Waterpolo World Issues: Interview with Yiannis Giannouris

"... We should not forget that Television is a business that can leave only where the spectacle attracts people and obviously empty pools are not a good sign. Who would like to have lunch if the restaurant is empty of customers..?  ..."

"...We need to work inside and outside the pools. That’s sure, but let’s stay optimist. Obviously we all need to work for the future, and I believe that behind any type of crisis there always hidden opportunities..."

di Edoardo Osti
I’d like to introduce Yiannis Giannouris, former coach of National Greek National team, Pescara (IT), Vouliagmeni Nautical Club (GR), Pananthinaikos, Ethnikos,  Panionios (GR) and Latina (IT), Patras Nautical Club. Hi YG, how are you and which team are you coaching currently?
Hello Mr. Osti. Thanks for the kind introduction. Last year, 2011, I was lucky to have a successful season in Italy, coaching the team of Latina Pallanuoto. Despite the success of the team to enter the A1 Play-offs, the President of the Club Francesco Damiani, for various reasons, had to take a hard decision to drop off the major category.
After this splendid year in the Italian League with Latina, I went back in my country, Greece. As soon as I went back, I received a challenging proposal from one of the most historical Greek Clubs, the Patras Nautical Club. Patra’s major Nautical Club, wanted to put in place a serious project of restructuring the Club and to set the basis for future successes in Water Polo section. So their wish was not only to assist the Senior’s team to remain in A1 division, but also to improve their age groups system and reorganize the Club. The season ended and the team remained in A1. It was the first time that the team played only with local players and one foreigner. The age group teams started a serious work and despite serious problems we faced with the function of the public pool we used for trainings and competition we could say that the season has been positive.

In my blog I talked about Italian Water Polo issues. Despite our past and our present (we are Champions of the World) we are not able to become a very popular show, our teams have always economics troubles and they seems to do not have a good organization. What is your point of view?
I understand the concerns. I could say that it is rather a universal problem, and it doesn’t occur only in Italy. I am not able to give a quick response or propose a possible or a simple solution. At first Water Polo is a team Sport with great tradition. We often forget that Water Polo has been the first team sport to be included within the Olympic program. Looking back and especially observing old pictures of major competitions we note immediately that the sport has been popular, despite the fact that people today often state the opposite.
It is true that we live in a period that everything runs in a “fast” mode. Television plays an important role in modern society and it is obvious that by “earning” a space among TV programs we will have more possibilities to communicate our “product” to larger audiences. But we should not forget that Television is a business that can leave only where the spectacle attracts people and obviously empty pools are not a good sign. Who would like to have lunch if the restaurant is empty of customers..?
Then we arrive to the sport itself. We often citizen the rules, the level of understanding of the game itself by the spectators. Rules in Water Polo, thank God, are in continuous evolution. Following the birth of Water Polo in the United Kingdom in 1870’s we could say that since 1900 the major rules of the Sport are the same. Obviously the rules have evolved with big changes occurring after 1950, 1968 and up to know. The duration of the game increased, the ball possession has been restricted along with the exclusion time. New material of ball after 1964 leaded to general improvement of individual technique. The tactical knowledge improved, and a more scientific approach to training has been introduced.
Obviously we arrive to an important factor related with the development of the Sport. The Swimming Pools. As you see even we the name one could immediately understand that we deal with “swimming” at first and then with the “pool”. Did you ever hear the term “Water Polo Pool” instead? This is according my opinion one serious argument that has to do with the development of Water Polo. How many pools in every country devote space and time to a Water Polo program? I could say empirically not more that 10%.....
Obviously we arrive to the nucleus of Water Polo. The structure of the Clubs and consequently the Federations (National and International). This is chain of interactions that is difficult to be analyzed in a text like this one. I believe with few words that Water Polo evolved and now its structure needs to be re-defined. It s very primitive to consider that criticizing independently the rules, or the referrers decisions and interpretations, or the lack of Marketing approach we could resolve at once any Water Polo issues. We need thorough analysis sector by sector and obviously a more professional approach.  
I would finish this answer saying what I really believe. We have done a lot the past 140 years and there is a lot to do much more. Lets be positive and try to find step by step how we could help this beautiful Sport to proceed in higher levels.

Last summer, you came back in Greece.  Could we say few things about Greek Water Polo? Do you face issues like the one we note in Italy?
Greece is living a difficult period and this is well known around Europe. Obviously the same problems occur with all Mediterranean countries but even in central, north European countries and United States.
We are all obliged to operate in this difficult environment so it is Sport in general and not only Water Polo that are suffering. In Greece at the moment in Men’s and Women’s A1 we have only few teams that resolved their financial problems. In short term we could say that we still resist. Our Men’s National team qualified for one more time to Olympic Games so it will be presented in London. Our Women’s team, after winning the World Championship and despite the non qualification for London, they proved to have an open future.
We need to work inside and outside the pools. That’s sure, but let’s stay optimist. Obviously we all need to work for the future, and I believe that behind any type of crisis there always hidden opportunities.


Thanks for the interview. I wish you all the best in yours effort to promote Water Polo.

To read more about Yiannis read:
http://www.waterpolodevelopmntworld.com/
http://www.waterpololegends.com/

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