I can still remember watching the 17&u's at Edgebrook out on the grass building goals out of 2x4's and plywood in 1969. They were bigger than life to me as an 8 year old in an era when Edgebrook dominated the swimming titles in Midlakes for 12 years straight, never losing a meet or the championships. George Cameron, Neil and Bruce Bierman, Rick Wertman, Dave Moser, Jerry Johnston and my brothers Steve and Mike Woods just to name a few. They were going to start playing Water Polo. Some guys at Mercerwood were playing and they wanted to play too and get a league going. As I watched them constructing I mostly heard, "Tommy, get out of the way!". (I was a little pain in the butt.)

When the goals went into the pool and somebody threw a ball in the water, the shooting began. The swimming, passing, shooting and physical play sent my enthusiasm over the top. I had found the sport that was meant for me. Nothing compared. I lived through each year just to be able to play for 4 weeks in August. I know it has happened to countless kids just as it did for me as they have experienced this through Midlakes.

Back then it was the wild west. Virtually no one had any experience playing. There was literally a rule book on the side of the pool to figure out how all this worked. There was no expectation of good or bad conduct. Every whistle that blew was accompanied by 3 guys yelling at the referee. The referee would consider the input and make a call. By today's standards it was unbelievably chaotic and disorganized. After a few short years a strange form of the game emerged out of the league. The yelling, complaining and frustration with the refs was getting more and more intense.

Then the early to mid 80's happened. The deal was, no talking to the refs allowed. It was painful, or might I say, awful. Some of the older guys that had been playing for 12 years or so virtually couldn't do it. It was impossible for many of them to not complain. I count myself in on that one. It was agonizing! Those were painful growth years for the league and the players. Many were constantly ejected from games, others simply said "I'm done" and walked away never to return feeling like they had no vote regarding what went on in the pool.

Today it's a different game. While Midlakes has it's unique problems like it always will (i.e. shallow pools, etc...), steps have been taken to try and bring a greater level of alignment with higher level play at the High School, Regional and National levels. The players that make the transition from Midlakes to High School for example are experiencing a less abrupt transition. It certainly IS NOT where it should be, but we have sought to close this gap and had some success. All of this has to be considered in the context of having both beginners just getting excited about the sport to experienced players that are out to get a college scholarship in the same league.

If Midlakes is going to do a better job in this area it will require quality coaching, an experienced referee staff and parents that support and build the league. Like a three legged stool, if you take away any one of these 3, it falls. This year we have lost several experienced referees, and it has hurt everyone.

I have witnessed success and failure in all 3 of these areas over my 5 years. My question to you is, what role are you playing? If you love Water Polo (and if you are reading this I'm sure you do) then what are you doing for the league to try and keep it healthy and help it grow? What are you doing to make sure it remains alive and well to give the current and future kids the fun opportunities that you have either had yourself or watched through your kids?

We had the good fortune of having a referee from California drop in and help out on Thursday at the 17&u games. I wish all of you could have sat in on my conversation with him. It was very brief. I asked him how the games were going compared to what he is used to in California. He told me, "Well, it's apparently a different sport up here. In California if a team knows it has a strong advantage over another team we back off. No last minute shots, no reverse helicopters to humiliate the opposition. It's a small sport with few people in it. If we don't take care of it, it will disappear."

I couldn't have said it better. I took this position 5 years ago because I had the time for it and felt like it was time for me to give back for all the years of fun and excitement that it gave to me. As I leave, nothing troubles me more than to feel like there are those in the league that don't understand what John is saying. Only thinking about themselves, bullying the system and having fun at other's expense. When I see this I feel the game and the league are being disrespected and that they put the league in jeopardy of disappearing. Luckily this is a minority, not the majority. Some people say "it's just Midlakes". Well, "Just Midlakes" will be gone if we don't value it.  I can only hope that Midlakes will eventually turn a corner on this and find higher ground.

That said I have seen MANY kids and parents have a fun time discovering Water Polo at Midlakes and get hooked to the sport that I love. They have come up to me and thanked me for the opportunity for their kids to play, told me how much fun they are having and want to know how they can find more opportunities to play. Much of that is not my doing, but the work of you pool reps, referees, coaches and parent volunteers that setup pools, work the tables and get all the work done in the background. I feel like the state of the league has declined a bit this year from the last 4, but is larger in numbers than I can ever remember. I believe we have something we can build on if we take care of it.

I want to thank some specific people that without them I would not have survived this. Many of you will never understand the time commitment and effort required to make this league run. Please thank all of these people when you get a chance:

The entire MWPL board.
The entire referee staff for doing what they can to help the league.
Eric Bartleson (Please when you see him thank him for his COUNTLESS hours of work)
Karen Walters (The wise sage of the league devoted to it's success for many many years.)
Randy Vermillion (A voice of support and reason for me along the way.)
Susan Neiman (The Tshirt queen that got the desperately needed funds coming into the league)
Paula Melby (Who took care of financials and many other things that I am horrible at.)
Tim Reed (for his dedication to the advancement of Water Polo in the Northwest)

Thank you and good luck to all of you,

Tom