Larry Zubrin

I have over 30 years of experience coaching both swimming and water polo. I've worked with teams/individuals from the youth age-group level to international programs. I began my career coaching boy's and girl's swimming and water polo at the high school level in Orange County, CA. First at El Modena High School where developed a top 10 county program, then at Laguna Beach High School where I led the program to its first CIF-SS Championship and helped lay the foundation for one of the top girls water polo programs in the country.
I moved to the College ranks in 2003, where I took over as the head men's and women's water polo coach at Occidental College. Over the next 12 years, I would become the winningest coach in the program's history; while developing numerous NCAA All-American and All-Conference student-athletes.
It was during my time at Occidental that I began developing a progressive Individual Water Polo Skills Development program as I would provide one-on-one instructions with local youth athlete's during the off-season. This program focuses on skill development in passing, shooting, individual offense and defensive techniques, and position specific training.
When I became the Aquatics Director at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, CA, I instituted a Water Polo Camp series as part of our summer aquatics program. This camp series caters to individual athlete's as well as small groups and entire teams.
I'm a certified member of both USA Water Polo and US Swimming organizations. I've also completed the Safe Coach certification program via the American Red Cross. Additionally I'm an American Red Cross certified Lifeguard Manager and Lifeguard Instructor as well as a Water Safety Instructor.

I began my competitive swimming career at the age of six. During my youth years I competed in several Junior Olympic championships in addition to numerous other national and international events. I was a four year NFHS All-American swimmer at Corona Del Mar High School in Newport Beach, CA, which is also where I began my water polo playing career. At CDM our water polo team won two section titles during my four years. I would go on to attend Golden West Community College where I would earn two more NJC All-American awards and help the men's water polo team to a state title. I would conclude my collegiate swimming career as a two year NCAA All-American at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Upon graduating from college I continued my water polo career as a professional in the Australian National Water Polo League as a member of the Brisbane Barracudas. After the 1994 season I returned to the United States and began my coaching career.

For an individual water polo training session, I would start with a 5 minute warm-up followed by 10 minutes of leg conditioning. I believe strong legs are the foundation of a successful water polo player, and each training session would incorporate this aspect of fitness. After approximately 15 minutes of warm-up & fitness work, the rest of the session would focus on specific skill development. Shooting for example, would begin with teaching proper body position from legs to hands. We would then progress to the specific action of shooting from the rear-back to the follow through. Along the way we discuss and practice various shooting techniques and strategies. I like to incorporate the use of video in my training sessions as a way to follow-up with my athletes and help them to better recognize areas of success as well as areas where improvement is needed. We would conclude each session with a review, warm-down and if time permits a quick one on one or small group competition.