Swim, Turn and Receive
Swimmers swim away from a passer, turn quickly on a call and show a hand to receive – combining direction change and receiving.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 8, Water Polo – Stage 9, Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Head-Up Swimming, Receiving, Water Polo Movement
- Equipment
- Water Polo Ball
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 2–20 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Pairs spread out; passes to the hand only.
What it develops
- Stop, start and change direction quickly
- Pass and receive while moving
- Accurate passing under light pressure
How to run it
- Passer treads or stands with a ball; receiver swims head-up away from them.
- On the passer's call, the receiver turns quickly to face them, eggbeaters and raises a hand.
- Passer passes to the hand; receiver catches and passes back.
- Swap roles after five turns.
Teaching cues
- Turn tight and fast.
- Show a hand straight away.
- Soft one-handed catch.
Make it easier
- Receiver swims slowly and only a few metres.
Make it harder
- Receiver turns to the side the passer calls.
- Add a passive defender.
Common faults
- Slow turn with a wide arc.
- Receiver forgets to show a target.
Corrections
- 'Knees in, spin round.'
- 'Hand up as soon as you face them.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Act as the passer for a spare swimmer, making the call at the moment the teacher has demonstrated.