10/15/2026
When we protect our athletes, we protect Water Polo.
Water polo not only requires extreme endurance, strength, and skill, but also a commitment to strong teamwork. Whether swimming laps at home, passing to a teammate, or wrestling an opposing team member for the ball, players must learn to respond quickly under pressure. Score your goals, advance the ball, and make sure not to touch the bottom of the pool! When we protect our water polo players, we keep this sport safe and healthy for all.
Courage First Athlete Helpline
Use this resource if you are in need of confidential emotional support, crisis intervention, informational athlete-focused resources, and guidance related to concerns about any type of abuse.
The Courage First Athlete Helpline is a no-cost call and text service for anyone in need. +1 888-279-1026
Common Water Polo Safeguarding Concerns
Abuse and misconduct can happen in all sports, at every level of play. Water Polo has some specific vulnerabilities, such as:
- Water polo is a team sport, and team environments can be potential havens for peer-on-peer abuse, hazing, and bullying. These behaviors are often encouraged, minimized, or normalized rather than taken seriously.
- Physical aggression can be common in water polo, and unchecked aggression in and out of matches could lead to violence and/or abuse outside of the pool.
- Due to the nature of water polo, athletes are at high risk of injury. Because of this, water polo athletes place a high level of trust in each other and their coaches. This could lead to psychological dependence and/or blurred boundaries in the coach-athlete relationship. It’s possible that this could discourage athletes from voicing discomfort, which could pose the risk of injury or death.
What’s the difference between tough coaching & abuse?
The Coach Athlete Relationship Dynamics Diagrams below can be used as a gut check; consider the conduct you experience and observe in your sporting community, and discern whether what is occurring aligns with a caring and supportive coach-athlete relationship. For athletes who have unhealthy relationship dynamics with their coaches, inappropriate behavior can be subtle and difficult to discern. Awareness and prevention of these patterns of power and control help keep everyone safe.
Current Events
Unfortunately, news articles chronicling misconduct in sport and unhealthy coach-athlete dynamics are frequent and widespread. Abuse in sport has been occurring for decades, and the public is now becoming aware of these hidden situations as more and more survivors bravely disclose and report misconduct they have experienced. #WeRideTogether is committed to increasing awareness and continually updating this compiled list of current events on the topic of sexual abuse in sport. Sexual misconduct is happening across all sports, at all levels, internationally.
5/10/2026
27-Year-Old Former Water Polo Coach Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault
4/29/2026
Former Redlands Unified coach accused of unlawful sex with 15-year-old girl
7/8/2025
At Stanford, 'tough love' tactics prompt probe of water polo coach
10/18/2026
Youth Sports Families Allege Travel Company Threatened Their Kids' Playing Status If They Didn't Pay Lodging Fees
10/15/2026
Athletic trainer at San Jose school accused of sexual battery of student
10/14/2026
Details emerge on police raid of ex-Kempsville High School athletic director’s home
10/11/2026
As sports betting is normalized, college players have become targets of aggrieved bettors
Water Polo Resources
Below are resources related to Physical Safety, Safeguarding, and Governing Bodies within Water Polo.
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Crash Course: Concussion Education
Physical Safety
Learn about the prevention and treatment of concussions.
How To Treat Your Sport Circle And Show Sportsmanship
Governing Bodies
A guide to practicing healthy sportsmanship in water polo.
Underwater Hypoxic Blackout Prevention
Physical Safety
Learn about Underwater Hypoxic Blackout (UHB) and how to prevent it.
Survivor Stories
Survivors are increasingly stepping forward to bravely tell their stories. The following stories reflect the survivors’ personal experiences, as told by them, and may be triggering for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or misconduct. All information has been anonymized.
If you are a survivor interested in sharing your story and learning more about this process, please reach out to us at info@weridetogether.today.
We want to hear from you!
You are not alone.
What resources or information do you want for your sport? Contact us and let us know.
If you or someone you know has experienced misconduct or abuse, please access these resources for help. For additional information on confidential helplines, sexual assault reporting procedures, and mental health resources, click the button below.
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