Small-sided games in shallow water
Ready when: Passing and shooting (b3) started.
What you are learning
Playing as a team: keeping the ball with passes, spreading out and moving, and attacking the goal with more attackers than defenders. Every child gets the ball, and everyone has a turn in goal.
Words on this card Cap, Goalkeeper, Field, Shot, Keep-ball, Free throw
- Cap
- The numbered cap each player wears, with plastic guards over the ears.
- Goalkeeper
- The player who guards the goal and may use two hands.
- Field
- The playing area marked by ropes, the line across the goal, and the middle line.
- Shot
- A throw at goal.
- Keep-ball
- Keeping possession with passes while the other team tries to take it.
- Free throw
- A pass to restart after a foul; a player sent out of the water for a short time for a serious foul.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Spread a team out across the shallow end and pass round, looking at the receiver before each pass.
- Show 2 attackers against 1 defender: draw the defender, then pass to the free player.
- Shoot at the small goal from close in.
Your part while they practise
Referee; keep fouls simple.
Step by step
- Keep-ball: ten passes in a row score; no contact.
- 1 v 1: an attacker swims at goal against one defender.
- 2 attackers against 1 defender.
How much: 3 games 20 min a session once a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Small-sided match
Two teams play to small goals; every child must get a pass before the team may shoot.
Who plays: 2 teams of 4 to 7; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Start with the ball in the middle
- Pass with one hand; no holding, sinking or pulling
- Every player must touch the ball before a shot counts
- Change the goalkeeper after each goal. Two halves of 5 minutes
- Fair play
- The stronger team plays with one fewer player.
- Points
- 1 point for each goal; 1 point for ten passes in a row.
- Fouls
- A free throw to the other team
- Holding, pushing or sinking a player
- Two hands on the ball (except the keeper)
- Shooting before every teammate has touched the ball
- Winning
- The team with more points at the end.
- 1 points for 1 star
- 3 points for 2 stars
- 5 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
More attackers.
Equal numbers.
What you will see, and what to say
- attackers bunch up
Spread out, keep moving
Find space. - the ball is forced
Eye contact, then pass
Look, then throw.
Self-check
Each child makes at least 3 passes and 1 shot in a 10-minute game.
Stop and get a coach when
A child is hurt or frightened.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains passing under pressure, positioning.
Basic is done when the child meets the self-checks on b1 to b4.
awiseathlete.com/sports/water-polo/water-polo-b4