Wet Pass to Space
Pass the ball onto the water in front of a swimming team-mate so they can swim onto it without stopping.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 9
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Head-Up Swimming, Passing, Game Awareness
- Equipment
- Water Polo Ball
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 2–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Passes are placed on the water, not thrown at swimmers.
What it develops
- Pass and receive while moving
- Swim with the ball under control
How to run it
- Receiver swims head-up across the width; passer treads at the side.
- Passer places the ball on the water a metre or two ahead of the receiver.
- Receiver swims onto the ball and dribbles it to the far side.
- Swap roles; then try passing from further away.
Teaching cues
- Pass ahead, not at them.
- Receiver keeps swimming.
- Gentle, accurate pass.
Make it easier
- Receiver swims slowly; short passes.
Make it harder
- Receiver changes direction and calls for the ball.
- Add a passive defender.
Common faults
- Passing behind the receiver.
- Receiver stops and waits.
Corrections
- 'Pass to where they'll be.'
- 'Keep swimming – the ball comes to you.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Signal to the passer when the receiver has set off, and fetch balls that go wide.