More Recognition, More Funding, More Action — Part 2:
Jul 2nd 2025
It Starts With Us
It’s 5:15 a.m. The pool lights hum to life. The water is cold, your body’s tired, but you show up — because this sport means something.
Water polo athletes put in work that most people never see. Practices before sunrise, doubleheaders on weekends, hours spent in and around the pool — all for a sport that demands everything.
And yet, despite the intensity, the skill, and the dedication, water polo is still often overlooked.
No prime-time coverage. Not enough funding. Not enough respect.
But that’s starting to change.
Because change starts with a movement, and that movement starts with us.
It starts with people who care enough to speak up. To share stories. To grow the game one practice, one post, one player at a time.
It starts with something as simple as asking...
So, What’s Your Why?
We’ve already received some incredible stories — honest, inspiring, and deeply personal. And we want to keep them coming.
Why do you love this sport? Why do you keep showing up?
Every athlete, coach, parent, and fan has a reason — and we want to hear yours.
That’s the power behind #WhyWaterPolo? — a movement to share the stories that make this sport so much more than a game. Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been around for years, your voice can help fuel the growth of water polo.
[CLICK HERE to share your Why]
Your story might be featured on social media as part of the nationwide campaign. Because if we want the world to care, we have to show them why it matters.
TRY WATER POLO — August 22–24
Want to help someone discover their why?
USA Water Polo’s, Try Water Polo Weekend is happening August 22–24 — a nationwide series of FREE CLINICS designed to help new players experience the sport for the first time. No gear. No pressure. Just a chance to fall in love with something new.
If your club wants to be part of this nationwide movement, visit usawaterpolo.org/TryWaterPolo or email sportgrowth@usawaterpolo.org to get involved.
This is how we grow — by opening the doors and letting more people in. One new player at a time.
What Else Can We Do? A Lot.
Water polo doesn’t need a miracle. It needs momentum. And that comes from people like us doing what we can with what we have.
Here are just a few ways we can grow the game — together:
Turn Up the Volume
We have to get loud!
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Post highlights, training clips, and team stories on social media.
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Tag local media, influencers, and sports pages.
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Push your school or league for equal media coverage. Ask why your team doesn’t get the same spotlight as others.
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Share the real stories: the kid waking up at 4 a.m., the teacher who trains after work, the Olympian juggling three jobs.
If we don’t tell these stories, no one else will.
Build from the Ground Up
New players don’t just appear. We have to find them and inspire them.
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Host beginner clinics.
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Offer to run water polo sessions in PE classes or after-school programs.
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Connect with swim teams — many swimmers already have the fitness and just need the spark to switch sports.
Make it easy. Make it fun. Make it welcoming.
Break Down the Cost Barrier
Water polo shouldn’t be out of reach just because of a price tag.
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Order gear in bulk through Delfina USA x S&R Sport for major savings.
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Apply for grants (like the LA84 Foundation).
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Ask alumni or former teams for unused gear.
Every dollar saved is another door opened.
Fund the Movement
We don’t need billionaires. We need buy-in.
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Start small fundraisers with clear goals: “Help us raise $1,500 for new cages.”
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Host a clinic or swim-a-thon. Sell custom team merch.
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Create a donor club with perks like VIP updates and early invites.
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Tap into your alumni network — they already care.
People love to support a cause with heart. Give them a reason.
Let Players Lead
Athletes are the heartbeat of this sport — and some of its best advocates.
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Build a personal brand. Post your journey. Be real and consistent.
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Start a blog, podcast, or TikTok series showing what life as a water polo player is really like.
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Reach out to local brands, schools, or donors. You don’t need permission to pitch your sport.
Your voice matters — and it carries.
All Eyes on 2028
The L.A. Olympics are coming fast. Both U.S. water polo teams are trending upward, and for the first time in a long time, the spotlight is shifting home.
Let’s use it.
Let’s build teams, push for coverage, run creative campaigns, and flood the internet with incredible content. Let’s show the world what we already know:
Water polo is strong, strategic, inspiring, and unforgettable.
It’s not just a sport — it’s a movement.
Final Thought: Be the Spark
You don’t need a title. You don’t need a big platform.
You just need to care enough to act.
Start that team. Launch that fundraiser. Host that clinic. Film that hype video. Post that teammate’s story. Email that principal. Message that sponsor.
Because when we all push together, water polo becomes impossible to ignore.
And when it’s time to gear up?
You already know where to go: Delfina USA x S&R Sport — Official Competitive Team Gear Partner of USA Water Polo and the trusted source for high-performance gear, team equipment, and the fuel behind the movement.
Let’s build it.
Let’s grow it.
Let’s make it happen.
