Tread and Pass Rounds
Short rounds of treading with ball tasks (hold up, pass, catch, fake) followed by rest – building the legs to stay up while the hands are busy.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 9, Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Treading Water, Eggbeater, Passing
- Equipment
- Noodle, Water Polo Ball
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 2–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Deep water competence required; stop any swimmer showing distress. Not an endurance contest.
What it develops
- Eggbeater to stay high and stable
- Keep technique going in short games
How to run it
- Pairs in deep water with one ball.
- Round 1 (30 seconds): pass back and forth.
- Round 2: hold the ball up for three seconds before each pass.
- Round 3: fake once, then pass. Rest at the wall between rounds.
Teaching cues
- Legs never stop.
- Free hand sculls.
- Rest properly between rounds.
Make it easier
- 20-second rounds; noodle allowed.
Make it harder
- 40-second rounds; passes must be dry.
Common faults
- Legs stop when the ball arrives.
- Using two hands.
Corrections
- 'Kick through the catch.'
- 'One hand only.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Time the rounds and rests aloud and keep a float ready for anyone who needs it.