David Farkas, longtime water polo coach, author, actor, musician, and father of three, joins The Youth Sports Parenting Tribe to share what more than 25 years of coaching young athletes has taught him about fundamentals, mindset, and how parents can make youth sports better.
David Farkas has spent over 25 years on the pool deck. A former All-American water polo player at Claremont McKenna College, he went on to found Shaquatics Water Polo Club, where he and his wife Brittany coached thousands of athletes with a focus on strong fundamentals, mental toughness, and long-term growth. His Shaquatics YouTube channel has passed 3 million views.
David is the author of Don’t Get Bored with the Basics: Water Polo Fundamentals and the Mental Game for Parents, Coaches, and Athletes and Stop Chasing Highlights, a book on how parents can improve the youth sports experience. With Brittany, who illustrates the books, he also created The Child’s Guide Series, a collection of rhyming children’s books on life lessons like losing with poise and winning with dignity.
In this episode, David shares his journey as a coach, author, and dad, and the belief that has guided his work: sports should develop more than athletes. They should help develop people.
Connect with David
Subscribe at hernanchousa.com