- A N T I C I P A T E – B E A L E R T
- Keep your eye on the ball at all times; split your vision between the ball and your person you are guarding.
- When you are on defense and the ball changes hands, be ready to go on the offensive and vice a versa ; heads-up play will give you the jump on your player.
- Play the ball, not your opponent.
- Try for any loose balls with in reason.
- When guarding your opponent, always attempt to steal the ball by going under his or her arm – never by reaching over the player’s shoulder.
- When guarding an opponent near your own goal, play between the player and the goal; when guarding an opponent in the 2-meter position, play in front of the player; when guarding an opponent in the middle of the pool, play beside the player.
- When your opponent tries to pass:
- play between the player and the probable target;
- attempt to get the player in a perpendicular position;
- grab for the person’s throwing arm as soon as the person turns to throw;
- if a person turns to throw with the right arm, grab the arm with your left hand.
- Whenever shooting at the goal (except when executing a wet shot):
- gets your legs under you and leg-up;
- get as far up out of the water as possible;
- shoot with your entire body not with just the arm;
- follow through on any and every shot.
- When in doubt, SHOOT (unless facing our goal)!
(For the most part I tried to keep the content of Robert Gaughran’s original hand-out "Water Polo Commandments " intact; however, I did take a few liberties with the original work. I updated the sentences to include both genders. Robert said essentially that I could do with his hand-outs what I pleased, and hopefully, what I did would please him.
