Watlicam is the first camera that simultaneously films both above and below the waterline. These two views are integrated into a perfectly defined image that can be analyzed and recorded. Watlicam can also move along the pool’s edge and rotate 100% to follow a moving target. If you want to visualize what I’m taking about check out this awesome video created by the Watlicam company:

I first learned about Watlicam from my business partner Adam Wright (UCLA water polo). Adam and I are working together to run both the first-ever youth Aquatic Games, and a high-level training academy this June. At these and other related events, we are committed to leveraging the newest sports-based technologies. That’s because doing so allows us to train participants in ways that were previously difficult or impossible.

In water polo an athlete’s body is underwater about 90% of the time. With Watlicam, I can finally see exactly how a player’s body is moving during these periods. This means I can coach players on how to best move their legs. I can also evaluate how “efficient” a player is – when moving forward are they actually grabbing enough water, opening their legs correctly, and maximizing flexibility? At the end of the day, it’s these movements that determine how fast a player can move forward.

At both the Aquatic Games and the Summer Academy, Adam, myself, or other expert staff will use Watlicam to work one-on-one with players. In addition to providing direct feedback, we will use the camera to record videos of each participant. They will then be shown this video footage in a session geared at improving technique and positioning. Some of the data we collect using Watlicam will be added to our new Combine.

As far as we know, Adam and I are the first USA-based team to use Watlicam. But our friends at the Barcelona International Water Polo Academy say it’s awesome. I think so too, and hope the camera will play a serious role in helping me grow the sport of water polo in both the USA and abroad.

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I am onboard with FINA’s attempts to innovate the game. However, my American teammates and I have practiced often with the size 4 women’s ball recommended by FINA. Most of us agree that this smaller ball is simply too light. It doesn’t throw correctly, which leaves our shoulders feeling more sore than ever.

Consequently, I have worked with Mikasa to create an alternative. We have developed a new product that is not as big as the standard men’s size 5 ball, but not as small as the women’s size 4 ball. It is a 4.5 size ball called called the Hybrid.

In other major sports, ball quality has been adapted to help players maximize their potential. For example, dimples that improve grip have been added to basketballs. Footballs are now made in a more aerodynamic shape that reduces drag and creates a perfect spiral. These changes also benefit fans – no one wants to see receivers dropping passes, or basketballs slipping out of player’s hands.

The same logic applies to water polo. Watching a 6 on 5 with the ball zipping from player to player is much more entertaining than two passes and a drop or other similar schemes. Because the Hybrid’s weight falls between the heavy 5 and the overly light 4, players can focus on executing interesting plays with less risk of shoulder problems and/or an ugly passing game.

I’ve used the Hybrid often, and while it took some getting used to, it now feels much better than the 4. Women may also prefer the Hybrid over the 4. A women’s team who used the Hybrid in a Sao Paulo Brazil tournament loved the ball because it was easier to skip. Apparently the Hybrid’s size allowed the ball to shoot more quickly off the water.

In order for sports to advance, players, coaches, and referees must all be willing to evolve. As the water polo world works to accommodate the upcoming FIFA rule changes, the Hybrid ball is positioned to become the product of the future.

The new Tony Azevedo Hybrid ball was just released for preliminary sale on the Mikasa website. Get it Now!

I want to know about your experiences with the Hybrid, so send me an email and let me know what you think: tony@tonyazevedo.com.

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Tony Azevedo, captain of the USA men’s team but born in Rio de Janeiro, is going for his incredible 5th consecutive Olympic games in what marks the full-circle return to his birthplace. Azevedo is still very connected with Brazil, a nation close to his heart, as he plays professionally for the club team SESI from São Paulo with whom he became Brazilian vice champion in 2013 and Brazilian league champion the following year. The 33-year old was already active at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and led Team USA to a silver medal in 2008 in Beijing. While playing professionally in Europe Azevedo made it to three Euro League Final Fours where he finished 2nd twice and 3rd once playing for Jug Dubrovnik and VK Primorac Kotor from 2009-2013. Azevedo was top scorer of the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne and most recently led the USA men’s team with 15 goals during the 2015 World Championships in Kazan where the Americans finished 7th.

Current world and European champion Branislav Mitrovic, goalkeeper of the Serbian men’s national team, starred at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan where he was a standout in the team that dominated competition on the way to the first world title for Serbia since 2009 in Rome before being awarded Best Goalkeeper of the final. Mitrovic previously was part of the Serbian team that won the European championship in 2012 in Eindhoven, and in 2014 in Budapest while also claiming three straight World League gold medals, in 2013, 2014 and 2015. This season not only brings in the Olympics but a first highlight is expected in January, 2016 where Serbia defends its European title at home in Belgrade from 10-23 January. Branislav ‘Bane’ Mitrovic since becoming part of the national has been a part of an intriguing battle for the starting spot in the cage together with fellow goalie Gojko Pijetlovic. The 30-year old has played in the Hungarian league since 2010 and currently is in his second season with ZF-Eger.

Felipe Perrone is the veteran and undisputed leader of the Brazilian men’s national team. Perrone, also born in Rio de Janeiro, left his home country in 2002 to play in the Spanish league and a few years later also obtained Spanish citizenship in order to play for the Spanish national team. The relatively small but notably fast and technically gifted Perrone went on to become a cornerstone of the Spanish team with whom he won the bronze medal during the 2006 European Championships in Belgrade, bronze the following year at the world championships in Melbourne and silver at the 2009 world championships in Rome. With the 2016 Olympics in his hometown Rio de Janeiro coming up, 29-year old Perrone decided to return home to play for Brazil and last season led the team, coached by Croatian legend Ratko Rudic, to a bronze medal at the World League Super Final in Bergamo and scored a team-high 13 goals during the 2015 World Championships in Kazan where Brazil was ranked 10th. Playing in Spain and Italy Perrone was part of the teams that won 7 Spanish national championships (CN Atletic-Barceloneta), 2 Italian championships (Pro Recco) and a Euro League/Champions League title with Pro Recco (2011-2012) and Barceloneta (2013-2014) while also being awarded Most Valuable Player of that year’s Final Six. Perrone currently plays for Jug Dubrovnik.

Photos by Gertjan Kooij / Beeldboot.

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My name is Tony Azevedo, and I’m captain of the USA Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team. This is the first of a series of blog entries that I will write leading up to the Rio 2016 Games. Stay tuned for more posts on a monthly basis.

Today’s post centers on proactive eating habits. Over the years, I have become a better player by developing a solid nutritional routine. Other athletes who hope compete at the top of their games, and maintain longstanding careers, should do the same. While this might seem obvious, I am continually surprised by the fact that many water polo training programs fail to take nutrition into consideration.

In some cases, young athletes might get away with eating whatever they want, while still training intensely. But eventually our bodies begin to wear down. Professional athletes – myself included – take great pride in how we physically train (lifting six hours per week, swimming thousands of meters, and playing hours and hours of water polo). Then why not put equal energy into maximizing our food intake?

Even as an adolescent, I cut out fast food and soda in preparation for my first Olympics in Sydney. Later, when I started playing professionally in Italy, I immersed myself in Italian culinary traditions. This taught me the importance of eating real food, meaning nothing processed, refined or fake. I also became very aware of portion control, and developed a passion for cooking and choosing ingredients carefully.

I started to look carefully at where my food was being grown and raised. Soon, I began eating several smaller multi-course meals that were prepared with local ingredients. As often as possible, I try to eat meals with friends and family. Eating in this fashion gives me time to appreciate the fresh foods I consume. If I stuff food into my mouth alone, it’s harder to find the motivation to best balance my plate.

After Italy, I spent several years playing professionally in Croatia and Montenegro. The cuisine of the new region was very different, but my approach to eating remained the same. Eastern European diets are very meat heavy, so I made a concerted effort to prepare side salads. I planned out meals so that they would contain the most optimal proportions of protein, veggies, and carbohydrates.

A few years ago I began to suffer from bad acid reflux. Doctors gave me a slew of “quick-fix” medicines, but I was determined to address the root of the problem. Thanks to my own research, I realized that I was ingesting too many acidic foods. These included coffee, red meat and spices. To counter this, I adopted an alkaline diet which involved cutting out all processed foods, extra sugars, and highly acidic products. Within a few weeks I was feeling great. Now, every time I begin to suffer from reflux again, I buckle down, tweak my diet, and feel better.

However, I enjoy eating tremendously! This means I don’t overly restrict my diet. I’m a huge “foodie”, so I definitely let myself savour an occasional decadent dessert or greasy hamburger. But I eat these “splurge” foods in moderation. I make sure to eat very fresh, healthy, whole foods on a regular basis. Then, when I stray from my diet on special occasions, I feel as good as ever.

I often get asked about what supplements might best complement weight lifting and heavy training. I take only one supplement, a powder called Amazing Grass. It contains
100% natural raw protein or vegetable powder. I stir the powder into water every morning, or after a weight workout. I also make a natural protein drink with blended almonds (or other nuts), and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and ginger.

I think that many young athletes today turn to supplements instead of focusing on food-based nutrition. Supplements should never take the place of a healthy, balanced meal. Of course popping supplements takes much less time than preparing whole foods, but doing the former is a shortcut I don’t recommend.

Here is an example of a typical day in my diet:

• Breakfast
  Bowl of homemade yogurt (I make it myself) -banana – cacau nibs- raw homemade granola
• Lunch
  Salad (kale, spinach, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, tuna or chicken, raw beets, kidney or black beans, cheese, cucumber, chives) with a dressing of olive oil, salt, pepper and apple cider vinegar or organic Italian pasta with a side salad
• Dinner
  Portion of protein (salmon, white fish, steak, chicken etc.) purchased at the local street market with a side of cabbage salad and another vegetable or brown rice/couscous Snacks are cashews, fruit, raw vegetables with hummus, fresh white cheese.

www.amazinggrass.com

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