Game version
Eyes-up swim-and-pass: swim a short distance with the ball in front and pass it to a partner. Swap, with a coach watching.
For perimeter players: drive from the outside toward the goal and get a hand free for the pass.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Start at a perimeter spot 8 yards (7 m) out.
Core: Medium. Beat only your own smooth control.
The steps
Coaching point
Fake, go, hand up.
Safety: Swim only with a lifeguard or coach watching and, under 14, a grown-up within arm’s reach.
Make it fun
Game version
Eyes-up swim-and-pass: swim a short distance with the ball in front and pass it to a partner. Swap, with a coach watching.
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (short), Core (medium), More (a little longer). Beat only your own smooth control.
Story
You are a ship carrying treasure across the harbor.
My best
Beat only your own smooth control. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Free for families and teams
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.