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Count the Players

Watch a game and count how many players are on each side of the pool before each shot, to start seeing the whole game.

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

Set up

Watch a game or a video with a parent.

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

Ages
7 and up
Time
6 min
Space
Pool
Bring
Game video or a game to watch
Level · skill
Beginner · Game IQ

The steps

How it works

  1. Watch a game or a video with a parent.
  2. Before each shot, say how many attackers and defenders are on that side.
  3. Say whether the shooter had a free teammate.
  4. Do it for 10 shots.

Coaching point

Count before you judge.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

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.

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.