After watching their children play water polo and rooting
poolside for years, several local mothers decided to get in the
pool and take up the sport themselves.
After watching their children play water polo and rooting poolside for years, several local mothers decided to get in the pool and take up the sport themselves.
In early October, a team was formed with women of varying ages and skills — everyone from an Olympic swimmer to some still learning how to swim. They began with practice, learning the ropes of a complex sport and gradually improved their skills. Now, the group of polo-playing moms have their own team and are in the process of putting together a schedule of competitive matches.
Live Oak High boys water polo and swimming coach Mack Haines originally heard about the concept in September after receiving an email from a similar team in southern California and enthusiasm shown by his wife Trish.
Haines started out coaching the team. However, coaching duties have been shifted this summer to Kelly Chassy, the first female All-American from Live Oak and daughter of player Maureen Chassy.
“She used to have her mom shouting during her games,” Haines said. “Now she is on the pool deck yelling at her mom.”
The team practices three nights a week and has between 12-15 players on any given night.
“We may have 12 one night, 15 the next and 10 the next,” Haines said. “Not everyone can make it every night because of family obligations.”
For the most part, the women on the team are mothers of water polo players, though there are a few who are not.
At first, Haines decided to take it slow; practice was in a shallow pool, only half the size of a regulation water polo playing area and not all of the rules were strictly enforced.
But over time, the team improved and even began to play junior high water polo players for practice, which allowed for a few interesting interactions.
A couple of the players had even taught some of the junior high players in elementary school.
“It is a novel thing for them to see me out of the classroom,” said water polo player Susan Hanson, who had two daughters play the sport. “My perception is they enjoy seeing me as a real person.”
Through practice and dedication, the skill level of the players has grown.
“We have come a long way,” Chassy said. “We really want to master the game.”
Water polo can become very competitive and very physical, something the moms had to learn.
“At first we were being polite saying ‘excuse me’ or ‘please,’” said Chassy. “But we changed that and now we’re swimming over people.”
“We will play dirty,” Hanson laughed.
Haines says the games with the junior high teams has not only benefited the moms’ team but also the young water polo players as well.
“It is an interesting dynamic,” Haines said. “The boys pay attention better. There is a natural discipline element combined with a competitive urge.”
Haines also said that the young players are less inclined to goof off, which makes the practices easier.
The Mothers’ team is now exploring branching out from junior high competition and taking on other moms’ water polo teams.
Haines says there are some competitions in August in both Southern California and Las Vegas, though he says nothing is set in stone.
“The goal is to take the competition on the road, one way or another,” he said.
Love of the sport is not the only motivation for the players. Water polo is one of the most difficult sports in terms of endurance, which makes for a good workout.
“We now play in the regular course,” Chassy said, “but when we began (in the short course), we were out of breath. Our skills are much better now.”
“The exercise is hard, but you are not feeling the pain,” Haines said.
The polo team received a boost with the opening of the new Morgan Hill Aquatics Center earlier this month, something that the team sees as a huge asset.
“The place is great,” Haines said. “Morgan Hill went from a place with no pools to having three in a short time.”
Haines said for the 25-plus years that he has coached, there has always been a sacrifice made in terms of his family for the sport, and now he has a chance to change that as a result of his wife being involved with the moms’ team.
“All the time, water polo had taken me away from my family,” Haines said. “I should have figured this out a long time ago.”
The water polo bug has struck the players full-force and Haines says they are all enjoying the game.
“They always leave with a smile on their face,” Haines said. “I will see Susan and my wife talking about a goal they scored or a pass they should have made.”
“This is awesome,” Hanson said. “I am having a ball. I wish they offered this when I was in high school. There was nothing like this for girls.”
Details: call Mack or Trish Haines at 778-5773 or drop by the Aquatics Center. Practices are held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the center.
