A lack of steals usually means a lack of anticipation and/or inability to lunge with a proper breaststroke kick. An athlete needs to anticipate a player's pass and beat them to it but in order to do that they need to read the situation and lunge to steal the ball.

How to Improve

To improve anticipation and situational awareness, incorporate drills that require perimeter positioning. Examples:

  • In order to anticipate correctly you need to understand the situation. Make sure players are taught to play each position so they understand the roles of each. Front court defense (and switching the player’s position) is a great way for everyone to learn. 

  • Emphasize watching the ball and being between the man and the ball. If a player knows where the ball is at all times they will have a higher chance of stealing the ball.

  • Lastly, create more ball awareness drills that will strengthen a player's anticipation. Gap defenses like M zones or others, man in the middle passing, man in the middle follow the ball are all great drills. 

  •  Lucky Pierre (another drill): where 1 person has to guard all 5 players. The players have to read each other and see if they are driving, turning, shooting etc

Are your athletes able to lunge over their hips and explode to the ball? This is key for center defenders and drive defenders when trying to steal the ball.

While anticipating and following the ball are all extremely important, an athlete still needs to be able to lunge for the ball. Working on a strong breaststroke kick is key to having a strong lunge. Do lunging drills, vertical breaststroke kick drills with a med ball and over your hip lunge drills. These will help your athlete become more efficient when trying to steal the ball

Suggested Drills:

Coach Rico’s Drills: Slide Work

Fundamentals: Hands out horizontal

Fundamentals: SPanish Spider Around

Fundamentals: Vertical Breast Kick

Water Polo 1.0: Over the Hips

Water Polo 2.0: Lunge Out of Water

Water Polo 2.0: Lunge Right & Left

Driving: Slip Stroke

Drive Defense: Spider Legs

Drive Defense: Jump Attack

Defense: Defending the Drive - Tony

Defense: Defending the Drive - Maggie

Defense: Vertical High Hands

Defense: Help on a post-up

Defense: Help on an open Drive