What are some good weight routines for water polo?

I need advice for classes next semester (involves water polo)?

• I am in my Sophomore year in College. I want to play water polo again. I had played in High School my Soph and Jr year. I left the school due to harassment and during the 2 year break I had gained 100 pounds. I decided I wanted to try and play water polo again, so this last summer I went to the water polo boot camp where I have lost 50 pounds (in 5 Months). We were swimming and doing drills. However, due to California's budget cuts, the water polo team also made cuts on the team. I was one of the 10 girls who got cut. So I am sticking around for next season. I decided to do swim season though. So right now, the coach has us swimming 3 days a week doing about 5,000-7,000 yards a day. Soon it will be 5 days of 7,000 and up. What I need to know is to train for water polo, should I take a weight class, life guarding class (swimming involved), and do competative swimming (7,000 - 12,000 yards once or twice a day) Should I do this? Right now we are doing 3 days and I'm perfectly okay with it, we practice at 6am and after I still have 2 classes a day, so would that be a good idea to train for water polo? As long as I eat healthfully?

• Answer:

  I'm not entirely sure what you're asking, as you seem to have all the answers already. Don't do (much) weight training, as bulk muscle is heavy, and you want lean muscle for swimming. Definitely take a lifeguarding class, as you have nothing to lose by doing so, and much to gain. And, of course, swim as much as you can/want. You know what you're doing, so just continue to do it!