Ball Handling Warm-Up Lines
Two lines pass across the pool while swimmers tread, with each pass followed by a swim to the back of the opposite line – a busy, efficient warm-up.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 9, Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Head-Up Swimming, Passing, Receiving
- Equipment
- Water Polo Ball
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 6–20 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Swim to the right side of the passing lane to avoid head-on collisions.
What it develops
- Pass and receive while moving
- Accurate passing under light pressure
How to run it
- Two lines face each other about four metres apart.
- First swimmer passes to the opposite line, then swims head-up to join the back of that line.
- Receivers catch one-handed, pass back and follow their pass.
- Change to the weaker hand after two minutes.
Teaching cues
- Pass, then follow it.
- Head-up swimming between lines.
- One-handed catches.
Make it easier
- Lines closer together; standing depth.
Make it harder
- Two balls moving at once.
- Receivers must catch dry.
Common faults
- Swimming with face in and colliding.
- Passing before the receiver is ready.
Corrections
- 'Eyes up when you swim across.'
- 'Wait for a hand.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand at the end of one line, keep the line organised and point swimmers to the correct side of the lane.