Mini Water Polo
A short, modified game with small goals or targets, simple rules and an emphasis on passing, space and fair play.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 9, Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Head-Up Swimming, Passing, Shooting, Game Awareness
- Equipment
- Water Polo Ball, Goals or Targets, Team Caps or Bibs
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 6–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- In a lesson
- Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Clear no-contact rules explained before play; referee stops play for any unsafe contact, ducking or splashing faces.
- Deep water only for swimmers confident treading; remove jewellery and check nails are short.
- Goals secured and checked before play.
What it develops
- Understand basic positions and spacing
- Simple attacking ideas: space, movement and support
- Communicate and play fairly to the rules
- Keep technique going in short games
How to run it
- Teams of three or four with caps; small goals or targets at each end, no goalkeepers (or rotating goalkeepers).
- Rules: one hand on the ball, no contact, no holding the ball under water, restart from the side after a goal.
- Play two short halves of three to four minutes.
- Stop briefly to praise good passing, movement and fair play.
Teaching cues
- Pass more than you dribble.
- Spread out.
- Fair play always.
Make it easier
- Bigger targets; shallow water allowed.
Make it harder
- Introduce a shot clock (e.g. shoot within 20 seconds of gaining the ball).
Common faults
- Swarming around the ball.
- Rough play near goal.
Corrections
- 'Find your own space.'
- 'Play the ball, not the player.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Referee from the opposite side to the teacher, stopping play with the whistle for contact, and keep the score.