Why I Started Waterpolo University (And What It’s Really About)

Hi, I’m Marko.

I’m the person behind Waterpolo University, and I want to tell you why I started this project, who it’s for, and what the real point of all of this is.

This isn’t just an “online school”. For me, it’s a combination of:

• My own story as a player who was never a big talent

• My experience as a coach who fell in love with teaching fundamentals

• My belief that water polo deserves more players, more countries, more support

• And my goal to make it possible for any kid, anywhere to learn proper water polo basics—even if their club, country, or finances are limited.

Who I Am (And Why My Story Matters to This Project)

I’m originally from Montenegro, a small country where water polo is a big part of the sports culture.

When I was younger:

• I was never the most talented player.

• I wasn’t the tallest, strongest, or flashiest.

• But I loved the sport and I believed deeply in discipline and hard work.

Because of that, over time, I still achieved things I’m proud of:

• I became Junior European Champion.

• I played NCAA Division 1 water polo in the United States.

But I always knew:

My success didn’t come from talent. It came from fundamentals, discipline, and consistent work.

And that belief is at the core of Waterpolo University.

From Player to Coach: Where the Idea Really Started

The idea for Waterpolo University didn’t come to me while I was playing. It came when I started coaching in the USA.

I realized something very quickly:

I actually enjoy coaching more than playing.

Maybe it’s my personality.
Maybe it’s because I like organizing things and explaining details.
Maybe it’s because I was never a “genius” player, so I had to think more and break things down for myself.

Whatever the reason, I noticed I had a real talent for explaining fundamentals:

• How to move your hips

• How to use your legs correctly

• How to swim with the ball

• How to defend without fouling

• How to actually understand what’s happening in a game

And when I explained these basics the right way, players improved fast.

That’s when I felt:

“This is what I’m actually good at. This is my place in water polo.”

The Problem I Saw in Normal Practices

As I coached more, especially in group practices, I kept hitting the same problem:

There isn’t enough time to fix everyone’s fundamentals.

In a typical training session:

• You have many kids in the water.

• You need to work on tactics, systems, man-up, scrimmage, conditioning.

• There’s always another game, another tournament, another schedule.

So this is what would happen:

• I’d see a player making a clear technical mistake—hips down, bad eggbeater, wrong shooting form, poor defense position.

• I’d start helping them, breaking it down, correcting it.

• But if I spent enough time to really fix it…

  • We’d be late with tactics.

  • The whole team would wait.

  • Other players weren’t getting attention.

If I focused on tactics:

• The team improved,

• But I felt guilty, because I knew certain players would never reach their potential with those technical mistakes still there.

I was stuck between:

• Team needs (tactics, structure, game preparation)

• And individual needs (fundamentals, details, personal progress)

I realized something painful and simple:

In a normal team practice, there is not enough time to truly fix everyone’s fundamentals in detail.

And yet without fundamentals, no tactic will save you.

Private Lessons Helped… But Only for a Few

To solve this, I started doing private lessons.

And the difference was huge:

• One-on-one or small group (2–3 players)

• Full focus on one player’s weaknesses

• 60 minutes of pure fundamentals, feedback, repetition

I could finally:

• Correct shooting form in detail

• Fix hips and body position

• Fix eggbeater, legs, and balance

• Explain the game one-on-one

Players improved faster than ever.
Parents noticed it.
Kids felt more confident.

But then another problem:

Not everyone can afford regular private lessons.

And not everyone lives in a place where:

• There are enough good coaches

• The coach has time and interest to do private sessions

• Or where water polo is even developed

So private lessons were great, but:

• They helped a few

• They didn’t help the many

I needed a way to:

Take the value of private lessons and scale it so more kids around the world could access it.

That’s where the idea for Waterpolo University started to become real.

Why I Created Waterpolo University

I created Waterpolo University (WU) to solve all of this:

1. Give players access to high-quality fundamentals, even if their team practice is crowded or chaotic.

2. Support coaches who want structure for their training, especially in places where water polo is new.

3. Make private-lesson quality teaching available online, so more people can afford it.

4. Help new clubs and even new countries start water polo with a clear training system.

In simple words:

Waterpolo University is an online water polo school that focuses on fundamentals, youth training, and clear structure for kids and beginners (especially ages 10–15).

Inside Waterpolo University, you’ll find:

• Online water polo courses and classes

• Water polo training plans for kids and beginners

• Drills, dryland programs, and technique videos for ages 10–15

• Content for players, parents, and coaches

So even if:

• Your club doesn’t have many coaches

• You live in a country where water polo is just starting

• Or you simply want more than what your team can give you

…you still have a place to learn, improve, and grow.

Why Fundamentals Are the Heart of Everything

One big belief drives everything I do at WU:

If you don’t master fundamentals between 10 and 15, you will always be limited later.

You can be:

• Fast

• Strong

• Motivated

…but if your:

• Eggbeater is weak

• Hips are always down

• Passing and catching are inconsistent

• Defense is just grabbing instead of moving

• You don’t understand positions and roles

…then there is a ceiling you will never break.

Fundamentals are:

• The difference between frustration and progress

• The difference between “I always get pushed under” and “I can hold my own”

• The base you need whether you want to:

  • Enjoy youth water polo

  • Make a national team

  • Or play in college/D1 one day

Waterpolo University exists to protect players from missing that window.

I don’t want to see more 16-year-olds with 12-year-old fundamentals who think it’s “too late.”

Why I’m Doing This (My Personal “Why”)

Yes, I love the sport.
Yes, I enjoy coaching.

But I’m doing this for something deeper:

• I want to help kids reach their water polo dreams.

• I want to make progress in people’s lives, not just in their sports skills.

• I want water polo to grow globally, not stay a small, underfunded sport.

The truth is:

• Water polo is not financially supported like many other sports.

• It doesn’t get the advertisement or recognition it deserves.

• Many kids never even hear about it in their country.

I believe the only way to change that long term is:

1. Get more kids playing

2. Get more clubs and countries starting programs

3. Make it easy and possible for beginners to have structure

Waterpolo University is my way to contribute to that.

Right now, I still work a full-time job (over 60 hours a week) outside of water polo.
But almost all of my extra time goes into:

• Building WU

• Creating new water polo courses and lessons

• Writing blogs

• Recording videos

• Helping clubs and players

My long-term goal is very clear:

I want Waterpolo University to become my main project and full-time work—
so I can dedicate all my energy to growing this sport and helping players worldwide.

How Waterpolo University Helps Clubs and Even New Countries

Another part of my mission is not just individual players—but clubs and whole countries where water polo is new or undeveloped.

Imagine a country or city where:

• There is a pool

• There is interest

• But there is no experienced water polo coach

• Or no clear training system

How do they start?

This is where WU club licenses and online courses are powerful:

• Coaches can use WU as a ready-made curriculum

• Kids can follow structured youth water polo training online

• The club doesn’t have to “guess” what to do each week

My dream is that:

• More countries start playing water polo

• More clubs get created

• WU becomes a starter kit for new programs

When that happens:

• The sport grows

• More players, more fans, more opportunities

• And slowly, more financial support comes into water polo as a whole

How You Can Use and Share Waterpolo University

If you’re reading this, you might be:

• A player who wants to improve

• A parent looking for structure for your child

• A coach who needs better resources

• Or someone in a place where water polo is just getting started

Here’s how you can use WU in a way that actually helps you and others.

1. Start With a Personalized Plan

On the homepage, there is a blue button:

“Start Here – Get Your Personalized Plan”

You fill out:

• Your age

• Position (or what you think your position might be)

• Level of experience

• Main struggles and goals

I personally review these and send you:

• A step-by-step training plan

• Which online water polo courses to start with

• How many sessions per week

• How to combine WU with your club practice

2. Join as an Individual or as a Club

You can:

• Join with an individual membership

  • Full access to youth water polo training, courses, drills, and lessons (especially for ages 10–15 and beginners)

• Or get a club license

  • So your entire team, club, or even new program can use WU as a training system

3. Share This With Others

One of the best ways to support this mission is simple:

• Send this blog or the WU link to:

  • Your teammates

  • Your coach

  • Other parents

  • Clubs that might be interested

  • People in other countries who talk about starting water polo

You never know which message starts something big in another city or country.

What If Someone Wants to Improve but Has Financial Problems?

This is very important to me, and I want to be clear:

If someone truly wants to improve, but has real financial issues, I will do my best to help.

That can mean:

• Discounts

• Special coupon codes

• In some cases, even free access if the situation is serious and the motivation is real

Because if:

• You genuinely want to work

• You are committed to training and learning

• You want to become a better water polo player

…then you are already a part of my dream and my goal.

We are going in the same direction:

• Your dream → become a better player

• My dream → help players like you reach that level and grow the sport

If we share the same dream, I want to find a way to make it possible.

Final Thoughts: Why This Matters So Much to Me

Waterpolo University is not just a website or a business to me.

It’s:

• A way to give back to a sport that shaped my life

• A way to help kids avoid the frustration of missing fundamentals

• A way to grow water polo in countries and clubs that need support

• A way to connect players, parents, and coaches around the world who love this game

If you:

• Want to become a better player

• Want to help your child have structure

• Want to build a new club or program

• Or simply want to learn proper water polo training for kids and beginners

Then I’d love for you to be part of this.

Start with the personalized plan, share this with someone who needs it, and if money is a real obstacle, reach out—because if you’re serious about improving, I’ll do everything I can to help you.

We’re in this together.