SNYDERS ARE THE ROYAL FAMILY IN WATER POLO BROTHERS NOW PLAY FOR FATHER AT SIMI VALLEY SCHOOL.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP

Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - The warning signs came early. Like the water polo ball in the baby pictures, or the way the kids raaced to the ocean with such enthusiasm they often reached the water before their father finished unpacking the car.

By the time dinner conversations and summer travel revolved around the sport, it was obvious: the water polo bug bit the Snyder family in such a big way, you'd be hard-pressed to find another local family as comitted to the sport as this Simi Valley clan.

For more than 30 years, Steve Snyder has coached water polo locally -- first at Pierce College and since 1980 at Royal High of Simi Valley. His two sons, Barry and Scott, have grown into standout players, making the game a family affair at Royal, where the trio is in its final season together.

"They grew up around the pool, and ever since they were old enough, this is what they've wanted to do," said the boys' mother, Ann, who is a regular at games but knew nothing about the sport until she met Steve. "They've always been water babies like their dad."

Steve played college water polo for a Long Beach State team that finished third in the nation his senior year. He continued to breed success as a coach; in his second year at Royal, the Highlanders began a record streak

of 17 consecutive Marmonte League championships.

The Snyder sons have done their part to maintain Royal's status as a power. Barry, a returning All-Southern Section senior who was selected MVP of last month's El Dorado tournament after leading the Highlanders to the title, ranks among regional leaders with a team-high 92 goals. Scott, a junior, is Royal's second-leading scorer with 57goals in addition to a team-high 54assists and 41 steals.

"Barry's definitely one of the purest shooters in the league and the area," said Agoura coach Dusty Litvak. "He's got a quick release, a powerful shot that's accurate. He's definitely burned us in the past.

"And Scotty, he's a deadly passer. He can make no-look passes right on the mark. ...

"With their dad, you knew they were going to be good."

Being a team player is something that has been drilled into the Snyder boys for years, so even though they push each other, they don't worry about trying to outdo one another, and Scott doesn't have a problem with his brother taking on the bulk of the scoring this season.

"He's a senior, so this is his year," Scott said. "Basically, I just want to win a CIF championship. That's been the goal every year. That's more important than our stats."

Last week's lopsided loss to Agoura means the Highlanders will likely finish the regular season next week in second place, but as the No. 4 team in the Southern Section Div. IV rankings, they should be a force in the postseason. Royal has reached the semifinals the past three years.

Barry, 18, has dreamed of playing for the title since he watched Royal win a Southern Section championship in 1995.

"We grew up going to every game," Barry said. "I remember how special it was when they won CIF. I loved it. I knew then I wanted to win a CIF championship when I got to high school."

With the graduation of two All-Southern Section scorers who combined for 180 goals last season, Barry and Scott knew they would be counted on to take on larger roles this season. Both have been on varsity since they were freshmen and their performance, aided by a strong familiarity with the Highlanders' system, helped quiet claims of favoritism.

"That's pretty much cooled off," Steve said of the critics. "It was my decision and I still stand by it. I think they deserved to be there as freshmen. They earned their position on the team. ... They don't get any special treatment."

For the most part, the sons don't have a problem being instructed by their father, although an assistant coach is sometimes needed to serve as a buffer.

"We have a really good rapport based on how well I knew them," Steve said of his sons. "I've been pretty close with them since they were little. Once I started to coach them in high school, it wasn't really that different. I've coached them since they were little in other sports, so they were used to me in that role. We have our disagreements at times, but nothing too bad."

Said Barry: "I actually like having my dad as a coach. I can ask him about things all the time. I know he knows a lot about the game."

The bond is strong enough that Steve not only offers advice to his sons, he often asks them to critique him as a coach and picks their minds about tactics they've learned playing for other coaches

Scott, 16, has played internationally as a member of the national program. He was selected to the Cadet team again this past year, but was unable to play because he spent the summer recovering from mononucleosis, the only time in his life he can recall being out of the water for more than a few days.

Barry's success includes national championships at the club level.

Basketball and karate were the first sports the boys played, but it was always clear the water was their destination of choice. As toddlers, they'd join their mom in the pool, trying to keep up as she swam laps. Instead of having a babysitter, the kids liked to tag along with dad, whether that meant chasing down balls on the pool deck or joining him on a Malibu beach, where he works summers as a lifeguard. Barry recently passed his test to also become an L.A. County lifeguard.

The family tries not to let water polo consume its life, but then again, they have a hard time remembering the last time they took a vacation that didn't involve water polo. The sport has taken them around the world.

"Except for a little break between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's all we do," Ann said. "That's been the case since before we had kids."

With the boys now playing for their dad, strategy sessions are known to break out at any time.

"At times, to my wife's chagrin, we do talk about it too much at the dinner table," Steve said. "It sort of depends on how our games have gone, maybe we'll try to figure out what we could have done differently. If it's a game like the other day against Agoura, we're still trying to figure out what happened."

It doesn't take much for them to figure out the end of an era is near.

"We'll probably look back in five years and be able to have a better idea of how special it was," Steve said of having his sons play for him at Royal. "We've just been together so long, we don't know anything different. The boys might not think about it as much, but my wife and I, we know it won't last, so we're really trying to savor the moments and enjoy them while we can. In literally less than a month it'll all be over. The next time I see Barry play, I'll be the one in the stands yelling."

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Scott and BArry Snyder are the leading scorers on the Royal boys' water polo team, coached by their father, Steve.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer