6-8 Training Academy

Tony and Maggie always say “the earlier the better”. The sooner our team can start working with an athlete, the better chance they have of correcting fundamental errors or bad habits that can adversely affect proper development and a clear path to success. That being said, getting to the Academy at any time in an athlete’s career can drastically propel them forward and help them achieve their specific goals. We have athletes that are only able to attend one semester of the program. And we have athletes that stay with us for multiple years or their entire high school careers. It’s up to each family to figure out what works for them.

Yes! Athletes interested in potentially applying to attend the 6-8 Academy can arrange to visit the program for a day or two. We also offer a limited number of week-long guest spots during the fall and winter/ spring semesters. To request a visit or inquire about guest availability, email sara@6-8sa.co.za.

On average, about 50% of our athletes live onsite on campus and 50% are commuters. But this can vary semester by semester. We also have many families that have moved to the Los Cab campus (and rent their own apartments) or to the nearby vicinity so that they can live with their athletes while they attend the program.

The Academy has three semesters (fall, winter/ spring and summer). Applications for each open at least a few months before the start date. Applications for fall usually open in the March prior. Applications for winter/ spring open in September. And applications for summer always open on January 5th. Once you apply, we will respond with a confirmation of your application and follow up with questions or requests for more information. After that, you should be alerted pretty quickly about your acceptance status!

The fall and winter/ spring semesters are limited to 12 female field players, 12 male field players and 6 goalies. Summer has room for 16 – 18 field players of each gender and 8 goalies. For fall and winter/ spring, we accept athletes in the age range of 11 – 20. For summer, we only accept high school athletes.

We are looking for athletes who truly want to be a part of our program. The Academy offers you absolutely every single resource needed to achieve any goal in the sport of water polo. But in order for an athlete to fully reap the benefits of the program, they have to be 100% committed and ready to work extremely hard. Ultimately talent and skill level are less important than drive, determination and attitude.

Yes! Since the Academy is not a club or a team, athletes can be enrolled in a regular high school program and train and compete with that high school team while still participating in the Academy program. There are several high schools near the Academy that either have hybrid/ block programs that work with the Academy or are completely online. The Academy does not affect eligibility for any other programs, so it can be successfully combined with playing on other teams or clubs.

All athletes at the Academy follow the same basic training schedule. But athletes are divided up into small training groups based on their age and skill level. All other activities, like virtual reality, video breakdown, gym/ conditioning, workshops, are done broken down into small groups (or individually). The Academy experience is entirely personalized so it doesn’t matter what age you are- your program will be designed specifically to help you achieve your goals.

Tony and Maggie have always been strong advocates for gap years. We have recently seen a huge increase in our applications from post-HS gap year athletes (partly due to the new roster limit rules at US universities). We also have a large number of athletes doing 8th grade gap years (taking a one year break before high school). We offer many different options for gap year athletes. They are welcome to spend one or multiple semesters at the Academy. This allows them access to the highest level training and mentoring that will fully prepare them for high school or college (and give them a major edge). College coaches also appreciate gap year athletes because they have taken the time to think through their decisions and have improved their game shape/ IQ/ experience.

Athletes get completely personalized college recruiting consultation as part of the Academy. Athletes can arrange an initial meeting with Tony to discuss goals, current status and to put together a comprehensive plan for moving forward. Athletes get access to a complete Information Guide about the recruiting process as well as custom resume and email templates. Tony and our full Academy staff will guide each athlete through each step of the process.

Yes, there is always a dedicated goalie coach at the Academy. Current and past goalie coaches have included Umberto Panerai (Italian Olympian/ professional coach and considered to be one of the best in the world), Merrill Moses (Head Pepperdine Coach & 3x Olympian/ Silver Medalist goalie for Team USA) and Jahmea Bent (UCLA Star goalie and professional athlete).

Goalie development is a major focus of the 6-8 Academy and has been one of our most successful areas. While many clubs—and even colleges—lack dedicated goalie training, our goalies receive position-specific instruction in every aspect of the program, including testing, strength & conditioning, video analysis, virtual reality training, mental performance, and in-water coaching.

Academy goalie graduates include:

Women

• Lauren Steele — UCLA
• Kerry Glad — Arizona State University
• Sophia Bunnell — University of Michigan

Men

• Jordan de Souza — Stanford University
• Joe Jenness — Long Beach State
• Greg Moore — Pomona-Pitzer
• Mason Pellens — Biola University

Many of these athletes earned starting roles early in their college careers, highlighting the impact of dedicated, position-specific goalie development

Academy athletes are welcome (and encouraged) to participate in ODP or any other tournaments/ events that could be beneficial for them. Attending the Academy does not affect eligibility for any other programs, and athletes can miss days at the Academy to participate in other events, as long as they alert the staff ahead of time.

Yes! So far we have had athletes from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and more. We welcome international athletes to apply and can also help create custom experiences for them based on their visa situations.

The main program runs Monday through Friday, approximately 8 AM to noon, with intensive training. Additional weekend activities occasionally occur, but the core program is designed to prevent burnout.

6-8 organizes occasional group outings, and athletes arrange personal transport for other needs. Many athletes carpool or keep cars on campus for convenience.

One of the main reasons was that they saw great athletes from all over the world who were not improving or getting the exposure they deserved. They wanted to create a place where any athlete can come to maximize his/ her potential on every level in the sport. The Academy is like no other program that exists because it focuses fully on the individual athlete’s development and long term success. 

To help athletes achieve their goals. Not everyone will be a D1 athlete or go to the Olympics, but they can still get as close to their dreams as possible. Tony and Maggie want every athlete who comes to the Academy to be able to do that. At the Academy, athletes are not only going to get the absolute best water polo training- they are also going to learn invaluable life skills like how to take responsibility, how to cook, how to mature in and out of the water and how to maximize IQ. 

At the Academy, athletes are broken up into small training groups based primarily on skill level, but the strategy is always evolving. For example, Tony and Maggie use different groupings to teach athletes about  leadership, responsibility, how to push themselves, how to be the best teammate etc. Having different levels and ages of athletes is actually very advantageous for everyone’s development. And again, it’s completely different from what you can find anywhere else where athletes are always training within their own little bubbles. 

Tuition covers all Academy components including coaching, facilities, and programming. Additional costs may include local club fees (if chosen), extra gear, and optional physical therapy beyond provided services.

Yes, most athletes who attend the summer semester of the Academy either join a local team and play with them in JOs (or play with their home club for JOs). Athletes are allowed to miss the necessary 3 days of Academy training in order to attend the tournament. 

Yes- our 6-8 team is there to fully support each athlete on their journey. That includes helping them with time management and decision making. Our staff become like a family and athletes end up learning extremely valuable lessons about how to balance life, sports, academics and more. 

Athletes stay in apartments rented by 6-8 directly on the Los Cab campus. Most apartments are 2 bed, 2 bath with full kitchens and washers/ dryers. Most units hold between 4-5 athletes depending on size. All units are fully furnished but athletes are welcome to bring their own items to add to the inventory.