Passing Count Game
Two teams in a marked area try to make five passes in a row without the other team touching the ball – a simple, low-contact first game.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 8
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Passing, Receiving, Game Awareness
- Equipment
- Water Polo Ball, Team Caps or Bibs
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 6–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- In a lesson
- Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- No contact: no holding, pushing, pulling or ducking; stop the game immediately for unsafe play.
- Swimmers in deep water must be confident treading.
What it develops
- Pass and receive over short distances
- Play simple small-sided games safely
How to run it
- Split into two teams with coloured caps or bibs.
- The team with the ball tries to complete five passes in a row; each completed set of five scores a point.
- The other team can intercept or block passes but must not touch players.
- Ball changes hands after an interception or a dropped catch.
Teaching cues
- Spread out.
- Call for the ball.
- One-handed passes.
Make it easier
- Three passes scores a point; shallow water.
Make it harder
- Passes must be dry (caught before touching the water).
Common faults
- Everyone crowds the ball.
- Two-handed catches.
Corrections
- 'Find space where nobody is.'
- 'Show one hand.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Count the passes aloud for one team and stop play with the whistle if anyone makes contact.