Play Hole Set in Water Polo

The hole set in polo is the equivalent of a center in basketball; his job is to allow for offensive progression. It is the most important position. A team with a dominant hole-set is usually a challenge to defeat, so picking the right person is important. He must have long arms, good hands and legs, and cannot be short tempered. Here's how to be a good one.

Steps : Get in the right position. You want to push your defender back, with your hips out in front of you. When the ball is passed, this enables you to step out to it and score. In times when you cannot score, you also have the option of turning your defender. If you can successfully put the defender on your back, the referee will reward your team with an ejection or a 5-meter. A hole set can also take a foul and allow for the 2 and 4 positions to drive.

Choose your type of shot. There are several types:

• Sweep -- The ball is cradled using your wrist and released after a quick turn. The key to this shot is quickness.
• Backhand -- Hold the ball with your wrist pointing forward and you release it quickly. This shot is best taken when the pass comes in from the flat and you are positioned on the far post so you have entire cage.
• Lay-out. This shot requires the player to step out to the ball and then come forward to shoot. A defender may reach forward to block the ball. In this situation, you can fake a shot and turn them or you may change your angle of shooting. For instance lean back, then wait for the defender's move. Once he moves, move your upper body left. This confuses the goalie and the defense. But remember, quickness is the key for success.
• Opposite Hand -- work on picking the ball up and shooting with your opposite hand. If the defender knows that you are right handed, he will most likely shade your strong side leaving you open to make a move to shoot with your left hand.

Don't be afraid to push off the defender to separate yourself from him in order to get yourself free to shoot. Make sure your hand is positioned below the water and that your movement is not very aggressive.

Never shoot on the first pass into 2 meters unless you have a clear shot. It's always easier to get a shot off out of 2 meters if you shoot on the 2nd or 3rd pass into set. If you don't have a good shot, take the foul or dish the ball to the perimeter.

Tips

• Try different ways of scoring, front hand sweeper shot, back hand, roll-outs, and more, experiment.
• At higher levels of water polo, the defenders will front the hole-set position. In this case, you should push the defender upwards and receive a pass from one of the two wings.
• A note about sweep shots: Always lead with your shoulder. This gives the ball more momentum as it leaves your hand.
• Make the defender work. Good teams put their best player to guard hole. If you make him tired your team has a good chance of winning
• 2 meter players need to have the 2nd best legs in the pool (next to the goalies). Always rest with your hands up to condition your legs during practice.
• Be quick. Know what you want to do before the ball comes. Though the position requires you to be physical, you can also be finesse. You can roll or spin when the defender grabs you.
• Referees favor the offense. There is no shame in acting or make agony noises when playing hole.
• If you are not a fast swimmer, don't worry. Not many hole-sets are. You still must react quickly and play "position" water polo.

 

 

Understand the Rules of Water Polo

Water Polo is a very demanding team sport played in water. It is sometimes described as a combination of swimming, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, rugby and wrestling - and much of this action takes place under the water! The players need to have the skills and fitness to tread water without using their hands, palm off opponents, and pass and shoot at goal under fatigue. In an average one hour game, they will be required to swim up to four to five kilometers (2.5 to 3 miles). Water polo athletes are indeed exceptional athletes.

Learn the Rules of the Game  

• Objective
  The aim of the game is to score the most by throwing the ball through the opposing team's goal; within the opposing teams goal and to defend their own goal from being scored upon. Ridiculous helmets are a must. This is to prevent water log
• Starting the Game
  Each team starts on the wall of their respective side with 7 players. 6 fielders and one goalkeeper. To start the game, the referee blows the whistle and throws the ball in at the center line represented by a white mark on the side of the pool deck. The two sprinters are the players closest to the side to where the ref threw the ball and are usually the teams fastest swimmer. The two teams race each other to be in possession of the ball and either pass or hand the ball off the the chaser who follows the sprinter.
• Game play Rules
  After the first possession is taken, a shot clock is started for 30 seconds in which the team must score or the possession of the ball is changed resulting in a new shot clock. Possession changes when the time is up.
• Fouls and Penalties
  Fouls in water polo vary from simple possession changes to full on ejections:
  • Minor Foul
    These are very common in water polo and result in a free pass play is not stopped for these fouls. They include mild grabbing and pushing. If a defender commits the foul, the fouled player gets a free pass to a team-mate, but can be blocked after the ball leaves the players hands. If the offense commits the foul, then the ball changes possession with a free pass.
  • Major Foul
    These are fouls when a defender is over aggressive on a player and result in being kicked out of the game until 20 seconds pass or until a possession change. They include grabbing, kicking pushing underwater and preventing movement. When committed, the attacking team is awarded a free pass and the defending team must play a man down.
  Understand the Positions
  
  • 3-3 Setup;
    The 3-3 is the most common setup for water polo and consists of 2 lines, each of 3 players. the front center position is the Set who the ball is trying to be passed too and is given the #6. The outside positions of the front line are the wings and given the numbers 1 and 5. The back center position is the point and is given the number 3. The outside back positions are the flats, or drivers and drive for the goal when the set is fouled. The flats are given the numbers 2 and 4.
    --------/Goal\--------
    ----(1)---(6)---(5)---
    ----------------------
    ----(2)---(3)---(4)---
    ----------------------
  • 2-4 Setup
    The 2-4 is a set up when the team has man up. Like the 3-3 there are 2 lines. The front has 4 players and the back 2. Position names can greatly vary so here's a chart with the numbers.
    --------/Goal\--------
    --(1)-(2)--(3)--(4)--
    ----------------------
    ------(5)----(6)------
    ----------------------
  Understand Simple Tactics
  
  • Starting the Game
    It is the beginning of the game when the first possession is determined. When the Whistle is blown the sprinter goes after ball and is followed by the tailer. If the sprinter gets possession of the ball, then he either passes it to and open player, or if pressed, to the tailer behind him. The offense then set up a 3-3 and continues from there. If the sprint is lost then the sprinter defends the opposing tailer, and the tailer defends the opposing sprinter. The other players also take action accordingly.
  • 3-3 Offensive Tactics
    After the sprint or possession change, the team will attempt to set up a 3-3.
    --------/Goal\--------
    ----(1)---(6)---(5)---
    ----------------------
    ----(2)---(3)---(4)---
    ----------------------
    The ball is usually started from the 2,3 or 4 positions. By passing the ball around the perimeter, the team tries to get to a position where the ball can get passed to set (6). The Set will then either have a shot on the goal, or get fouled. If fouled, it is the flats' (2 and 4) responsibility to drive toward the cage for a pass and then a shot. If no pass is made, the flats become the wings and the wings move back to the flats and the process is repeated.
  • 2-4 Offensive tactics
    The 2-4 set up is used when the opposing team is a man down, do to a foul or brutality..
    --------/Goal\--------
    --(1)-(2)--(3)--(4)--
    ----------------------
    ------(5)----(6)------
    ----------------------
    The front line of the set up is on the 2-meter line and the rear about 5 meters out. The 2 and 3 positions are on the posts of the goal. These are the equivalent of a set in a 3-3. The point is to get the ball to the 2 or 3 for a shot or for the 5 or 6 positions to get close enough to shoot. The tactics for offense are much the same as a 3-3 with the exception that there is no drive when a player is fouled.
  • Man to Man Defense
    This defense is used most often when each team has the same amount of players on the field and the way it works is to make it so there is no one for the offense to pass to. Each player chooses one player from the opposing team to guard and prevent a pass from reaching them. When played correctly, the offense will have the shot clock run out, or a pass will be blocked
  • Zone defense
    This defense method is used when the other team is a man up, or in circumstances where normal position line ups are broken. The basis of this defense is to guard the players with a good shot at the goal if passed to, and react effectively if the ball is passed to an open player. The main objective in this defense is to always keep the inside water, so that if the ball is passed to someone on the perimeter, their chance of making a goal is reduced. When played effectively, the shot-clock will expire, or the only shots available on the goal will be from the out side and easily blockable.
  
  

  Tips

  • Water polo is a very physical sport and a rule of thumb is that if it happens under water, it isn't noticed. So there is very often kicking, grabbing, etc. that is never called by the ref. So it is very common for the ref to miss or choose to ignore many of the things that happen in the water that would otherwise get penalized.
  • The refs eyes are mostly focused where the ball is, and that is where most fouls will be called.
  • Water polo is a very complex sport, just as any team sport. These are only a few of the countless number of factors involved in the game.
  • The best way to understand the game is to watch a live game.
  • FINA has a lengthy, but complete rule book that explains all the fine details of the game.
  
  

  Warnings

  
  
  • Never argue with the ref. It can get you kicked out of the game and possibly penalize the team. Everything is at the ref's discretion!
  • Water is constantly being thrashed about the pool so you will probably get wet if you are near the pool.
  • Don't think that you can just read up on the sport and automatically become good. The sport involves swimming and eggbeatering constantly, and is very physically demanding. Most players have to be in the pool multiple times a week, work out and watch their eating habits to stay in prime shape.

   

  
  
  

How to Play the Goalie Position in Water Polo

 

Steps

Learn how to egg beater. This is a form of treading water by moving each leg in opposite circular rotations that helps you stay above water. While egg beating, move your hands shoulder distance in front of you and move them side to side near the surface of the water. (Both hands scoop water towards each other, both hands scoop water away from each other).

Know where the ball is at all times. If you don't know where the ball is, you can't block it.

Keep your hips up. This is most important when preparing for a shot. 

Always be ready. Shots usually come unexpectedly from the outside or from the set position.

When the ball is in set, keep your hips up and watch the ball. Have your hands treading water lightly on the surface ready to come up out of the water.

When a driver has the ball and is swimming up to the goal ready to shoot, look intimidating and be intimidating. Don't forget, if they are close enough to the goal, you can attack the player or knock the ball out of his/her hand.

When blocking the ball, do not swing at it. This will bounce the ball back out at the opposing team giving them another chance to shoot. Have you're hands ready to hit the ball down into your possession or out of bounds if necessary.

Position yourself correctly in the goal. Always be lunging distance away from all possible places where the ball could be shot. Try to position yourself between the ball and the center of the goal.

Tips

• Keep your hands at the surface of the water so when a shot is taken you can get them out quickly and with less drag.
• Don't lean forward when getting ready for a shot. This may be tempting if you're tired, but don't do it. This makes it harder to jump up higher out of the water (Makes you jump forward instead of up).
• Don't fall for the fakes. When someone fakes the ball, they want you to come up from the water ready to block, then they wait for you to go back down, then they shoot. Most of the time it is easy to tell when someone is going to fake it. (On a shot they follow through with the throw, on a fake they go halfway)
• Practice and train by doing goal lunges and egg beating with water jugs, weight belts, or weight balls.
• When a driver swims towards you with the ball ready to shoot, have your arms ready to swoop forwards into the player covering less space for them to shoot.
• NEVER hold the ball close the goal. This gives the other team a chance to push it in, or you could accidentally drop it into the goal.
• Don't be discouraged if you aren't good at first.
• When a player goes after you if you have the ball, swim either hard left or hard right (Which ever is closer). While doing this, have your hands light and quick on the water and keep you're elbows high in hopes elbowing the player (optional). Kick your legs hard making a splash making it harder for them to see. Defend the ball by all means.

Warnings

• Water Polo is an extremely aggressive sport.
• These instructions are for people who have the strength and skill as a water polo player ONLY.

 

 

 

How to Pass a Water Polo Ball

 

Steps

Pick up the ball from under the water. Never pick the ball up from the top by palming it. In a game you will get called for 'ball under' if the defense pushes your hand down before you can pick it up.

 Get your torso out of the water by eggbeatering.

 Throw the ball mostly like you would a baseball, except roll the ball off of your fingertips.

Try to throw the ball at your teammate's strong hand and throw strongly, but don't shoot it at him. Higher is better to a certain extent, a high throw forces your teammate to go up for the ball and makes him ready to shoot or pump fake, but don't go too high. A couple feet off the water should be sufficient.

Tips

• Grasp the ball with only your thumb and pinky while using your 3 middle fingers for balance.
• Follow through with your middle finger to make the shot/pass straigher.
• The "Wrist Flick" (Flicking of the wrist when releasing ball) will drastically help speed and accuracy, as well as produce a good habit to get used to.
• Rotate your core when you shoot to get greater power and prevent injury by using your oblique and pectoral muscles.
• Keep your elbow in line with the rest of your arm. Do not let it lead.

Warnings

You need to practice these a lot to get the feel of how the ball will react to this form. You may still underthrow it or you may overthrow it. Also, if you have a physical impairment you may want to ask a doctor if this is okay.

 

Tips To Swim

• Use a kick board, life jacket or arm floats to help stay afloat if you feel nervous about moving around the water.
• If you are nervous getting into the water, try putting your feet in first and slowly make your way in.
• Having goggles, nose and/or ear plugs may make you more comfortable.
• If possible, learn to swim under the supervision of a trained lifeguard. He or she has been taught to recognize signs that you need help, even if you're underwater or unable to call out.
• Most public pools offer swimming lessons for all ages.
• Have lots of energy and stay positive. Learning to swim can be difficult.
• You will be using muscles in new ways, and this can be tiring or make you sore the next day.
• Remember you can always put your feet down if you begin to panic.
• Using goggles can be very useful.

How to Pass a Water Polo Ball

Let go of your fear. A lot of people put off learning how to swim because they're afraid of drowning. While drownings do occur, most of them could have been prevented with a few simple safety measures. Follow these guidelines whenever you're swimming, and your odds of drowning will decrease dramatically:

• Never swim alone. Always go swimming with at least one other person who is a strong swimmer, if not several other people.
• Don't start out swimming in moving water. If you're learning to swim in an ocean or river, you'll need to be more aware of the motion of the water. If you must learn to swim this way, try to make sure you're with someone who knows what he or she is doing, and be sure to read the step about getting out of a riptide or a rushing river (below).
• Stay within a depth you can handle. When you're first learning how to swim, don't venture into water that's too deep for you to stand in. That way, if something goes amiss, you can simply stand up and breathe.
• Try to avoid swimming in bad weather. If you see a storm coming in, get out of the water.
• Don't swim in water that's too cold. Moving your limbs to paddle can become suddenly difficult if you're in frigid water.

Get used to floating. When you're in the water, hold on to the side of the pool or a dock, and let your legs float out behind you - they should lift easily if you let them. Practice doing this on your stomach and on your back, until you're comfortable letting half of your body float. Try floating on your back or your stomach as soon as you're ready. Stay in a shallow depth so that you can simply stand up if it's not working out. It might feel weird to have water around your ears while your nose and mouth are in the air, but you'll get used to it. For extra stability, put out your arms at a right angle so that your body is in a "T" shape.

Don't panic. Always remember that you have a fallback if you're in an unmanageable depth or you simply can't move your limbs - floating on your back. Don't flail around or start breathing quickly if you can't swim; simply lie back as flat as you can, and let the water carry you while you regain your composure.

 Practice exhaling underwater. While you're still in a shallow depth, take a deep breath and put your face underwater. Slowly exhale out your nose until you're out of breath, then come back up. If you're uncomfortable exhaling through your nose, you can hold it closed or wear a nose plug and exhale through your mouth.

Wear goggles (optional). Wearing goggles can help you feel more comfortable opening your eyes underwater, and might allow you to see more clearly. Find a pair with spongy circles around the eyes and dip them in the water, so that they'll stick to your skin. Tighten the strap around the back of your head so that the goggles fit snugly.

Practice kicking your legs. Whether you're floating on your back or still holding on to the side of the pool, you can practice kicking. (To see how far each kick can propel you, practice it using a kickboard. This allows you to focus on your kicking technique without worrying about keeping your head above water.)

• Try a flutter kick. Point your toes out like a ballerina, keep your legs mostly straight, and alternate legs as you make small kicks. You should feel the most flexion in your ankles.
• Try a whip kick. Keep your legs held tightly together from your hips to your knees, and from your knees to your ankles. Bend your knees so that your shins come up to about a 90-degree angle, then quickly bring your shins apart and move them in a circular motion, keeping your thighs together the whole time. (That is, trace half a circle with each leg, moving your right leg to the right and your left leg to the left.) Bring your shins back together at the bottom of the circle, and lift them up again to restart the kick.
• Try an eggbeater kick. This kick is commonly used to tread water, and stay in a vertical position with your head and shoulders above water. Start with your knees bent and your legs slightly wider than hip-width apart. Then "pedal" each leg as you would on a bike, only they'll go in opposite directions: while one leg pedals "forward," the other leg should pedal "backward." This one takes some practice to get used to, but it's handy for "resting" when your feet can't touch bottom.

Tread water. Treading water can help you catch your breath and keep your head up without actually swimming. Do the eggbeater kick listed above, and use your hands to keep your balance by "sculling" - keep your forearms flat on the surface of the water, and imagine they're butter knives spreading on a piece of toast. Move one arm in a clockwise circle, and the other arm in a counterclockwise circle.

Learn how to do a crawl. Crawls are great strokes to learn as a beginner, and they'll move you pretty quickly. Here's how to do them:

• Try a backstroke first. Float flat on your back, and do a flutter kick with your legs. With your arms, do the "crawl" motion, lifting one arm straight into the air and keeping it straight as it re-enters the water next to your head. Once it's underwater, bend it to bring it back to a straight position next to your side, and repeat. Alternate arms as you swim, and try to keep your fingers together and your hands as flat as possible.
• Try a frontstroke (also known as a freestyle or American crawl). Floating on your stomach, do a flutter kick with your legs and use your arms to "crawl" forward. Bring one arm out of the water so that it's "reaching" forward, then bring it back down and use your cupped hand to "push" the water behind you. Alternate arms. To breathe, turn your head to one side under the arm that's currently crawling, lifting enough for you to take a breath. Take a breath under the same arm each time, so that you're breathing once every two strokes.

Use your arms to come up from the bottom. If you're below water and would like to come up, use your arms to propel yourself. Put them straight up above your head, and quickly bring them down to your sides. This should push you up a few feet. Repeat until you break the surface.

Try some more advanced strokes. Once you're more comfortable in the water, you can start learning new strokes that will move you more quickly or with less energy. Try these:

    Learn the dolphin stroke.
    The butterfly stroke .
    Swim the breaststroke.
    Do the sidestroke.
    Try swimming laps.
Try diving. Dives can be a fun way to get into the water and start a stroke. Start with a basic dive, and move on to more complicated swan dive, back dive, and rolling dive.

    Always make sure the water is deep enough before you dive. At a bare minimum, the water should be 9 or 10 feet deep; if you're a tall person, make it at least 11 or 12 feet.

Know how to get out of a riptide. If you're swimming in the ocean, you might get caught in a riptide. Knowing what to do can save your life, so try to memorize these steps before you get into the water.

• Do not panic. This is, by far, the most important step of all. By flailing and panicking, you could actually keep yourself under the water.
• Swim sideways. Do not try to swim directly to shore or directly out further into the ocean. Instead, try to swim in a line that's exactly parallel to the shoreline.
• Swim in a stroke that allows you to breathe. Swim with the strongest stroke you can do that also allows you plenty of room to breathe. This might be a sidestroke, front crawl, or breaststroke.
• Keep swimming until you're out of the riptide. You might have to swim quite far before you're safely out of the riptide, but keep going. You don't want to undo the good work you've done so far by heading for shore at the wrong time.
• If possible call out for help. If you can, motion to the lifeguard or yell "Help!" as soon as possible. However, don't do this if it means sacrificing a breath or if you have to stop swimming - it's better to keep yourself moving.

Know how to get out of a river current. If you're caught in a river that's flowing too quickly or pushing you under, follow these steps to get out:

• Don't flail or panic. As with a riptide, panicking and flailing your limbs can push you deeper into the water. Try to take even breaths and remain calm.
• Aim to swim diagonally toward the shoreline. Swimming toward the shoreline at a 90-degree angle will force you to fight with the current too much, and might cause you to become exhausted quickly. Instead, plan to get to the shoreline at a diagonal angle that goes with the current.
• Don't try to swim upstream. You'll spend too much energy for not enough results. Only try to swim upstream if there's immediate danger downstream, such as sharp rocks or a waterfall.