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Nike 5meter Winter in the Tropics Water Polo Camp

Camp Gallery

Camp Overview

Come join us in December at Winter in the Tropics!

Get away to the warmth of the Florida sunshine during the holiday season at the Nike 5meter Winter in the Tropics Water Polo Camp. Leading the staff of amazing coaches will be camp directors, Felix Mercado (Brown University Men's and Women's Head Coach) and his assistant coach Petar Momčilović. In addition to focusing on fundamentals, they will share their philosophies and training methods that they implement at the highest levels.

Don’t miss this opportunity to work with the top players and coaches in the country. The focus of the program will be in-water instruction on the fundamentals of the game. Fundamental passing, shooting, team and individual defense along with tactical discipline and individual aspects of the game will be discussed.

This camp is open to any and all entrants. Drugs, alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited and constitute grounds for immediate dismissal from camp. For your safety and benefit, we recommend that you choose a camp that fits your particular skills and level of development.

Highlights Include

TEAM DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
Superior instruction from USA Olympians and College Coaches
Olympians get in the pool with you to demonstrate and lead drills
Low camper to instructor ratio
Daily emphasis on fundamentals, position training, drills and scrimmages
Position Specific Training for Drivers, Shooters, Goalies & 2 Meter Offense & Defense

Camp Coaches

Felix Mercado

Camp Director

Felix Mercado enters his 18th season as the head coach of Brown University’s men’s and women’s water polo teams in 2024-25 having coached 27 all-conference performers and 16 All-Americans on the men’s side alone during his time with the Bears.

Felix Mercado

Camp Director

Mercado led the Brown men’s team to its first appearance in the NCAA Championship since 1990 in 2014 after the team claimed its first CWPA title since 1985. He guided the team to a 27-7 overall mark and its first Northern Division title since 2009. In 2014, he gained both CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year honors and Dick Russell Coach of the CWPA Tournament accolades while mentoring a pair of All-Americans in Henry Fox ’15 and Will Klein ’16.

Prior to the 2022 season, Mercado was named the lead coach for Team USA Born in 2005 Futures Youth National Team.

During the 2021 season, Mercado earned his 300th-career with at the helm of the men's water polo program. For the 10th time in the last 11 years, Brown registered 20 wins and earned a third-place finish in the NWPC Tournament, beating Harvard in the third-place game. Mercado coached three All-NWPC selections, including Sophomore of the Year Filip Aleksic. Under Mercado, Brown also earned two ACWPC All-American honorees.

With 22 wins in 2019, Brown posted its ninth 20-win season in a 10-year span and registered 20 or more wins for the 11^th time during a 13-year span. Mercado coached four All-NWPC selections, including NWPC Rookie of the Year Cole Atwell ’23, alongside three ACWPC All-America choices. The Bears closed the season with a No. 19 national ranking.

In July 2020, Mercado was selected for USA Water Polo’s Racial Equity & Reform Task Force. The Bears’ 2020 competitive season was canceled due to COVID-19.

In 2018, Mercado mentored four All-NWPC performers in Travis Bouscaren ’19, Armen Deirmenjian ’20, Hudson Rawlings ’20, and Riad Hallal ’21 with Bouscaren and Deirmenjian both earning ACWPC All-America accolades. The Bears concluded the year with an 18-14 record, marking their ninth straight season with 18 or more wins.

During the 2017 season, Mercado guided the Bears to their eighth straight 20-win season with a 21-12 overall record. He coached a trio of All-NWPC performers in Tommy Bush ’18, Rico Burke ’18, and Tyler Kirchberg ’18 as well as an ACWPC All-America selection in Kirchberg. In the spring, Mercado organized special exhibition matches with the Puerto Rico National Teams, providing the teams with training opportunities as the island continued to recover from Hurricane Maria.

In 2016, Mercado guided the Bears to their third straight regular season title, claiming the inaugural NWPC regular season championship. Mercado won NWPC Coach of the Year accolades and coached NWPC Player of the Year Luke Weiser ’17 and a pair of ACWPC All-Americans in Yahel Murvitz-Lahav ’17 and Jake Wyatt ’17.

The 2015 edition of Mercado’s men’s team won a second consecutive CWPA Northern Division title and notched an undefeated 12-0 mark in CWPA Northern Division play during the regular season. Klein earned CWPA Northern Division Player of the Year accolades while he and Matty Gallas ’16 garnered All-American status.

In 2013, Mercado led the men's water polo team to its fourth straight 20-plus win season that culminated in a 15-9 victory over Harvard to earn fifth place at the Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Championships. Mercado mentored two CWPA Northern Division First Team picks in James McNamara ’14 and Fox.

Mercado’s men’s side posted a 29-4 mark in 2012 with Svetozar Stefanovic ’13 earning All-America honors for the fourth straight season in addition to his fourth consecutive Northern Division Player of the Year award. Under Mercado, the Bears went 20-12 in 2010 and 21-11 in 2011.

Mercado enjoyed a banner year in 2009 as the men's water polo team won a Northern Division title and the women's team claimed an Eastern College Association Conference (ECAC) championship. Mercado took home CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year at Brown, earning the honor on the women’s side in 2008 and 2009 and on the men’s side in 2007.

Mercado was hired in the summer of 2007 as Brown's men's and women's water polo coach. He spent the two seasons prior to coming to Brown at the helm of the MIT men's varsity and women's club teams after one year as an assistant.

In 2006, he was named CWPA Division III and CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year after leading MIT's men's team to a second-place finish at the Division III Eastern Championship and the team's third-ever appearance at the Division I Eastern Championship. He posted a 26-34 record in Cambridge, as the Engineers attempted to integrate 12 freshmen into the program in 2006 after a 15-14 record in 2005.

In two years as the coach of the MIT club women's team, Mercado's squads posted a 30-3 record, making back-to-back appearances at the Club National Championships. He was named the North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2007. Mercado also served as an assistant coach at Hartwick College in the spring, as the Hawks finished fifth at the NCAA Championship.

Before arriving in Cambridge, Mercado spent 11 years coaching at Ransom Everglades School in Miami, Fla. During his tenure with Ransom, Mercado helped guide his squad to three Florida State Championships in the boys division and coached the girls program to six straight Final Four finishes.

In December 2013, Mercado was elected President of the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches, as announced by ACWPC Executive Director Larry Sanders.

Mercado was also the head coach and founder of the Raider Water Polo Club Foundation, and led the program to six Southeast Zone Championships. He has also offered his coaching expertise at numerous national team development camps for USA Water Polo.

Mercado earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Management from American Intercontinental University in 2006. He also has an Associate of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Miami Dade College.

The Mercado File

Awards & Accolades
NCAA Men’s Appearances: 2014
CWPA Men’s Championships: 2014
CWPA Northern Division Men’s Championships: 2009, 2014, 2015
NWPC Men’s Coach of the Year: 2016
CWPA Northern Division Men’s Coach of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2014
CWPA Northern Division Women’s Coach of the Year: 2008, 2009
CWPA Southern Division Women’s Coach of the Year: 2012, 2014
Dick Russell Coach of the CWPA Men’s Tournament: 2014
Petar Momcilovic

Staff

Peter Momcilovic will serve as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs at Brown University after having spent last season as the assistant coach for the men's and women's programs at LIU.

Petar Momcilovic

Staff

Last season at LIU, Momcilovic led the women's program to a 22-7 overall record and 10-2 record in conference play.

Prior to LIU, Momcilovic served as the head coach for both programs at Mercyhurst during the 2022-23 season. Momcilovic was on the staff at Mercyhurst from 2018-20 as a graduate assistant.

Momcilovic a native Serbian began coaching in London, United Kingdom, in 2011, and has coached at every level from the U12 age group to international competition. Before Mercyhurst, he was the Head Men's Water Polo Coach for Oxford University, where he led the team to their highest British University and College Sports conference finish (third place) and won the Southern BUCS for the first time.

Camp Details

Directing the program is Genai Kerr, Felix Mercado and John Abdou. Designed by the top coaches and athletes in the country, Nike 5meter Water Polo Camps provide in-water instruction to make an immediate impact on an athlete’s game. Young athletes will have the opportunity to learn first hand how Olympic Athletes train, meet their nutritional needs, and balance their lives.

2025 OVERVIEW

Dates: December 27-30
Age Group: 10-18
Gender: Coed
Camp Type: Day Camp
Schedule: 10:00am-4:30pm Saturday-Tuesday
Check-In: 9:00-9:30am on Saturday at the Ansin Aquatic Center located on the Ransom Everglades campus
Lunch: Lunch is not provided. Please bring a packed lunch.
Program: The Skills program is designed to provide youth and high school water polo players with the fundamentals, latest drills, in-water scrimmages and position specific training (Divers, Shooters, Goalies and 2 Meter Offense & Defense) essential for improvement. The goal is for campers to come home with experiences that enrich both the quality of their play and their life through a better understanding and greater appreciation for sport, as well as more developed techniques and a heightened level of self-confidence.

CAMP ADDRESS

Ransom Everglades High School
Aquatic Center
3575 Main Hwy
Miami, FL 33133

Click Here for Directions

CAMP CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT

Saturday, December 27ththru Tuesday, December 30th

Check-in Saturday: 9:00-9:30am at the Aquatic Center.
Check in Sun, Mon & Tue: 10:00am at the Aquatic Center.
Check-out: 4:30pm each day at the Aquatic Center.

There is no supervision before or after camp hours so please make arrangements to drop off and pick up your child on time.

MEALS

Lunch is NOT provided each day. Please bring a healthy lunch and snacks each day.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE FEE?

Instruction: Morning and afternoon training sessions
Supervision: Campers are supervised by staff during camp hours.
Camp T-shirt & Prizes: Campers will receive a Nike Water Polo Camps t-shirt and prizes.

INSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT & FACILITY

Ratio: 1:10 staff-to-camper ratio
Groupings: Campers are grouped by age, ability, and experience per the Director's discretion.
Equipment Needed: Please bring your water polo suit, swim cap, goggles and towel(s)
Facility: Aquatic Center
Medical Protocol: Most camps have an athletic trainer on-site to help with illness or injury. In case of an emergency, campers will be transported to the nearest hospital.

PREPARE FOR CAMP: COMPLETE YOUR PRE-CAMP CHECKLIST

To view your customer account, complete your mandatory forms, pay balance dues, and review important camp information, visit Pre-Camp Checklist. All necessary camp information is on this page. If there are any imperative changes prior to camp start, registered campers will be notified via email and this webpage will be updated!

CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BRING

Below is a suggested list of clothes, equipment, and personal items. US Sports Camps is NOT responsible for lost or stolen articles or money.

Items:

Dryland Training Gear (running shoes, t-shirt, athletic shorts, sweatshirt)
Backpack
Water Polo Suit
Swim Cap
Goggles
Towel(s)
Hat or Visor
Sandals/Flip Flops
Water Bottle
Sunscreen
Healthy Lunch and Snack each day
Signed Health & Release forms and waivers (forms completed online do not need to be printed and turned in at camp)
Positive Attitude

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is not provided. Campers are responsible for getting to and from camp on their own. There is no supervision before or after camp hours, so please make arrangements to pick up your child on time.

COMPANY POLICIES

For information regarding our cancellation policy and all other company policies, please visit USSC Policies.

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

TEAM DISCOUNT - 5: If five or more campers register together, each camper is eligible for a $25 discount. Please have a team contact reach out directly to the USSC office at 1-800-645-3226 to receive a discount code to identify your group. Campers may then register through the website at their convenience and apply the coupon code during check-out.

TEAM DISCOUNT - 10: If ten or more campers register together, each camper is eligible for a $100 discount. Please have a team contact reach out directly to the USSC office at 1-800-645-3226 to receive a discount code to identify your group. Campers may then register through the website at their convenience and apply the coupon code during check-out.

SIBLING DISCOUNT: $25 off each player. You can call 1-800-645-3226 to receive the sibling discount over the phone or you can indicate that you are eligible for the sibling discount in the “comments” field when registering via our secure website.

*Sibling discount cannot be combined with any other discount.

Ansin Aquatic Center

Campers will train at the Ansin Aquatic Center located on the Ransom Everglades School campus.

WHAT FAMILIES SAY ABOUT Nike 5meter Winter in the Tropics Water Polo Camp

12 Reviews

Genai Kerr is really an excellent camp director and coach. My son is from Brazil and he could understand everything with no problems of communication. Congratulations also to Felix and all the staff on a great week of camp. We look forward to attending another camp soon.
The camp was professionally organized and the setting was wonderful. We can't wait for next year’s camp and the next step in our son's development as a water polo player.
Watching a drill with 4 Olympic water polo players and several college coaches in the water with the kids was an unforgettable experience for every kid at this camp. The thrill for my son of playing with Olympic water polo players was the highlight of our holidays!
We loved everything about the camp!
Watching a drill with 4 Olympic water polo players and several college coaches in the water with the kids was an unforgettable experience for every kid at this camp. The thrill for my son of playing with Olympic water polo players was the highlight of our holidays!
Very pleased with Coach Kerr and his management and communication for early arrival overnight campers. My son said it was a great experience and he wants to return next year.
Genai Kerr is really an excellent camp director and coach. My son is from Brazil and he could understand everything with no problems of communication. Congratulations also to Felix and all the staff on a great week of camp. We look forward to attending another camp soon.
The camp was professionally organized and the setting was wonderful. We can't wait for next year’s camp and the next step in our son's development as a water polo player.
Director Genai Kerr, and the staff, made it fun and taught both of our kids new skills and techniques. Thanks so much!!
Great instructors and facilities! We couldn't have asked for a better holiday camp.
Great instructors and facilities! We couldn't have asked for a better holiday camp.
Director Genai Kerr, and the staff, made it fun and taught both of our kids new skills and techniques. Thanks so much!!

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