South Florida is no stranger to international sporting events.
On Sunday evening, Hard Rock Stadium hosts Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde in a World Cup pool play match.
Meanwhile 21 miles to the north, Sunshine State Games Water Polo features 45 teams in three pools at the Coral Springs Aquatic Center.
Both are very international sports with five of the six men’s and women’s water polo medalists in the 2024 Olympic Games playing in the 2026 World Cup.
There are differences though. One is on a grass pitch the length of a football field. The other is played in a pool with a span of 88 feet from goal to goal. It’s roughly the size of a basketball court, but wider.
Both feature players advancing the ball toward the goal in an effort to take a shot on the goal. Players swarm around the goal and the goalkeeper faces intense pressure.
“The goalkeeper is either a hero or a villain in both sports,” said Sunshine State Games Sport Director Zach Kappos, who played in the Sunshine State Games for the Riptides and Raider Water Polo teams, at Miami Country Day High School, Long Beach State and for the Canadian National team.
“You either have your best or worst day ever,” he continued. “There’s no in between in holding down the fort for the team. You’ve got to be mentally tough.”
Both sports start players young. Youth soccer leagues begin at five years old. There’s a 10 and under Division Water Polo game being played on Saturday in Coral Springs. The 10 and under athletes will be placed on teams in an effort to promote participation from younger athletes.
Then there’s the stamina and physical conditioning required by athletes of both sports. While soccer players run up and downfield, water polo players continuously swim the length of the pool.
“Swimming in water polo is harder than running in soccer,” said Athanasios Grillas, a member of the 16U Hialeah Storm team, playing in his second Sunshine State Games. “There’s no stopping in swimming for water polo. Soccer players do run a lot there’s also time where they’re not. “
Grillas, who also plays for the Coral Gable High School Water Polo team and is a member of the swim team, did admit the pool is much more refreshing than sweating on the field while running.
On Friday, 25 games of the 89-game schedule was played, with the majority of the games being played in the Men’s 18U Division. The Orlando United, Miami Wolverines and the South Florida Water Polo Club teams each picked up two wins.
In the eight games played in the Men’s 18U Division, five were decided by five points or less.
Saturday is a full day of Water Polo with 40 games scheduled in three pools at the Coral Springs Aquatic Center. Game times start at 7:30 a.m. and the last game is scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m.
Another Sunshine State Games event begins Saturday across the state, in Wesley Chapel. Taekwondo opens at 9:15 a.m. Saturday with an Opening Ceremony and high action demonstration teams. Athletes of all ages and skill levels compete on Saturday and Sunday’s action features competition for black belt athletes only.
By the end of June, over 2,000 of Florida’s Finest Amateur Athletes of all ages are expected to compete in the 46th Sunshine State Games.
The Sunshine State Games are a program of the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the State of Florida. The Sunshine State Games is Florida’s only Olympic-style Sports Festival for athletes of all ages and are presented in conjunction with the Gainesville Sports Commission, Florida’s Sports Coast, Ocala/Marion County CVB and Visit Lauderdale.