Game version
Call-the-play: a partner shows a hand signal or color and you say what you will do. Swap, and count correct calls together.
Ball Side, Help Side
Learn where to be on defense when the ball is near you and when it is far away, walking it on the deck first.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Mark a small court with cones on the deck.
Core: Two. Beat your own best out of 10.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Pool
- Bring
- Ball, 4 cones, partner
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Game IQ
The steps
How it works
- Mark a small court with cones on the deck.
- Your partner holds the ball on one side.
- Step close to your player when the ball is near, and toward the middle when it is far.
- Do 12 moves, then try it in shallow water.
Coaching point
Near the ball: close. Far: help.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (one signal), Core (two), More (a surprise signal). Beat your own best out of 10.
Story
You are the captain reading the sea for the next move.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free water polo week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.