WATER POLO LEVEL 1 More focus on technique than playing and tactics

SWIMMING NO BALL Eggbeater. Eggbeater. Change of direction. Change of direction. Zigzag (both offensive and defensive). Zigzag (both offensive and defensive). Sidestroke. Sidestroke. Stop and go. Stop and go. Whip kick. Whip kick.

SWIMMING W/BALL & WET PASSING Head up front-crawl. Head up front-crawl. Pick up ball underneath and from the side. Pick up ball underneath and from the side. Go from horizontal to vertical with the ball. Go from horizontal to vertical with the ball. Push shots/passes. Push shots/passes. Tip shot/passes. Tip shot/passes. Lying out. Lying out. Taking a foul (using shoulder not back). Taking a foul (using shoulder not back). Water polo backstroke. Water polo backstroke. Skipping, squirrel the ball. Skipping, squirrel the ball. Finishing with no defender. No fake, elevating up is the fake and then skip the ball. Finishing with no defender. No fake, elevating up is the fake and then skip the ball. Passing while swimming to a partner (both wet & dry passes). Passing while swimming to a partner (both wet & dry passes).

PASSING DRY & SHOOTING Catch and pass in one motion. Catch and pass in one motion. Arched passes. Arched passes. Focus on base of support, not the top Focus on base of support, not the top No faking, quick shots from Strong side. No faking, quick shots from Strong side. Shoot from the top. Shoot from the top. Good passes are ones that allow the athlete catching to pass or shoot on tempo (a bad pass takes away this option). Good passes are ones that allow the athlete catching to pass or shoot on tempo (a bad pass takes away this option).

GAME TACTICS Have all athletes play all positions (hole, goalie, driver, 2 meter guard). This will allow them to get a better understanding of what each position entails. Have all athletes play all positions (hole, goalie, driver, 2 meter guard). This will allow them to get a better understanding of what each position entails. Counter attack should be the focus. Get the ball down the right side of the pool to 2 meters as fast as possible. Then a ball side drive to the hole to start half court. Counter attack should be the focus. Get the ball down the right side of the pool to 2 meters as fast as possible. Then a ball side drive to the hole to start half court. Defense should be goal side, press no foul, hole guard from the left side. Ensure that hips are up everywhere. Defense should be goal side, press no foul, hole guard from the left side. Ensure that hips are up everywhere. Offense should focus on how to help the ball, drive away and curl to help. Offense should focus on how to help the ball, drive away and curl to help. Get athletes to communicate. Get athletes to communicate.

LEVEL 2 Continue to focus on technical development Continue to focus on technical development

SWIMMING NO BALL Stroke drills. High Elbows, head up. Kick Stroke drills. High Elbows, head up. Kick Initiating contact. Initiating contact. V-Moves. V-Moves. Rare Back's. Rare Back's. Picks and screens introduced Picks and screens introduced

Swimming w/ball & wet passing Head down front-crawl. Head down front-crawl. Pick up ball underneath and from the top, why and when. Pick up ball underneath and from the top, why and when. Lateral Movement with ball. Lateral Movement with ball.

PASSING DRY & SHOOTING Catch and pass in one motion. Catch and pass in one motion. Quick shots/passes from cross face Quick shots/passes from cross face Faking Faking

GAME TACTICS Narrow down positional play to 1 or 2 positions. Narrow down positional play to 1 or 2 positions. Defense should be now be in the passing lanes, with hole guard fronting. Press no foul & foul to steal. Ensure that hips are up everywhere! Force offence to drive away (don't want offense to drive ball side). And when to foul on the press should be taught. Defense should be now be in the passing lanes, with hole guard fronting. Press no foul & foul to steal. Ensure that hips are up everywhere! Force offence to drive away (don't want offense to drive ball side). And when to foul on the press should be taught. Offense should focus on how to help the ball, incorporate V-moves. Begin teaching off ball drives to score to beat the press. Offense should focus on how to help the ball, incorporate V-moves. Begin teaching off ball drives to score to beat the press. Man-up should be focusing on the triangle up top and shifting the triangle to the isolate a shooter. Man-up should be focusing on the triangle up top and shifting the triangle to the isolate a shooter. Man-down should be in the Gaps everywhere, trying to force the shot from 5-6. Man-down should be in the Gaps everywhere, trying to force the shot from 5-6.

LEVEL 3 Increase game and tactics Increase game and tactics

TACTICS Driving for inside water. Driving for inside water. How to defend pulling and grabbing. How to defend pulling and grabbing. Learning how to present kick outs better. Learning how to present kick outs better. Protecting open water. Protecting open water. Blocking principles and technique. Blocking principles and technique.

PASSING & DRY SHOOTING Continue to work on quick shots from both sides. Continue to work on quick shots from both sides. Continue to focus on faking can be done on both sides. Continue to focus on faking can be done on both sides. Work on breaking/stopping the fake behind your ears, which leads into the hesi. Work on breaking/stopping the fake behind your ears, which leads into the hesi.

GAME TACTICS Specific positions should be developed. Ie. Right side, Left-side, hole, guard, and goalie. Specific positions should be developed. Ie. Right side, Left-side, hole, guard, and goalie. Go into 6 on 5 and counter. Go into 6 on 5 and counter. Passing lanes should be mastered. Press to help should be taught, when to help. Passing lanes should be mastered. Press to help should be taught, when to help. Only 2 person zones/gap (ie. 1/2 or 2/3, no 2/3/4 yet). Only 2 person zones/gap (ie. 1/2 or 2/3, no 2/3/4 yet). How to beat the press should be understood so focus on beating the zone. Driving away to score (teach driver to look for ball) so that looper and hole get open. This gives passer/shooter 3 options: Hole, looper or shoot. Also introduce 2 Holes. How to beat the press should be understood so focus on beating the zone. Driving away to score (teach driver to look for ball) so that looper and hole get open. This gives passer/shooter 3 options: Hole, looper or shoot. Also introduce 2 Holes. Manage the 35-second shot clock. Manage the 35-second shot clock. Teach man-up, just principles no specific positions. Need everyone to understand all positions and principles of each position. Teach man-up, just principles no specific positions. Need everyone to understand all positions and principles of each position. Man-down should be Storm (anticipate where the ball is going, hips up and push off the defender, foul is possible and passing lanes), and stay home (blocking principles/responsibilities and passing lanes). Man-down should be Storm (anticipate where the ball is going, hips up and push off the defender, foul is possible and passing lanes), and stay home (blocking principles/responsibilities and passing lanes).

LEVEL 4 More game tactics More game tactics

TACTICS Specific positions should be developed. Ie. Right side, Left-side, hole, guard, and goalie. Specific positions should be developed. Ie. Right side, Left-side, hole, guard, and goalie. 6 on 5 counter to half court. 6 on 5 counter to half court. 2/3/4 zone and Gap combinations, swimming and blocking. 2/3/4 zone and Gap combinations, swimming and blocking. Flex/rotate to beat the zone, slide 5 or 1 in to set whole. Driving away to score (teach driver to look for ball) so that looper and hole get open. This gives passer/shooter 3 options: Hole, looper or shoot. Flex/rotate to beat the zone, slide 5 or 1 in to set whole. Driving away to score (teach driver to look for ball) so that looper and hole get open. This gives passer/shooter 3 options: Hole, looper or shoot. Manage the 35-second shot clock. Manage the 35-second shot clock. Specific positions for man-up and set plays. Specific positions for man-up and set plays. Continue to work on storm and stay home on man-down and also work on Gapping. Continue to work on storm and stay home on man-down and also work on Gapping.