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  2. Water Polo
  3. Shooting

Center Sweep Shot

For center players: receive a pass in front of goal and sweep the ball across your body to score.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Set up 2 yards (2 m) out with your back to the goal.

Core: Medium. Beat your own best out of 10.

Ages
14 and up
Time
15 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Pool
Bring
Pool, water polo ball, goal, partner
Level · skill
Advanced · Shooting

The steps

How it works

  1. Set up 2 yards (2 m) out with your back to the goal.
  2. Receive a wet pass to your strong side.
  3. Turn your hips and sweep the ball across the water at the far post.
  4. Take 15, then switch sides.

Coaching point

Hips turn first, ball follows.

Safety: Swim only with a lifeguard or coach watching and, under 14, a grown-up within arm’s reach. Wear a polo cap with ear guards and use a ball your size. Shoot only at the goal or the wall, never at a person, and only when the lane is clear.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Target-corner game: two teams of two take turns shooting at floats hung in the goal corners. Each team counts only its own hits.

Challenge

Pick a target: Less (big), Core (medium), More (small). Beat your own best out of 10.

Story

You are an aiming star: hit the treasure buoy.

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

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