Three Versus One Keep-Away
Three attackers keep the ball from one defender in a small area – passing under light pressure with no contact allowed.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Passing, Receiving, Game Awareness
- Equipment
- Float, Water Polo Ball
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 4–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 2, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- No contact rule enforced strictly; stop play immediately for holding or ducking.
- Deep water competence required.
What it develops
- Accurate passing under light pressure
- Simple attacking ideas: space, movement and support
How to run it
- Mark a small area; three attackers, one defender.
- Attackers pass and move to keep possession; the defender tries to intercept or block the pass.
- Defender may block or intercept passes only – no grabbing, holding or pushing anyone.
- Rotate the defender every 45 seconds or after an interception.
Teaching cues
- Make a triangle around the defender.
- Pass when the lane is open.
- Fakes help create space.
Make it easier
- Larger area or passive defender.
Make it harder
- Smaller area; attackers have two touches only.
Common faults
- Attackers bunch together.
- Defender grabs at arms.
Corrections
- 'Spread out – make the defender choose.'
- 'Hands up to block, never to hold.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Referee one group: blow the whistle for any contact and restart play as the teacher has explained.