Game version
Play “Splash Pass” as a “my turn, your turn” game with a grown-up. Everyone takes a turn and every try gets a cheer.
Splash Pass
Standing in shallow water, the child and grown-up toss a soft ball back and forth. Ball skills in the water, standing where they can touch.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Stand in shallow water, 2 big steps from your child.
- Ages
- 4 to 6
- Time
- 3 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Pool
- Bring
- Soft water ball, pool where your child can stand
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Passing
The steps
How it works
- Stand in shallow water, 2 big steps from your child.
- Toss a soft ball gently to them.
- They catch it with two hands and toss it back.
- Count the catches together.
Coaching point
Praise the try: “Good catch in the water!”
Safety: A grown-up stays in the water within arm’s reach the whole time, where your child can stand, with a lifeguard or another adult watching too. No breath-holding games, and never jump or dive in.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Story
Pretend you are a penguin playing “Splash Pass” in the forest, and the whole forest claps for you.
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.