Meet Brian Xicotencatl

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brian Xicotencatl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brian below.

Brian, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”

― Walter Payton

It was the last tournament of my college career and honestly I was quite unsatisfied with how I had performed. I had played scared and unsure of myself.

I had done it. Not only had I made it to play NCAA Water Polo, but I was a key player on my team. I was entering the last

tournament of my Senior year.

But I had underperformed. Paralysis by Analysis it is called.

I was so far in my head that I thought I had found the 4th demetion.

No one was harder on me that myself.

I was unsatisfied. I did not show who I really was or how I really could play.

I remember that day so vividly. I was fed up with myself. Riding the bus to the pool, I came to a conclusion.

I would not approach the game the way I was any more.

I would no longer care about my performance.

I would no longer put myself down for mistakes.

I would not worry about the score.

I would no longer believe I didnt belong there.

I would only have the most fun I could playing the game that I loved so much.

I ended my college career on a 9 meter helicopter backhand. What. An. Ending.

But this wouldn’t be my first tangle with Imposter Syndrome.

As a Strength Coach, I never worked in the public sector. This means I never got the mentoring that I believed would help

me be successful as a college strength coach.

To make matters worse, I love a stop that has very little sport science, data, articles written about it, or strength coaches that

specialized in it.

For most of my career Ive felt like Ive been on an Island.

So much of my career I’ve questioned myself, my knowledge, and ability.

It wasn’t until I was around my peers to see I was approaching this with so much more.

So the simply answer as to how I overcame it is two fold.

1. I decided to get out of my head and just keep doing what I loved to do. Help athletes grow
2. I put my work infront of others.

You have to send it. You have to give it your all. There is no other choice. Anything else is a waste of your potential, time, and energy.

I hope you can find your way through, as I did.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have the best Job in the world.

I get to study, train athletes in, and coach the sport I love.

I own a company called Water Polo Strong, but my work has shifted to work for 6-8 sports. I am the head sport scientist and Strength coach for our 6-8 Academy.

Our mission at 6-8 Sports is to accelerate growth & exposure in developing sports through our revolutionary development system that unites standardized metrics, live-game tracking & advanced data analytics.

The first high-performance training Academy for water polo in the United States. Semester-based, full time and immersive training program for athletes serious about playing in college or rapidly improving their skills. State of the art gym/ conditioning, high-level water polo, mental/tactical work, virtual reality, nutrition guidance, college recruiting consultation, and more.
Athletes are monitored by the 6-8 System and detailed personal evaluations to track and analyze progress over time.

The academy is the best training environment I have ever encountered.

I handle all the testing, physical training, and nutrition for our academy athletes.

But more importantly what we have done is started to create the first database about Water Polo Player movement, breath, sports performance and game play.

Since we focus on data we collect what is the most detailed information on each athlete. We are able to assess, monitor, and prescribe what our athletes need to improve.

Being a part of this system. with, two of the best the Water Polo World has seen, Maggie Steffens and Tony Azevedo has put a litmus test on all of my previous work.

Furthermore, the mentorship by 3x olympic coach Ricardo Azevedo makes our academy second to none.

Our academy is a semester based program that athletes have to apply for. We have 3 semesters a year.

This is just one of our many products.

5 things you should look into from us:

1. 6-8 Player app

– This app houses all player data as well as tons of videos on water polo training, tactics, and nutrition.

2. 6-8 Game Desk (Stats tracking)

– This is Water Polos first stats tracking app

3. 6-8 Challenge

– This is the Combine for Water Polo skills.

4. The 6-8 Academy

– Our academy in Orange County is the best training environment an athlete can ask for.

5. 6-8 College Showcase Series

– This is our college recruitment camp. Athletes are tested, train, and compete infront of college coaches.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful on my journey were:

1. My B.A. In Exercise Science (Area of Knowledge)

Exercise Science gave me the basis of understanding to have a wholistic view on how to assess, train, and monitor athletes
I went to a smaller college so we had small class sizes and tons of tools to learn with. I had a chance to use metabolic carts, dart fish, and many other kinesiology tech. It was absolutely one of the best things I have ever done.

2. Being Committed to Always learning (qualities)

This quality has left me always curious and not satisfied with being where I am. I want know more. I want to really understand everything I can about my profession.

3. Massage School (skills)

Going to massage school gave me the skills to help the people around me. As as strength coach/sport coach athletes are always in pain. This gave me the skill to really help them with that.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Wow that’s an easy one.

“How to win friends and influence people” by Napoleon Hill.

This classic by far helped me do better with my interpersonal relationships and business.

It has helped craft how I think about communication, talk to people, and decide how to interact.

Here are some nuggets:

Be a good listener: Pay attention to what others are saying, ask questions, and show genuine interest in their lives and experiences.

Remember names: Using someone’s name shows you care and are paying attention.

Ask questions: Encourage others to talk about themselves by asking open-ended questions.

Find common ground: Look for shared interests or experiences to connect with others.

Be respectful: Treat everyone with courtesy and kindness, even when disagreeing.

Make others feel important: Recognize their contributions and value their opinions.

Everyone should read this book. I have read it multiple times over the years.

Hope this helps.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.6-8sports.com
• Instagram: @waterpolostrong @68sports
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-xicotencatl-73144a68/
• Twitter: @waterpolostrong
• Youtube: @waterpolostrong