Counter-Attack Swim
On the whistle, defenders switch to attack, swimming head-up to the other end to receive a long pass – practising quick transitions.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Head-Up Swimming, Shooting, Water Polo Movement
- Equipment
- Water Polo Ball, Goals or Targets
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 2–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 2, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- One swimmer at a time towards the target; nobody in front of the goal.
What it develops
- Simple attacking ideas: space, movement and support
- Keep technique going in short games
How to run it
- Swimmers start treading in a 'defending' position near one goal.
- On the whistle, they swim head-up towards the other end.
- The teacher (or a feeder) makes a long pass onto the water ahead of the leading swimmer.
- Swimmer collects, dribbles and finishes with a shot at a target.
Teaching cues
- Turn and go straight away.
- Head up to see the pass.
- Collect without stopping.
Make it easier
- Shorter distance; ball placed on the water.
Make it harder
- A defender chases from a metre behind (no contact).
Common faults
- Swimming with the face in and missing the pass.
- Stopping to pick up the ball.
Corrections
- 'Look for the ball over your shoulder.'
- 'Swim onto it and keep going.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Feed the long passes from poolside when the teacher signals, aiming ahead of the swimmer.