletes receive it that direction. And some at sometimes we go wrong with some athletes because they don't receive it that way. so in my opinion, a coach can't be one way. He has to learn to be changes colors. He has to learn how to communicate to every single athlete in a different perspective. And I think I struggled with that as not only as a coach. But as an athlete, like this coach isn't talking nice to me and then I'm being affected by it. Right. so I think coaches have to recognize that a little bit. It's not my way or the highway. It's it's how can I get each of these athletes to be their best? And then I have to adapt to that. And then try to get them all to come under that same umbrella. So I think those are the two things that I learned from as well as I brought over.

speaker-1: Yes, from what you're saying, I would imagine that so many things more. So maybe then we have to find another slot to talk about all the rest, maybe some, sometimes later. So at the end, have really five short questions for you. So maybe Spain or Greece, which professional experience changed your view of water polo more?

speaker-0: Man, that's so difficult because I thought they were both unique, uniquely different. How about how about this? Spain was perfect for my time at that at that phase in my life of experience a professional environment for the first time. Greece opened my eyes up to how barbaric the fans can be. It was incre it was an incredible environment.

speaker-1: So maybe then you have already the answer for the next question. Best water polo atmosphere you ever experienced? So we have the answer already.

speaker-0: Greece by

speaker-0: It's Greece by far. I there was flares shooting over the pool when I was playing. Another whenever Ponathon Ecos played, even if we weren't playing Olympiakos, Olympiakos with fans would be there to throw rocks at us and boo us and yell at us. It was incredible environment.

speaker-1: Sounds weird. Most underrated skill in water polo.

speaker-0: yeah.

speaker-0: man, most underrated. Gosh, I would say so everybody thinks these are great. So I think awareness of the three steps ahead or four steps ahead. If you can play the game out in your mind, it doesn't matter how big or fast or strong you are. If you can literally be ahead of the game mentally, you can beat anybody in the pool. For for instance, I've I know some players that I played against that were Olympic golden medalists in swimming. But then some players weren't quite as fast as that player, but could still think and faster than them and that and neutralize their speed. So thinking is to me is the most important thing.

speaker-1: Okay, good. Best advice for a 60 year old player with national dreams.

speaker-0: So re I got tied up with the sixty year old. Repeat that last question.

speaker-1: Best advice for a 16 old player with national team dreams.

speaker-0: Mm.

speaker-1: Consistency.

speaker-0: Yes. definitely consistency. Put yourself in the right environment. You know, I think at sixteen years old you get caught up wanting to hang out with your friends and doing what your friends do. But if you if you want to be an Olympian, I'd sell this to everybody, if you want to be a division one athlete, you want to be an Olympian, it's a lifestyle. You wake up thinking it, you everything you do complements it. It is not just a light switch that you go, Well, today I want to be an Olympian. No, it's a consistently lifestyle that you live out every day.

speaker-1: Yeah, perfect advice then for the audience here. Yes. Last question, then we made it. One thing every young coach should stop doing.

speaker-0: Trying to be somebody else. I think a lot of young coaches, and I got caught up with this, is I've tried to emulate somebody else's coaching style and was over the top in it and it wasn't natural. so you end up trying to do something or be something or tell or say something in a way that is not natural to you and it comes across forced, it comes across in disingenuous. and I and I did that. You know, I I try to mirror a lot of great coaches that were just not my style and try to be super hard on athletes and I'm like, What am I doing? It doesn't even sound right coming out of my mouth. so really just try to be yourself, find out what that is and and really hone in on that and then sharpen those tools inside your own shed.

speaker-1: Perfect. So then we have a perfect advice for players and a perfect advice for coaches at the end.

speaker-0: Andres, I appreciate this. Thank you for your time.

speaker-1: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for your time. maybe then we have a chance somewhere in future to talk again. I would love that. There is an impression on my side that there so many things to do to talk as well.

speaker-0: Couldn't agree. Could not agree more. I wish you the best. I wish to see you on tech someday. And take care of yourself.

speaker-1: Absolutely. So, maybe then during the Olympics in LA.

speaker-0: That would be that would be wonderful. If you're in town, please reach me up. Reach out.

speaker-1: Maybe then we have to have a chat with Mitsu before. Just in case for some kind of apartment maybe.

speaker-0: That would be great. I I would I support that idea.

speaker-1: Perfect. Tim, thanks for your time. All the best. and talk to you later. you. care. Bye.