Water Polo

Zone Communication Masterclass

Sunday, October 04, 2026

4:00 PM (60 mins)

Session Overview

Chase Dodd uses UCLA film against Cal and Stanford to teach water polo athletes how confident, proactive communication organizes zone and press defense. He explains who should call matchups, zones, traps, help, no-foul decisions, and 7-on-6 coverage; how to anticipate plays before the whistle, protect each player’s role, and keep the goalie, guards, and perimeter connected. The session also covers constructive feedback, avoiding panic or chaos, and using communication to build team trust and awareness.

film breakdown

Half Court Defense

Team Defense

Defensive Communication

communication

team defense

zone defense

pressing

defensive reads

defensive anticipation

team systems

film study

Meet Your Mentor

Chase Dodd

Rightie Attacker

Chase Dodd is an Olympic Bronze Medalist and back-to-back NCAA National Champion, currently competing as an elite attacker for the Los Angeles Athletic Club. A Long Beach native and UCLA alumnus, he earned consecutive NCAA and First Team All-American honors during his championship runs in 2024 and 2025. A four-year member of the United States Men's Water Polo Team, Chase has also earned silver at the 2023 World Cup, gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, and bronze at the 2022 Junior World Championships. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Geography, balancing world-class academics with high-level international competition. Known for his versatility and suffocating defense, he continues to represent the next generation of American water polo pushing towards the LA 2028 Olympics.

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