Blog Post: Legendary Olympian and Coach, Dr. Terry Schroeder, On Community Value of Aquatics Programs

As one of the world's most acclaimed water polo Olympians, one of the sport's most revered coaches, and an International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, U.S. Men's Senior National Water Polo Team head coach, Dr. Terry Schroeder, knows a thing or two about the value and benefits of aquatics programs. And as a four time Olympian, who coached the 2008 team to a Silver medal win and who currently coaches 2012's London-bound Team USA, Schroeder is uniquely, professionally and personally qualified to address the many merits of community-based aquatics programs.

As a Conejo Valley resident who has been training U.S. National Teams in this area for the past five years, Schroeder also knows a thing or two about the dearth of “big water” venues to serve not only quadrennial Olympians, but to accommodate the fundamental needs of local children, youth, adults and senior citizens.

"It's very difficult to get pool time in the Conejo Valley," said Schroeder. "There's just not that many suitable pools in the area."

The team can be found training, (when they’re not traveling or competing elsewhere), at one such suitable venue, the California Lutheran University (CLU) pool facility. “With the Olympic team training here, we’ve seen a tremendous growth and interest with the youth,” Schroeder states. “I think the potential is huge for continued growth through the next years, and especially if we have some good facilities. Orange County, Santa Barbara County and Northern California all have many Olympic size pools to accommodate youth, club, Masters and senior aquatics programs, and I don’t think we’re doing that to the level that we really could here in our community.”

Exiting Thousand Oaks there is simply no community pool access along the entire Conejo Grade. Some of the surrounding area public high school pool facilities have been upgraded but are not, generally, open to the general public.

's (AHS) tiny, deteriorating, 40-year-old (which was closed for three days this week due to problems with its obsolete, and no longer up to code equipment) remains virtually unchanged, however, since its 1971 . At just 15 by 25 yards and six lanes, it is simply unsuitable for community access due to its size, condition, and near constant usage by school aquatic teams, which now number upwards of 100 student-athletes.

And, it is unquestionably and altogether inadequate for Olympic team trainings due to those size and condition constraints. “The limitations in a small pool are that you have to constantly be doing flip turns, you’re constantly running into other people, and not as many people can, obviously, train at the same time,” said Dr. Schroeder. “’Big water’ is what allows our sport, swimming and water polo, to grow to the next level.”

This past 2011-2012 water polo season, AHS coaches Jason Rosenthal and Dusty Litvak created a Novice League in order to accommodate the of new students who sought to join the program. In order to train all the various boys and girls student-athlete levels in they tiny, substandard pool, practices must begin at 5:30 a.m., and do not end until after 9 p.m. most evenings. No more than one group can practice at the time.  

It is the goal and objective of the Agoura Aquatic Foundation to bring a newly renovated pool facility to Agoura High School aquatic student-athletes and to the community at large. Much like the Conejo Parks and Recreation Department’s community aquatics programs offered at Thousand Oaks High School and CLU, the Agoura Aquatic Foundation endeavors to bring public access swim lessons, recreational and therapeutic aquatics to Agoura Hills and the surrounding communities.

“I think our community is hungry for that,” Dr. Schroeder said. “I think we have so many more kids who could get involved with swimming and water polo if we have the facilities. I think we’re struggling in this area to accommodate what the needs are in the aquatic world. I think it comes down to what the community leaders really want. If you take a place like Orange County, so many things take place down there, from swimming and water polo, to soccer and volleyball, because they support these youth programs. There’s no reason why our community can’t do better with that.”  

As a highly successful, life-long athlete, and Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine, (DCM), Dr. Schroeder's insights and opinions concerning the community health benefits of swimming, water polo and other aquatic exercise are decidedly well informed. Providing local access to youth, adult, and geriatric aquatics exercise is "vital to a healthy community," said Schroeder, who still continues to swim every day.

“The water is healing; it’s easy on your joints,” he said, “I feel so much better when I get out of the water, and I know swimming will be a part of my life forever. And southern California is the perfect environment for our sport. And, I really believe that if we have the facilities, we will see more and more growth of aquatics in our area.”

Swimmers and water polo athletes are considered to be some of the fittest and healthiest athletes of all. And, major injuries are rare. “Recreational swimming and water polo are something you can do at any age, really,” said Schroeder. “It’s great exercise for young and old, and, it’s something that people can maintain throughout their lives. And as you train, you see bodies change. You see young kids turn into athletes."

And while many benefits of swimming and water polo exercise are physically evident, it is team participation and contribution that elevates individual human development, according to Schroeder, and something young people should be encouraged to experience. “I think that team aspect is so important for young people to understand. Water polo has helped me to be a better man; a better husband; a better dad,” he said. “Dedicating and sacrificing so much for each other, knowing that you have a common goal, knowing that you’re going after something that’s more important than self; it’s really about doing something for the team,” adds Schroeder. “That’s one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in this sport - the more you help others reach their goals, really, the more you help yourself…the more you learn and grow yourself."