Positions Walk-Through
In shallower water, walk (or slowly swim) through simple attacking positions in an arc around the goal so players learn where to be before playing at speed.
- Stages
- Water Polo – Stage 9, Water Polo – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Passing, Game Awareness
- Equipment
- Float, Water Polo Ball, Goals or Targets
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 5–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Walking practice where everyone can stand; deep-water version only for confident swimmers.
What it develops
- Understand basic positions and spacing
- Simple attacking ideas: space, movement and support
How to run it
- Mark a goal and place floats in an arc about four to five metres out, plus one spot nearer the goal.
- Players stand at the spots; pass the ball around the arc slowly.
- On the call 'rotate', everyone moves one spot to the right.
- Then try at swimming pace in deep water.
Teaching cues
- Hold your spot – spread out.
- Face the ball.
- Move on 'rotate'.
Make it easier
- Only three spots.
Make it harder
- Add a defender who must be passed around.
- Player at the near-goal spot shoots when free.
Common faults
- Drifting into the middle.
- Facing the wrong way.
Corrections
- 'Stay on your float.'
- 'Show your chest to the ball.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Reset any floats that drift and keep players on their spots while the teacher explains.