Marco...POLO!

My boys have been involved in a summer water polo camp for several years now. They have a great time, and it keeps them active and wet and out of my hair for a few hours every afternoon during the summer.

This year I decided to come on the very last day to take pictures and watch them play. I meant to come earlier, but it was just so stinkin' hot that I couldn't bring myself to stand out there on the hot deck. Luckily, on that last day, the weather was unusually cool - not even in the 100s, so I grabbed my camera and went for it. Unfortunately, Nate had a bad earache that day, so he wasn't there.

Since this was the very last day, they were having a championship for the three practice teams that had been playing together all summer. Derek's team was just finishing their last game when I got there, so I didn't see much of his playing.

Then, Alex's team played Dylan's team for the championship. Dylan was on the white team, #4, and Alex was on the hair team, no #, of course. Alex played defense.

Dylan played offense and he was always right out in front, ready to make a shot. I was really impressed with how he could get all over the pool.

When I started watching the game, Dylan's team was losing 2 to 5. Then he made the next score. Bam! Into the net.

Another teammate made another score, then Dylan made another impressive goal to tie up the game with just seconds left.

Dylan and his teammates listening to the coach for final overtime instructions.

Then it was sudden death overtime. First team to make a goal wins.

What happened next was pretty funny. Another kid on Dylan's team threw the ball into the goal, and they thought they had won, but the coach/ref and I both saw that the ball didn't go all the way into the net before the goalie grabbed it, so he didn't blow the whistle for the score. But the kids all thought the game was over, and were looking at the coach waiting for a whistle or something. Even the goalie thought the ball was in and the game was over, so he tossed the ball back into the water. Dylan was right there, and just for fun, he picked up the ball and threw it hard into the net! The coach blew the whistle and announced that THAT was the winning goal. Go Dylan! The coach had to gather the team and remind them again that the ball was still in play and to always keep playing it until you hear that whistle.

So while I watched the game, I saw a total of 4 goals made - three of them were by Dylan. Hot shot!

Afterwards they all celebrated the season with hot dogs and chips, and messed around some more in the pool.

Water polo is so fun, and I look forward to watching my boys play a lot more of this sport for years and years to come!