Water polo can move at a very fast pace. This leads to the athlete having to move their body from horizontal to vertical positions constantly throughout the game. The ability to pass and shoot after moving into a horizontal position is an important fundamental.
When teaching this skill, we want to focus on the movement of the athlete’s legs, activation of their core and their balance as they get vertical. This skill can be practiced in laps or in front of the cage while shooting.
This is possibly the most underworked skill in water polo. Athletes need to do wall drills with swivel hip training as well as drills that focus on drawing the legs under the body and exploding the opposite way. Swimming drills can incorporate “Rico’s Turn” at every wall.
It is important to focus on the technique of moving from horizontal to vertical with the ball and with control, so that the athlete is able to use this skill productively in games.
Videos on the 6-8 Sports App
Catch from Behind
Stop and Go
Hands out Horizontal Eggbeater
Pick up Ball Underneath
Posture
Horizontal to Vertical
Estiarte
Slide and Shoot