The leading character, Sandy Scott, a strong swimmer, leaves his home in the mountains of Western North Carolina and enters college in California to learn the sport of water polo. Six years later, he returns home and revives a defunct water polo program at his local YMCA, working with young eleven- and twelve-year-olds. The book follows his trials and tribulations as he takes his team of boys and girls to tournaments in Pennsylvania and Colorado. There is a family element in the story as well as a secondary love interest. Although fictional, the novel is based on some of the author's actual experiences.

Chuck Hines enjoyed a 40-year career with the YMCA, during which he was a strong advocate of the Olympic sport of water polo. He was a three-time All-America player, and he coached teams at three YMCAs that won national championships. His teams all started out at the beginning level, in small pools and with insufficient equipment, and fought their way to the top. This book is the story of those teams and their rags to riches achievements.

Water polo was the first team sport to be added to the program of the Olympic Games, in 1900. This accessible volume chronicles the history of the fast-paced aquatic sport, its rules and regulations, playing techniques, and required skills, such as catching, wet and dry passing, and shooting. Both offensive and defensive plays are examined, as well as how points are scored. This handy narrative also explains player positions, the coach's responsibilities, and officials' tasks, and includes informative sidebars such as a comparison of American and English water polo and types of fouls.