About
TSM Water Polo offers Splashball, youth water polo, swim lessons, swim team, and water polo. Splashball introduces children to water polo in a recreational format and uses the fun, dynamic aspects of water polo in a safe, easy-to-learn aquatic experience that motivates kids to swim and stay fit. TSM Aquatics offers aquatics programs for all ages, including swim lessons, water polo, and swim team, and is looking for motivated athletes who want to learn a new sport or improve their water polo skills.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Youth Water Polo practices are held year round three times per week, with 2-hour practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; Splashball practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Price: $220 monthly for Youth Water Polo, plus a USA Water Polo Gold Membership of $120 and a TSM Family fee of $120; Splashball costs $220 monthly plus a USA Water Polo annual membership of $120.
TSM Aquatics was established in 1955 and has been a part of the aquatic sports community for over 70 years. The organization is a dedicated non-profit run by the Swimming Patrons of Santa Monica, a caring 501(c)(3) non-profit that is parent-owned and coach-led, with a mission to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment to foster the skills, qualities, and character necessary for achieving excellence in both aquatics and life. TSM Aquatics is anchored by five core values: grit, passion, community, commitment, and sportsmanship, and serves a diverse community that extends beyond Santa Monica to nearby neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Venice, Culver City, and the Westside of Los Angeles.
The Youth Water Polo program requires athletes to swim 100 yards in less than 2 minutes. The leadership and coaching staff includes Matthew Flanders, Head Water Polo Coach and Program Director; Mohammad Khadembashi, Head Coach and Executive Director; Iman Khadembashi, Associate Head Coach; and assistant coaches Chris Kang, Dan Heraly, Stefanie Capizzi, Caley Mason, Brian Timmerman, A`ilana Martinez, Shanna Stevenson, Matt Cianfrone, and Ben Zovickian. Coach Flanders grew up playing water polo and swimming at Team Santa Monica in the 1980s, played for Santa Monica High School where he earned all league, all CIF, and All American honors, then played four years at UCSB earning all conference honors and team MVP his senior year, and played on the USA Junior National team. He later served as a graduate assistant at UCSB, then as head coach for Santa Monica High School’s water polo and swim teams, winning numerous league championships in swim and water polo and CIF championships in girls and boys water polo, earning CIF coach of the year both times, and coaching players who earned all league, All CIF, and All American awards. He also coached at Westside Aquatics, guiding the program to consecutive Junior Olympics appearances and two trips abroad to play in Croatia, and he continues to play water polo, earning All American honors at the masters level and three national championships.
One parent shared that their 5-year-old has improved in listening skills, coordination, following directions, and working with other kids, and is always excited to go to swim class. Another parent said that TSM has been an important part of their son’s growth and development, describing how what started as swim lessons to keep him active became a passion that gives him structure, discipline, confidence, self-determination, and a supportive social circle, and that they have become part of a community of parents connected through their children’s competitive swimming.
Last updated March 26, 2026.
• Ages: 5–13 years old
• Schedule: Youth Water Polo practices are held year round three times per week, with 2-hour practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; Splashball practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Price: $220 monthly for Youth Water Polo, plus a USA Water Polo Gold Membership of $120 and a TSM Family fee of $120; Splashball costs $220 monthly plus a USA Water Polo annual membership of $120.
TSM Aquatics was established in 1955 and has been a part of the aquatic sports community for over 70 years. The organization is a dedicated non-profit run by the Swimming Patrons of Santa Monica, a caring 501(c)(3) non-profit that is parent-owned and coach-led, with a mission to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment to foster the skills, qualities, and character necessary for achieving excellence in both aquatics and life. TSM Aquatics is anchored by five core values: grit, passion, community, commitment, and sportsmanship, and serves a diverse community that extends beyond Santa Monica to nearby neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Venice, Culver City, and the Westside of Los Angeles.
The Youth Water Polo program requires athletes to swim 100 yards in less than 2 minutes. The leadership and coaching staff includes Matthew Flanders, Head Water Polo Coach and Program Director; Mohammad Khadembashi, Head Coach and Executive Director; Iman Khadembashi, Associate Head Coach; and assistant coaches Chris Kang, Dan Heraly, Stefanie Capizzi, Caley Mason, Brian Timmerman, A`ilana Martinez, Shanna Stevenson, Matt Cianfrone, and Ben Zovickian. Coach Flanders grew up playing water polo and swimming at Team Santa Monica in the 1980s, played for Santa Monica High School where he earned all league, all CIF, and All American honors, then played four years at UCSB earning all conference honors and team MVP his senior year, and played on the USA Junior National team. He later served as a graduate assistant at UCSB, then as head coach for Santa Monica High School’s water polo and swim teams, winning numerous league championships in swim and water polo and CIF championships in girls and boys water polo, earning CIF coach of the year both times, and coaching players who earned all league, All CIF, and All American awards. He also coached at Westside Aquatics, guiding the program to consecutive Junior Olympics appearances and two trips abroad to play in Croatia, and he continues to play water polo, earning All American honors at the masters level and three national championships.
One parent shared that their 5-year-old has improved in listening skills, coordination, following directions, and working with other kids, and is always excited to go to swim class. Another parent said that TSM has been an important part of their son’s growth and development, describing how what started as swim lessons to keep him active became a passion that gives him structure, discipline, confidence, self-determination, and a supportive social circle, and that they have become part of a community of parents connected through their children’s competitive swimming.
Last updated March 26, 2026.
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