Waterpolo Expert Talk

By Andreas Schulze-Kopp

Ich liefere Euch mit meinen nationalen und internationalen Gesprächspartnern aus der Welt des Wasserballs regelmäßig spannende Einblicke in die Vereinsentwicklung, Trainingsplanung und Jugendarbeit. H... more

· Sports

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FAQs about Waterpolo Expert Talk:

How many episodes does Waterpolo Expert Talk have?

The podcast currently has 146 episodes available.

Waterpolo Expert Talk episodes:

December 06, 2025"You can’t sprint every day" - Brian Xicotencatl (Ep. 2)
Brian Xicotencatl on training structure, recovery monitoring, and data-driven coaching in modern waterpolo
🎧 Episode Overview
In Part 2 of this episode of WET – Waterpolo Expert Talk, the focus shifts to training structure, recovery, sprint physiology, and performance monitoring. Brian Xicotencatl explains why most water polo training plans unintentionally overload athletes and how better weekly structure can dramatically improve both performance and health.
A central theme of this part is heart rate variability (HRV) as an objective tool for managing training stress. Brian explains how coaches can use HRV data to classify athletes into green, yellow, and red readiness zones, allowing smarter daily decisions instead of relying on subjective impressions.
We also explore youth development vs. adult performance, why children cannot access true sprint physiology before puberty, and why technical skills and game understanding must come long before metabolic conditioning.
The episode closes with Brian’s insights into 6-8 Sports, performance diagnostics, and why fixing weaknesses — not reinforcing strengths — is the fastest way to raise an athlete’s performance ceiling.
🔍 Topics Covered
Why sprinting every day is physiologically impossible
48–72 hour recovery windows for metabolic and nervous systems
Weekly training structure: low days, stimulation days & sprint days
HRV tracking and wearable technology in water polo
Data-based coaching vs. intuition
Puberty and sprint system development
Long-term athlete development principles
Connection between WaterPolo Strong & 6-8 Sports
Game performance vs. movement quality
Why mobility problems always become performance problems
👤 About the Guest – Brian Xicotencatl (Part 2)
Brian Xicotencatl is the founder of WaterPolo Strong, a performance platform dedicated exclusively to the physical development of water polo athletes. He works internationally as a strength & conditioning coach, sports science researcher, and performance consultant, specializing in:
Injury prevention
Mobility & stability
Recovery optimization
Long-term athlete development
Data-driven performance diagnostics
Brian also collaborates with 6-8 Sports, where movement quality, power output, and game performance are measured together to create a complete athlete performance profile.
🔗 Contact & Resources
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @waterpolostrong
Performance Testing Partner: 6-8 Sports
...more
23min
November 29, 2025"You can’t out-train poor recovery" - Brian Xicotencatl (Ep. 1)
A practical, science-based conversation with Brian Xicotencatl on mobility, self-care, and the foundations of modern water polo training.
👤 About the Guest – Brian Xicotencatl
Brian Xicotencatl is the founder of WaterPolo Strong, a performance-focused strength & conditioning platform dedicated exclusively to the development of water polo athletes. He works internationally as a strength & conditioning coach, performance specialist, and sports science researcher with a strong focus on injury prevention, mobility, recovery, and long-term athlete development.
Brian’s approach is deeply influenced by his own playing career, which was shaped by multiple serious injuries. These experiences led him to rethink traditional training methods in water polo and to build a system based on movement quality, neurological recovery, data-driven coaching, and sustainable performance.
Through WaterPolo Strong, Brian supports:
Youth athletes (especially ages 12–18)
College players
Professional and national team athletes
His work combines practical coaching on deck, sports science research, and performance diagnostics to create training systems that help athletes perform at a higher level — and stay healthy longer.
🔍 Topics Covered
Why water polo is still behind in applied sports science
The real meaning of self-care in elite sport
Mobility as a key factor for power, verticality, and injury prevention
Warm-up, cool-down, and nervous system recovery
Hydration and carbohydrate intake during training and competition
Youth development and long-term athletic foundations
Why proper movement quality must come before heavy conditioning
The idea and philosophy behind WaterPolo Strong
...more
22min
November 22, 2025The Invisible Gap in Women’s Water Polo – Izabella Chiappini on Champions League, Media & Pay (Part 2)
“A clear and honest conversation about visibility, structure, and the future of women’s water polo.”
🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode
1. Media Visibility & Live Coverage
Why missing streaming is one of the biggest obstacles for the sport
Impact of low visibility on development, audience, and role models
Comparisons to men’s water polo broadcasts and production quality
2. The Gender Gap in Water Polo
Differences in investment, prize money, and event production
Challenges in creating equal opportunities
How reducing the gap can increase participation and interest
3. Competitiveness of the Italian League
Why the Italian women’s league is becoming more exciting
Closer matches, higher level of play, and rising parity
What this means for the growth of the sport
4. Athlete Perspective
Shoulder injury, rehabilitation, and mental resilience
Staying motivated through setbacks
The importance of team culture and international experience
5. Development & Youth Perspective
Why visibility directly influences youth participation
The need for consistent coverage to inspire the next generation
Importance of accessible competitions, highlights, and storytelling
6. Key Message
The goal is not full equality — but closing the unnecessary visibility and investment gap to give women’s water polo the foundation it deserves.
🗣️ Quotes From the Episode
“If nobody sees our games, it’s impossible for the sport to grow.”
“We don’t need full equality — just a smaller gap with the basic tools to succeed.”
“One good streaming setup can do more for women’s water polo than any written strategy.”
🏊‍♀️ This Episode Is For You If…
You’re interested in the future of women’s water polo
You want to understand the structural challenges behind the sport
You follow the Italian league or elite-level women’s clubs
You care about visibility, fairness, and athlete development
You’re a coach, athlete, official, or water polo fan
🎧 Listen Now
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.
...more
23min
November 15, 2025Against All Odds – From Brazil to the Olympic Games & Europe: The Water Polo Journey of Izabella Chiappini (Part 1)
"A powerful story of resilience, identity, and the will to keep going"
About Izabella Chiappini
Izabella Chiappini is a Brazilian-Italian water polo player known for her international career across Brazil, Italy, France, and the United States. She grew up in a true water polo family, was coached by her father, competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and later switched to compete for the Italian national team.
Her journey spans several top European clubs and includes a major comeback after injury.
Career Highlights & Stations
Brazil National Team – Junior & Senior teams, Olympic Games 2016
Arizona State University (USA) – NCAA Division I
Italy (National Team) – Competed after switching nationality
Clubs:
Brazil: Esporte Clube Pinheiros
Italy: Messina, Plebiscito Padova, SIS Roma
France: ULITIS (Lille)
Key Topics in This Episode
Growing up in a water polo family
Training under her father: tough love & lasting impact
Structural problems in Brazilian women’s water polo
Emotional experience at the Rio Olympics
Switching to Italy & chasing a medal
Injury struggles and rebuilding confidence
Professional career across Europe
Useful Links
Clubs
SIS Roma (Italy) – https://www.sisroma.com
Plebiscito Padova – https://www.padovanuoto.it
Esporte Clube Pinheiros (Brazil) – https://www.ecp.org.br
Lille / U.S. Métropole (France) – https://www.lmwp.fr
Federations & Associations
Italian Swimming Federation (FIN) – https://www.federnuoto.it
Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation (CBDA) – https://www.cbda.org.br
Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) – https://www.len.eu
World Aquatics – https://www.worldaquatics.com
Additional
Arizona State University Water Polo – https://thesundevils.com/sports/water-polo
...more
33min
November 08, 2025 „Wir müssen den Wasserball neu denken“ – Jan Pommer über Bundesliga-Reform, Nachwuchs & Beach Water Polo (Teil 2)
Über Reformen, Medien, Nachwuchsarbeit und den Mut, Dinge neu zu denken.
Über Jan Pommer
Jan Pommer ist Rechtsanwalt und erfahrener Sportmanager, der seit 2024 im Vorstand des Deutscher Schwimm‑Verband (DSV) Verantwortung für Innovation und Geschäftsfeldentwicklung übernommen hat.
Er verfügt über eine langjährige Karriere in Führung und Vermarktung im Spitzensport (u. a. Basketball-Bundesliga, DOSB).
Über den DSV
Der Deutsche Schwimm-Verband ist der Dachverband für Schwimmen, Wasserball, Wasserspringen, Synchronschwimmen und Freiwasserschwimmen in Deutschland.
Mit Sitz in Kassel organisiert er Verbands-, Wettkampf- und Nachwuchsarbeit über die Landesverbände und strebt eine stärkere Professionalisierung seiner Strukturen an.
Links zu aktuellen Regeländerungen im Wasserball
Neue Spiel- und Wettkampfbestimmungen im Wasserball beim DSV: DSV Regelwerke Wasserball
Meldung zur anstehenden Reform: „Neue Wasserball-Regeln gelten ab 2025/26 auch in Deutschland“
Übersicht über Änderungen durch den Weltverband (z. B. Spielfeldgröße, Angriffszeiten)
...more
31min
November 01, 2025 Neuer Kurs im DSV – Jan Pommer über Struktur, Digitalisierung & die Zukunft des Schwimmsports
"Vom Ehrenamt zur Professionalität, vom Konzept zur Umsetzung"
Jan Pommer ist seit 2024 CEO des Deutschen Schwimmverbandes (DSV).
Der studierte Sportjurist war zuvor Geschäftsführer der Basketball-Bundesliga (BBL) und beim Deutschen Olympischen Sportbund (DOSB) tätig.
Er gilt als Experte für Sportstrukturen, Professionalisierung und Verbandsmodernisierung.
🔗 LinkedIn: Jan Pommer
🌐 DSV: www.dsv.de
🏛️ Über den Deutschen Schwimmverband (DSV)
Der DSV ist mit über 600.000 Mitgliedern einer der größten Sportverbände Deutschlands.
Er vereint die Sportarten Schwimmen, Wasserball, Wasserspringen, Synchronschwimmen, Freiwasser und Eisschwimmen.
Ziel des Verbandes ist die Förderung des Schwimmsports auf allen Ebenen – vom Breitensport bis zur Spitze.
Mehr Infos: www.dsv.de
Wasserball-Bundesliga: www.wasserball-bundesliga.de
...more
32min
October 25, 2025 Inside Serbia’s Golden Generation – Andrija Prlainović on Winning, Pressure & Team Chemistry (Part 2)
“A deep dive into mindset, leadership, and the team spirit behind Olympic success.”
🏅 About Andrija Prlainović
Andrija Prlainović is one of the most decorated water polo players of all time.
With Serbia’s national team, he won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016, World Championship titles in 2009 and 2015, and multiple European Championships.
On the club level, he played for Partizan Belgrade, Pro Recco, Szolnok, and is currently with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade.
...more
33min
October 18, 2025A Life Shaped by Water Polo – Olympic Legend Andrija Prlainović on Career, Discipline & Championships
"Lessons from three decades at the top of world water polo"
🏅 About Andrija Prlainović
Born: Dubrovnik (CRO)
National Team: Serbia (2003–2021)
Major Achievements:
2× Olympic Gold Medalist (2016, 2021)
World Champion & European Champion
LEN Euro Cup Finalist
Club Career: Partizan Belgrade, Pro Recco, Red Star Belgrade, Marseille, Szolnok (Hungary), Fluminense (Brazil), Sliema (Malta)
[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrija_Prlainovi%C4%87]
[https://www.instagram.com/andrijaprlainovic/?hl=de]
https://www.worldaquatics.com/athletes/1035375/andrija-prlainovic
...more
27min
October 11, 2025 Chasing Dreams: From Pan American Glory to Olympic Ambitions – Jessica Gaudreault on Resilience, Pressure & Performance
Jessica Gaudreault on resilience, growth, and chasing the Olympic dream
Jessica on Instagram - Instagram
Pan American Games -
https://www.panamsports.org/
University of Michigan -
https://umich.edu/
Olympic Profile -
https://www.olympics.com/de/athleten/jessica-gaudreault
...more
20min
October 04, 2025 Between the Posts – Jessica Gaudreault on Goalkeeper Mindset, Chaos Training & the Future of Water Polo (Part 2)
“Jessica shares her journey from late starter to Olympian and pro athlete in Spain”
About Jessica Gaudreault
Jessica is the goalkeeper of the Canadian women’s national water polo team. Since joining the squad in 2013, she has represented Canada at six World Championships, three Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games. With professional playing experience in Spain and a passion for athlete development, Jessica brings both international perspective and years of high-level competition to the sport.
...more
34min

FAQs about Waterpolo Expert Talk:

How many episodes does Waterpolo Expert Talk have?

The podcast currently has 146 episodes available.

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