1. Drills
  2. Water Polo
  3. Passing

Pairs Passing

Quick, accurate passes with a partner.

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

Set up

Face a partner 5 yards apart while treading.

Core: Medium. Beat your own longest run of passes.

Ages
7 and up
Time
12 min
Players
You and a partner
Space
Pool
Bring
Water polo ball, partner, pool
Level · skill
Beginner · Passing

The steps

How it works

  1. Face a partner 5 yards apart while treading.
  2. Catch the ball in one hand and pass it quickly.
  3. Aim at their hand beside their head.
  4. Do 3 sets of 15 passes.

Coaching point

Quick catch, quick release, aim for the hand.

Safety: Swim only with a lifeguard or coach watching and, under 14, a grown-up within arm’s reach. If you cannot tread for 30 seconds yet, do this where you can stand. Use a ball your size (Size 1 for the youngest).

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Pass-and-move pairs: pass, move to a new spot and get the ball back. Count passes in a row and try to beat your own last round.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (close), Core (medium), More (one touch). Beat your own longest run of passes.

Story

You are a pair of dolphins playing catch across the bay.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own longest run of passes. 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.