By Ed Piper
Ian Davidson is the co-coach of Bishop's water polo, including the girls' team that is the rival of La Jolla High's squad. His and Doug Peabody's teams play a particularly physical type of game, which is clean but hard to oppose.
La Jolla coach Tom Atwell recently said, "The only thing harder to coach than size (which can't be coached) is teaching physicality to players who don't want to be physical."
This interchange took place after the Knights' 22-4 win in the CIF Open Division semifinals over El Camino, and before the Vikings' 15-14 loss to Valhalla Tues., Feb. 17. Valhalla wins the right to face Bishop's in the final Sat., Feb. 21. La Jolla still qualifies for the Southern California Regionals next week.
Q: How do you coach physicality? Your team is the only one I've seen in the county that plays with that level of physicality.
Davidson: You know, these girls have done a good job of playing together. We've learned the right way to play, and play with each other. They've done a really good job of learning how to move together. I think that's where it starts. And learning what acceptable and unacceptable levels of physicality are within a water polo game.
There's a gross style of physicality, and then there's a way the game should be played. And I think they've done a really awesome job of learning how to move in the water and learn what is the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Q: I agree. Good luck in the finals.
ID: I appreciate it.
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