2017 Boy’s Holiday Camp - Coaches Manual 7-10 December 2017 I US Olympic Training Center 

Colorado Springs, Co.     

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Contents of Manual  

1    Welcome to 2017 Holiday Camp  A Letter by USA Water Polo Chief High Performance Officer, John Abdou

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2    Camp Schedule  3 

3    Important Contacts   6 

4    ODP Technical Skills Videos & Coaching Resources  7 

6    Back Court Defense  8 

7    Counter Attack  10 

8    Front Court Offense  19 

9    6x5 Power Play  21 

10    5-Man Defense  24 

11    Practice Planning  25 

12    Situational Drills  29 

13    Coach, Mentor, Influencer & Leader  31 

14    Credits & Acknowledgements  34       

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Welcome to 2017 USAWP Holiday Camp!  Dear 2017 Holiday Camp Coaches and Officials, I hope this message finds you and your family in health and prosperity. It is my honor to thank you for your participation in this year’s USA Water Polo Holiday Camps. The Holiday Camp is our federation’s most treasured tradition. For nearly 30 years, it has served as a nexus point for the development of our athletes, coaches and referees from all across the country. It is a unifying event that has inspired generations of water polo families in America. You will be training the athletes of the future and collaborating with each other on the ideas that will guide your next steps as a coach. Take the time to absorb the values of the Olympic movement - “Olympism” - and pass them on to the hundreds of the athletes that will be attending this year. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. In other words, use this week as an opportunity to work on the best version of yourself that you can be while supporting others in doing the same. Below are the digital professional development resources available to you, along with this manual, make sure to utilize them this week and also when you return to your athletes and teams back home.

1. USA Water Polo YouTube Channel 2. USA Water Polo High Performance Education 3. Mobile Coaching App

Thank you all again for your service this year, and a special thank you to Bryan Lynton, Natalie Benson, Sean Nolan, Jim Cullingham, Drew Clute and Anne Laurence for their leadership in continuing to organize this event. Happy Holidays,

John Abdou Chief High Performance Officer USA Water Polo 

  

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2017 Holiday Camp Schedule  THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2017

GROUP TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION

All Groups 9:00-2:15p Check-In Athlete Center

All Staff 2:30-4:00p All Staff Meeting West Wing

Staff, Athletes 4:00-4:30p Welcome to Holiday Camp! West Wing

Coaches 4:45-5:15p Pool Demonstration Pool

Referees 5:00-6:30p Meeting Silver Room

Coaches, Athletes 5:15-6:45p Training Session #1 Pool

All 7:00-7:50p Dinner Cafeteria

Athletes 8:30-9:00p Stretching - Prepare for Training Gym 9

Coaches 8:30-9:00p Pool Demonstration Pool

Coaches, Athletes 9:00-10:15p Training Session #2 Pool

All 11:00p Lights Out Residence Hall

Notes:

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FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER 2017

GROUP TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION

Coaches/Referees 6:45-7:15a Staff Breakfast Cafeteria

Coaches 7:15-8:15a Classroom Silver Room

Athletes 8:15-8:45a Athlete Breakfast Cafeteria

Coaches 8:30-9:30a Pool Demonstration Pool

Athletes 9:00-9:20a Stretching Gym #7

Coaches/Athletes 9:30-11:00a Training Session #3 Pool

Referees 10:00-11:30a Meeting Silver Room

All 12:15-1:15p Lunch Cafeteria

Coaches/Athletes 1:30-3:15p Training Session #4 Pool

All 3:30-4:00p Group Picture Olympic Building

Athletes 5:00p Social Athlete Center

Coaches/Referees 4:30-5:30p Classroom Honor Room

All 6:00-7:30p Dinner Cafeteria

Referees 7:30-8:00p Meeting Silver Room

Coaches/Athletes 8:00-10:15p Training Session #5 Pool

All 11:00p Lights Out Residence Hall

Notes:

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SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2017

All Staff 6:45-7:15a Coaches Breakfast Cafeteria

Coaches 7:30-8:30a Classroom Silver Room

Athletes 7:45-8:30a Athlete Breakfast Cafeteria

Coaches 8:45-9:30a Pool Demonstration Pool

Athletes 9:00-9:30a Stretching Athletes Gym #7

Coaches/Athletes 9:30-11:45a Training Session #6 Pool

Referees 10:30-12:00p Meeting Silver Room

All 12:15-1:00p Lunch Cafeteria

Coaches/Referees 1:00-2:15p Classroom Honor Room

Coaches, Athletes 2:30-4:45p Training Session #7 Pool

All Staff + Athletes 4:45-6:45p Dinner/Break Cafeteria

Coaches/Referees 5:45-7:00p Classroom Honor Room

Coaches/Referees 7:15-9:15p Snowball Classic (Round 1) Pool

All 10:00p Lights Out Residence Hall

SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER 2017

GROUP TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION

Coaches, Referees, Athletes

6:30-7:00a Breakfast Cafeteria

Coaches, Referees, Athletes

7:00-11:00a Snowball Classic (Round 2 + Semis, Final) Pool

Coaches, Referees, Athletes

11:15-11:45a Meeting (Closing) West Wing

Coaches, Referees, Athletes

12:15-7:00p Lunch/Departures Cafeteria/Athlete Center

     

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Important Contacts 

Staff Contacts

Person Title E-Mail Cell

Bryan Lynton Camp Director blynton@usawaterpolo.org 951-314-5947

Lori Verdegaal Camp Manager lverdegaal@usawaterpolo.org 559-816-3133

Felix Mercado Head Goalie Coach felix_mercado@brown.edu 305-495-9427

Dave Schiffner Camp Lead Coach dschiffner@usawaterpolo.org

Mark Lawrence Camp Lead Coach mlawrence@austincollege.com 410-991-1959

Alan Korsgaden Head Referee akorsgaden@yahoo.com 209-607-5431

Brian Alexander Athlete Mental Skills Coach alexander.brian3@gmail.com *You are highly encouraged to connect with other coaches while at camp and exchange contact information. This is a great way to share ideas, meet new people and develop professionally. UNITED STATE OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Security: 719-866-4570 I Front desk: 719-866-4444 United States OTC - Campus Map  

 

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ODP Technical Skills Videos & Coaching Resources

ODP TECHNICAL SKILLS VIDEOS Attacking Inside Water Ball Handling Drills Base Position & Shooting Center Defender 1 Defensive Movements 1 & 2 Eggbeater Kick to Ball 1 & 2 Passing Perimeter Defense Rainbow Self-Passing Repeat Breaststroke Kicking 1 Reverse Sculling with Ball Reverse Sculling Shot Blocking 1-3 Skating Spidering Swimming Drills Tip to Yourself Passing Tripod Positioning 1 & 2 Wall Drills 1 & 2

UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Quality Coaching Framework

TED TALKS VIDEOS The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding Changing the Game in Youth Sports Developing a Growth Mindset Echos Beyond The Game Building Your Inner Coach Understanding Talent

SUGGESTED BOOKS “Win Forever” - Pete Carroll “The Score Takes Care of Itself” - Bill Walsh “Wooden on Leadership” - John Wooden “You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned” - John Wooden “They Call Me Coach” - John Wooden “Sacred Hoops” - Phil Jackson “The Winner Within” - Pat Riley “Players First” - John Calipari “Conscious Coaching” - Brett Bartholomew “Mindset” - Dr. Carol Dweck “Creativity, Inc.” - Ed Catmull “The Talent Code” - Daniel Coyle “The Art of War” - Sun Tzu “The Obstacle is the Way” - Ryan Holiday “The Winner Within” - Pat Riley “Mind Gym” - Gary Mack “David and Goliath” - Malcolm Gladwell “Play Their Hearts Out” - George Dohrmann “The Gold Standard” - Mike Krzyzewski “Catch Them Being Good” - Tony DiCicco “The Miracle of Mindfulness” - Mobi Ho “The Captain Class” - Sam Walker “The New Toughness Training for Sports” - James Loehr “The Coaching Habit” - Michael Bungay Stanier “The Power of Habit” - Charles Duhigg “The Energy Bus” - Jon Gordon

    

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Back Court Defense

NUMBERING SYSTEM The numbering system to the right is most commonly referred to as the “American Numbering System”. While each position is given a number (1, 2, 3, etc.), the front court is also divided into sides: the Left Side (positions 1 and 2) and the Right Side (positions 4 and 5). Point is position 3 and the center is position 6.

A GREAT DEFENSE LEADS TO A GREAT COUNTER ATTACK ● The defense and the counter attack are directly connected. ● The threat of the counter attack can enhance the defense.

THE COLLECTIVE STOPS THE OPPONENT

● Each player must be committed to executing their defensive responsibilities in order to collectively stop their opponent from scoring.

● Each defensive position has a responsibility that has to be executed. ● One responsibility not executed properly will break down the defense and makes us all vulnerable.

BPAC AWARENESS

● Know where the BALL is located ● Know where your PLAYER is and what they are preparing to do ● Know what is going on in your AREA ● Know what the situation is at the CENTER position

TECHNIQUE AND POSITIONING

● Most defensive mistakes are created by poor technique, positioning or both. ● It has to be consistently emphasized during practice the importance of correct technique and positioning. ● Defensive excellence is achieved by consistently practicing correct technique and positioning with the goal

that an athlete will instinctively execute the correct technique and positioning in the heat of the game. NEUTRALIZE THE OPPONENT’S CENTER

● In international water polo the focal point of the offense is the center position ● Prevent or slow down the opponent from effectively getting the ball to their center ● The defense is designed to neutralize the center position.

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NOTE: Team defense starts with an offense that is balanced and can control the defense. If the offense is balanced and controls the defense, it will be difficult for the opponent to create significant counter attack advantages. If the opponent is unable to create counter attack advantages, the defense will be able to consistently gain ball side position by the Attack Section and dictate terms in which their opponent will be able to begin their frontcourt attack

GAIN AND MAINTAIN BALL SIDE POSITION

● The objective of the half court defense is to prevent or slow down the opponent from effectively getting the ball to their center.

● All players gain ball side position by the Attack Section ● Maintain ball side position for as long as possible ● Each perimeter defensive player is in the correct Press Base Position by the Attack Section

USE THE SHOT CLOCK TO GAIN A DEFENSIVE ADVANTAGE

● Only foul with a purpose: to stop a goal or pass that will lead to a goal ● Gain and maintain ball side position ● Keep your opponent from entering the ball into their center for as long as possible.

PRESS TO ZONE

● The player pressing the ball realizes the ball is in a position to be entered into the box. They should press without fouling and rely on a teammate to come back into a zone, preventing the entry.

● It is crucial to NOT allow a pass into the box. Contest everything and foul the player if need be. ● Prevent or slow down the fouled offensive player to get the ball live

Shot Clock vs. Offense

Shot Clock Defense Offense :30-:15 Gain Ballside Position Counter Attack :14-:10 Maintain Ballside Position Situational Attack :10-:06 Maintain Press or Zone Attack the Defense :05-:00 Dictate Location of Shot Prepare for Counter Defense

LOGICAL ZONES Logical zones are two-man zones used to defend the center position. To the left, you can see the four logical zones. Defenses will prioritize running one zone of another based on two factors: the skills of their individual defenders and their opponents individual skills, as well as their ability to collectively attack the zone.

  

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Counter Attack PHILOSOPHY A GREAT Counter Attack will… DICTATE THE TEMPO OF THE GAME

● Defense and offense must be supported by an up tempo counter attack BEGINS ON DEFENSE AND ESTABLISHED IN THE FIRST QUARTER

● Defense must connect to the counter attack (“Defense to Counter Attack Mentality”). ● Be established in the first quarter - speed, aggression and anticipation. ● Make your opponent complete “end to end” for four full quarter

HAVE ORGANIZED STRUCTURE AND PROPER SPACING

● Structure dictates the choices we make. We are allowed to create on the counter attack, but only within the confines of the structure. The better the spacing, the more obvious the advantage.

HAVE EACH PLAYER EXECUTING THEIR ROLE

● Starts in the Create Section, proceeds through the Read Section and finishes in the Attack Section. PRIMARY, SECONDARY & TRANSITION

● Primary - advantage on the first line ● Secondary - advantage on the second line ● Transition - no number advantage

DO NOT OVER COMMIT TO OFFENSE

● At it’s best, a counter attack creates an advantage. At a minimum, a Counter Attack helps transition into a balanced front court offense. At its worst, it over commits and leaves you vulnerable to being countered.

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TACTICAL PRINCIPLES POSITION PLAYERS DEFENSIVELY THAT WILL ENHANCE ALL ASPECTS OF THE COUNTER ATTACK

● Center should be positioned at X3 as their counter attack will take the center position in their offensive front court. Left-handed players should be positioned defensively 1-2 side (left-side) as they will transition to the right-side of their front court offense. There are many possibilities with this tactical principle, and sometimes not always possible.

CUT OFF AT X1 AND X5

● Most 6x5 Counter Attacks at the international level develop from the center position. A good defensive team will use 1 and 5 to cover for the center. By cutting off 1 and 5, we can stop or delay their ability to cover, giving our defender an opportunity to maintain their advantage. This also provides proper vertical spacing between the First and Second Lines.

OUTLET THE BALL TO THE LINE WITH THE ADVANTAGE

● An attempt should be made to get the ball to the most open player. The goalkeeper has to be ready to outlet the ball anywhere in the pool.

LOCATE THE BALL, THE ADVANTAGE & THE CENTER IN THE READ SECTION

● Awareness dictates the decisions we make. The better our awareness, the better decisions we are able to make.

FIRST LINE MUST ESTABLISH POSITIONS 1, 6 & 5 ON THE 2M LINE

● Primary Counter Attacks (where the First Line has an advantage) follows the Advantage Rules and attacks accordingly.

SHOOTING FROM THE SECOND LINE

● A player who is open to shoot must be patient before shooting. Additionally, other offensive players must have the awareness to rotate to defense in order to prevent an offensive advantage for the opponent.

● Players on the weak side must begin to counter rotate and prepare for defense. ● The players must rotate until the trailer is covered. If the shot taken is a miss, the opponent will have a

Primary Counter Attack going the other way. ● A great counter attacking team does not allow this to happen (or any Primary Counter Attack, for that

matter).

NOTE: What are we trying to achieve? What are we trying to set up to attack? All players should know the answers to these two questions as it is what drives our decision making while on the counter attack. While looking through this lens, each player should be thinking: What’s next? How can I help the bigger picture?”

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LANES, LINES AND SECTIONS

COUNTER ATTACK LANES Lanes Three Vertical Counter Attack Lanes Right Lane Right defensive side line to right defensive post Center Lane Right defensive post to left defensive post Left Lane Left defensive post to left side line COUNTER ATTACK LINES Lines Counter Attack Lines 1 st Line First players in the right, center and left lanes 2 nd Line Second players in the right, center and left lanes COUNTER ATTACK SECTIONS Sections Three Horizontal Counter Attack Sections Create Defensive 0m to the defensive 10m Read Defensive 10m to the offensive 10m Attack Offensive 10m to the offensive 0m

NOTE: The tendency by most teams is to make attack decisions inside the Attack Section. At this point it is too late. The advantage must be recognized and the attack organized in the READ SECTION. Remember, the better your spacing - both horizontal and vertical - the more obvious the counter attack advantage

COUNTER ATTACK ADVANTAGE RULES Situation Advantage Rule #1 Ball is Pressed Move towards the side of the ball. #2 Ball is Not Pressed Commit the defensive players, then move away from the ball. #3 Defense has not committed Accelerate the attack and apply Advantage Rule 1 or 2

NOTE: A good defensive team will not want to commit too early in the counter attack with the hopes of slowing down the decision making process of the offense. For this reason, Advantage Rule #3 is arguably the most important. The offense cannot allow the defensive player to slow down or dictate the terms of the attack. This should be the mindset of the offense! Accelerate and attack the defensive players. At some point in the counter attack, a defensive player’s decision making will provide an opportunity for the offense to apply Rule #1 or #2 entering the Attack Section.

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PRIMARY ADVANTAGES Counter Attacks with advantages 1v0, 2v1, 3v2

1v0 COUNTER ATTACK

● Player with the ball should attack their strong side post, going ball in hand once inside the 5m line. ● As the player gets inside the 5m line, they should begin attacking laterally, toward the opposite post. ● Use ball faking to get the goalie to jump and be aware of the defender chasing.

2v1 COUNTER ATTACK (2-0 Structure)

● Both players attack toward the 2m line, aiming for just outside their respective posts. ● Apply Advantage Rules 1, 2 or 3 based on the situation. (Advantage Rule #1) ● The third picture shows the defender committing to the ball later in the attack. Both attackers should

maintain their spacing into the box, with the player going ball in hand inside 5m.

NOTE: If the defender were to move toward the ball earlier in the counter attack, the player with the ball would apply Advantage Rule #1. He would begin to widen his attack (while still progressing vertically) and receive the defender. The other player would start to angle his attack toward the ball side (still attacking toward the 2m line). This is outlined in more detail in the 3x2 Counter Attack below.

3v2 COUNTER ATTACK (3-0 Structure) 3v2 Video Link

RULE #1: Ball is Pressed ● The player with the ball must widen their attack while maintaining their vertical progress down pool. ● Invite the defender to fully commit to you and do not panic or pass the ball too early. ● This also provides additional time for the other two attackers to move into open water ● Do not allow the defender to easily foul the ball. If they are allowed to foul quickly, they can recover and

take away the advantage. ● Other two attackers should start angling toward the ball side and maintain their vertical progress down pool. ● The ball can then be passed down line or across the pool to attack the 2x1. Where the ball is passed and

how the 2x1 is attacked is dependent upon how the defender plays the situation.

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RULE #2: Ball is NOT Pressed ● The player with the ball in the Right Lane is not pressed ● The player in the Center Lane commits their defensive player and then moves away from the ball

○ The player in the Center Lane establishes the center position in Zone 3 ● The player in the Left Lane establishes Zone 1

RULE #3: Defense has NOT Committed ● This is the most important of the three rules. Good defensive teams will not commit to Rule #1 or #2 early.

Instead, they will try to slow down the attack with the hopes of providing enough time for the defender chasing to catch up, taking away the number advantage.

● It is imperative that the offense push the tempo of the counter attack and force the defense to choose. ● At some point in the attack, the defense will either be a little more press-the-ball OR a little more

press-away-from-the-ball. ● At this point, Advantage Rule #1 or #2 can be applied. ● The offense should keep pushing their attack and be patient as a window will open for them to attack.

NOTE: DON’T STOP. It is crucial for the three attackers in the first line to keep their speed in order to maintain their advantage.

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SECONDARY ADVANTAGES Counter Attacks with advantages 4v3, 5v4, 6v5

THE MOST CRUCIAL COMPONENT to a successful second line counter attack relies on the first line (first three players in the counter attack) filling positions 1, 6 and 5 deep and balanced on the 2m line. This provides the proper spacing for the Second Line to finish their attack. If the first line of the counter attack does not vertically push their attack into these zones, the second line will not be able to effectively attack the advantage they have.

4v3 COUNTER ATTACK (3-1 Structure) 4v3 Video Link

● The first three players (first line of the counter attack) establishes Positions 1, 6 and 5.

● Player with the ball attacks the goal, angling toward the post on the side of the center defender.

● The center should separate toward the opposite post as the player with the ball goes ball in hand.

● If the defender stays with the center, a shot will develop for the player with the ball.

● If the defender splits or jumps the ball, a pass to the center for a shot will present itself.

The diagrams to the right outline a 4v3 counter attack. As discussed in the above bullet points, the center making a separation move from their defender as the attacker goes ball in hand is a crucial aspect to the overall attack. If the center remains static, the defender can effectively make a play to shot block the ball, as well as a take away a pass to the center. By separating from the defender, the center makes it difficult for the center-defender to both defend and shot block. The defender now has to prioritize either helping their goalie by shot blocking or staying with the center, leaving the goalie to defend a high probability shot.

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5v4 COUNTER ATTACK (3-2 Structure) 5v4 Video Link

● First Line establishes Positions 1, 6 and 5 and Second Line works to attack open water on the 5m line, in front of the goal.

● Goal is to attack the 2x1 that develops on the second line. ● Player with the ball should be attacking ball in hand once inside the 5m line. ● Just like in a 4v3 Counter Attack, the player in the box should separate at the last moment to the post

opposite of their defender.

6v5 COUNTER ATTACK (4-2 Structure) 6v5 Video Link

● Most advantages in a 6x5 counter attack are generated the center position. ● First three players down the pool (first line) have already established Positions 1, 6 and 5. ● First player in the second line pushes their attack and finishes at either the left or right goal post (depending

which side of the pool they are on) and becomes the fourth player in the first line (and giving the attack the desired 4-2 structure).

● This allows proper spaceing for the remaining two backline players to attack open water on the second line.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

In Diagram 1 above, the Second Line defenders are choosing to cover the advantage by pulling off the right lane defender to take away the advantage in the middle lane. In this situation, the ball should be passed dry to the player in the right lane. As you can see in Diagram 2 , this creates a 2v1 advantage that we want to see maintained throughout the attack. To do this, the player in the Left Lane will be the one who pushes their attack into the First Line (Diagram 3 ). This will create the the 4-2 structure. By doing this, his defender must follow to the attacker to the left post and cannot help the advantage. This will also provide the correct amount of space on the second line for the other two attackers to maintain their 2v1 advantage (Diagram 4 ).

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REMEMBER… As the 4th player slides into the left post and the 4-2 develops, the center should make their separation move quickly with the intent of freeing themselves for the ball and a possible scoring opportunity. If the defender stays to help shot block, the center might be open for a quick pass and shot. If the defender follows, they will be less able to effectively help with a shot block (pictured right).

TRANSITION COUNTER ATTACKS Counter Attacks with no number advantage (6v6)

NOTE: Just like in the 4v3, 5v4 and 6x5 Counter Attacks, it is crucial for the first line of the counter attack to push their attack vertically all the way to Positions 1, 6 and 5 on the 2m line.

6v6 TRANSITION COUNTER ATTACK (3-3 Structure) Transition Video Link

● Counter Attack always concludes inside the Attack Section and has proper spacing and balance. ● Attack before the defense is set.

What this looks like moving forward depends what things the offense desires to work for when attacking in the front court. However, a counter attack adhering to these principles will be balanced and have good spacing to begin their front court attack. Remember, a good defense leads to a good counter attack, a good counter attack leads to a good front court offense.

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COUNTER ATTACK LANES, LINES AND SECTIONS

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Front Court Offense

NUMBERING SYSTEM The numbering system to the right is most commonly referred to as the “American Numbering System”. Like with the offense, each defensive position is given a number (x1, x2, x3, etc.) and is attached with their corresponding offensive position.

TRANSITION COUNTER ATTACK DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE OFFENSE

● Transition Counter Attack has to be emphasized more than the Primary and Secondary Counter Attack ● Transition Counter Attack = an attack without a number advantage (3x2, 4x3, etc.). ● Immediately get into the front court attack at the conclusion of the Transition Counter Attack.

○ Attack the defense before they are prepared to defend. ● The Transition Counter Attack has to gain control of the defense.

DICTATE TO YOUR OPPONENT

● This allows the offense to control possessions. ● Makes your opponent more predictable (black and white, A & B). ● Successful teams average 50 possessions per game and high scoring teams 10 goal per game. ● The highest scoring teams score on 20% of their possessions. ● It is the 80% where either team can control the game.

POSITIVE POSSESSIONS

● Possessions do not have to end with a goal to be deemed as “positive” ○ Did we earn a good scoring opportunity, exclusion, penalty or power play? ○ Are we making good decisions, taking the correct shot, making the correct pass or effectively

attacking the defense? ○ Was the ball moved into the correct side of the pool to support the attack? ○ Did the offensive possession allow for proper defensive transition? In other words, did the

decisions we made on offense lead to a counter-attack or high percentage scoring opportunity for our opponent?

● These are all factors that have an impact on the game without a goal being scored. UTILIZE PLAYER’S INDIVIDUAL SKILLS

● The offensive role of each player must accommodate their offensive strengths in relation to the attack of the team (Centers at 2m, left-handed players on the right side, attackers on the perimeter, etc.). 

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ATTACK WHAT THE DEFENSE GIVES YOU ● The offense must immediately react to the defensive situation. ● Individual awareness and communication (echoing each other) is crucial. ● An offensive player must control their water and their defensive player.

WORK FOR EACH OTHER (NO ONE IS ON AN ISLAND)

● An offensive player has to have the space, the time and be in the right position to shoot the ball. ● Always think “in 3’s”.

○ I need to do this, so my teammate can do this, so we can do that ● Is my decision making a contribution toward a “positive possession”? ● Each shot has to be in the flow of the attack.

TWO ATTACKS AND PROPER SPACE PROPER SPACE AND BALANCE

● Each offensive player must control their water in order to maintain proper spacing. ● Balanced structure is typically a 3x3. ● Any driving has to be intertwined with maintaining possession of the ball and patience for the offense to

regain balance. TWO ATTACKS ON THE BALL

● Effective offenses have a ballside attack and a non-ballside attack occurring at the same time. ● This makes the offensive attack multi-dimensional and harder to defend. ● An example would be while the right side is attacking a 3-4 zone, the left side is attacking with a triangle

drive to open up a secondary scoring opportunity. The three diagrams below illustrate the proper spacing and balance an offensive needs to have in their front court attack attack. The offense has established an advantage in the 3-4-6 triangle. Their center had sealed for position and X3 and X4 have zoned back to prevent the ball from being passed into 2-meters. It is important that while positions 3 and 4 begin attacking the zone, position 2 attacks their triangle (1-2-6) to provide space for the ball side attack in the 3-4-6 triangle. This provides space for positions 3 and 4 to to widen their triangle, making it harder for the zone defenders to cover ground and opening up either entries into 2m or shooting lanes. This also creates a 2-on-2 game on the left side of the pool (non-ball side attack). This holds the left-side defenders accountable by preventing them from being able to help the zoned defenders. This also creates a secondary scoring opportunity for the offense (see below).

   

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Power Play 6x5 

NUMBERING SYSTEM The 6x5 numbering system used in America has positions 1, 2 and 3 run across the goal, with positions 2 and 3 establishing the left and right posts. Position 4 begins at the top position, even with the left post and position 5 off the right post. Position 6 is opposite position 1 on the right side.

6X5 IS THE CONFIDENCE OF THE TEAM

● Internationally 6x5 goals are the highest percentage of goals scored ● Games will be won and lost based on the results of a team’s 6x5 and 5x6 percentages ● Excellent 6x5 execution will have a rhythm and tempo.

ATTACK THE DEFENSE BEFORE THE ORGANIZE

● 6x5 is not for resting - it is for attacking ● The 5x6 can be exposed at the beginning of the 6x5. ● At the moment of the exclusion, the defense’s first response could be a reaction to the call

○ This is the best time to attack. Look for the “quick”. ● If the 6x5 can immediately gain control the defense will always be one step behind ● Make sure that you do not force a bad shot or turn the ball over trying to force something that is not there.

SCORING THE QUICK / GETTING TO POSITIONS

● Look to score the quick, BUT know when a window is closing (don’t force something). If the quick is not there then get to your positions.

● On every team individual players have strengths and weaknesses. Make sure that you get the post players to the posts and the perimeter players to their spots.

START THE ATTACK WIDE AND WITH SPACE

● Like with a front court, it’s always easier to attack in versus having to widen out during your attack. Many teams will try to hit you if you have poor spacing.

● Start wide and try to pull the defenders out; this will open up the posts more too. KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE BALL BEFORE RECEIVING IT

● Gather information at all times and know where the 3x2 is located ● The 6x5 player will quickly process four important factors

○ Where is the ball? Where is the 3x2? Where are the 5x6 players in their area? Where is the open shooting lane?

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BODY POSITIONING AND BALANCE ● Players must remain on balance and ready for the next pass. ● Prepare your body to shoot before you receive the ball.

○ Too many young players catch the ball and then prepare their bodies to shoot. You must be ready to shoot the ball.

ACTIVE POST PLAYERS

● Active post players will negate the ability of the 5x6 to have one player guarding two 6x5 players. ● Move within your triangle and away from defenders who are touching you. ● The movement will create:

○ An opening for the post player ○ Force x3 to over commit to the strong side ○ Create an open shooting lane for the perimeter player

● At all times, the post player must follow the ball with their shooting shoulder MOVEMENT WITHOUT THE BALL

● Like in basketball, move without the ball. Set up yourself or a teammate. Make a defender choose. This is where the window opens.

● The defense has a tendency to watch the ball, allowing those who are moving behind or without the ball opportunities to get open (or others open).

● Movement will create new passing and shooting lanes.

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PASS WITH PURPOSE ● Have a plan (know what to do with the ball before receiving it). ● Make a pass that will set up a goal or lead to a goal. ● Keep the ball dry and moving. ● All passes are lob (“touch”) passes. ● Set up a teammate. The best passes come from a player that looks like a shooter. All passes that go to

the post should come from a perimeter player that has locked down the defense by looking like a threat. FAKE WITH PURPOSE

● Know what to do with the ball before receiving it. ● Gather information on all ball fakes and do not waste movements! ● The primary purpose of faking is not to read the defense ● The purpose of faking

○ Draw a 5x6 player to the ball, Commit x3 to a post (strong side), Open a passing lane and/or shooting lane, Commit the goalie

RHYTHM AND GEARS Great 6x5 attacks control the rhythm (tempo) in which they dictate to their opponent. Attack too fast, and the defense will not be held accountable to establishing their blocking lines each time the ball is received. Attack too slow, and the defense can take rhythm and tempo away from the offense. When the offense attacks with the right “rhythm and gears” in their passing, the defense then becomes five separate puppets and the offense, collectively, their master. As the attack unfolds, windows of opportunity will begin to present themselves and the once tight 5-Man unit begins to unravel. Three defenders might remain on the same page, but the other two will have missed a cue, over rotated or followed an offensive player too far. It is at this time the window opens and scoring opportunities present themselves.

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5 Man Defense COMMUNICATE THE EXCLUSION

● The player excluded MUST communicate to everyone that they have been kicked out. ● Everyone else needs to quickly mobilize to defend the quick. ● Constantly talk and echo to each other.

PROTECT AGAINST THE QUICK

● Power play is not a time to rest. Quickly get organized and to your areas of defensive responsibility. BASELINE DEFENDERS ARE CRUCIAL

● The three defenders at positions x1, x2 and x3 (closest to the goal). ● The backline is crucial as they ensure the offense is not able to score the quick. ● Post players must set up quickly and make sure no near side goals are scored from the 1 and 6 positions.

CONTROL THE POSTS

● Do not let the post players score. Wear them down by playing heavy on them and using them to push off of to move out at the player with the ball.

● Never let them get comfortable. Disrupt their rhythm and, thus, the offense’s attack. BE MOBILE AND RECOVER

● The best 5 man defenses are mobile and have the ability to move in and out. ● Once you move out to shot block you need to recover back to the post after the player you are shot

blocking has passed the ball. ● Successful 5 man is all about releasing each other. If one player is slow to come back to the post this will

start a chain reaction and someone on offense is going to end up being open for an easy shot.

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Practice Planning Success in team sports is the sum of many parts - one of them being preperation. For many coaches, designing effective, well-planned practices is one of the most difficult tasks involved in teaching sports. Putting it all together to craft a single effective practice can seem like a daunting task to any coach. Coaching legend John Wooden spent nearly two hours planning his daily practices during his time leading the UCLA men’s basketball program. Considering the skill Coach Wooden possessed in conducting practices, this demonstrates the importance of being able to plan effective practices. Planning practices is both an art and a science. We interviewed some of the top coaches in the high school, club and college game to get their thoughts on practice planning:

QUESTIONS: ● What is your approach to planning practices planning? ● How much time do you typically spend on planning/organizing each day's practice? ● How do these plans fit into a larger picture of development over the course of a season or offseason?

TRACY STAPLETON Head Coach, Boy’s Water Polo, Davis Senior High School

I really do not separate practice planning from season planning to annual planning. I think of practice as the daily, season as the quarter of the year (fall ,winter, spring, summer) and annual as how all of that fits together. After assessing our team, including individuals strengths and weaknesses, I build a plan for the year. I then look at each quarter as a focus (i.e. summer is individual skills, etc.). For a season, such as fall (HS Season), I have a general season outline. Generally, HS seasons are roughly 100 days. I tend to focus on defense and counter for the first 40 days, offense the next 40 and details the last 10). Within each week, I focus generally on defense, counter, offense, power play and 5-Man, plus 1-2 days each week for games. The daily focus fits into the larger focus (i.e. in September, we focus on aspects of offense which help our defense (ball control and perimeter passing) or aspects of counter which help our offense function such as balance). Within each practice day, we also do skill work and conditioning work on that theme. So Monday is defense, which means our skill and conditioning will be focused on defense (i.e. drive def or center def or zone ). Throughout, I assess our progress and decide if we need to move faster or slow down. Regardless, we never move on unless we have demonstrated an ability to do something well. For defense, we focus on a press and will not do much beyond that until we develop some competency in a press. All fundamentals and movement oriented drills are always in a tactical context (what we are working on tactically that day).

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BRETT ORMSBY US Olympian (2004 Athens) / Assist. Coach, Men’s Water Polo, Stanford University

I feel that practices are most effective when you begin with the end in mind first. This allows us to identify key things we would like to master by the end and build these into every phase of the practice. For example, if we are going to be working on 6x5, I would want to integrate those movements (as specific as possible) into warm up/swimming, individual technical drills, passing, shooting and small group work before getting to the final product (6x5). This approach can be done over the course of multiple practices, as well. Each practice builds upon the previous and each individual portion of practice should have common threads throughout. This can even extend into the pre-practice meeting, chalk talk or video. It is valuable to discuss, diagram, walk through (both on land and in water) prior to live time execution. As coach John Wooden said in his 8 Laws of Learning: "explanation, demonstration, imitation, correction, repetition, repetition, repetition...". Flexibility is also very important. While you should always have a scripted plan for your practices, that plan must allow for deviation when needed. If things are not going the way you would like, you need to be comfortable with adapting to fit the needs of the moment. This often means sticking with something longer than planned and adjusting something else - or omitting it entirely. Too often coaches are rigid in their planning and afraid to deviate from the script even if the current “lesson” has not yet been received/learned by their athletes. This is not a sign of failure; instead, it is should be viewed as a positive! You learned something valuable about your players and/or your tactics and exposed some flaw that can be corrected. It also most certainly not a poor reflection on the athlete if they have not mastered things in the time you allotted for them. The job of teaching is done when they have learned, regardless of how much time that takes. Transitions are also important. Planning out the time we are practicing something specific is almost as important as planning out the time transitioning. I believe these transitions correlate directly to games. When we are lazy and unfocused during transitions in practice, we will inevitably do the same in games. Simply talking to your athletes beforehand helps with this. Telling them how long the practice is going to be and what the goals of the practice are, helps the athlete prepare mentally for practice. If you have an extremely long practice planned then schedule a solid five minute break at some point during it where the kids can check out completely rather than checking out periodically in between every portion of practice. It can also help to have an assistant coach set up the next drill in advance, or even lead it entirely. Variation keeps things fresh. If your practice is always swim, pass, shoot, scrimmage in that exact order then your players are going to begin to train on auto-pilot - and that’s not good! Even if you are getting into more depth than that, if you always progress exactly in the same order then monotony sets in. It is good from time to time to mix up the order of things. There is nothing wrong with getting to your main activity earlier in practice and deciding to finish with your conditioning, rather than start. It is also important to be creative, don't get stuck in a rut practicing the same exact things all the time. It is ok to try something new that you completely made up, it will get the players attention, if it works it could be a valuable part of your teaching moving forward and something that makes your players learning experience unique, even if it doesn't work you probably got the player's full attention in trying something new.

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DAN LEYSON Head Coach, Men’s Water Polo, UC Davis Assist. Coach, USA Men’s Senior Team (2000 Sydney)

To quote Ratko Rudic “The training is sacred” and thus, must be valued tremendously. At UC Davis, we always have written plans for our workouts that follow an overall macrocycle, microcycle, as well as individual days of training. It takes a lot of time to plan practices! It is like any type of writing: sometimes training ideas flow right onto the page and other times it could take an hour or more to plan just one workout. It really helps to keep a log, whether it be written or on a computer, of what you’ve done in the past. This can help the writing process tremendously in moments where ideas don’t flow easily. We try to follow our plans to the minute and don’t stay with something over time unless we really feel like we it is need. It takes a lot of practice to truly plan things to the minute. One aspect of practice planning that is too often missed is accounting for times of transition; explanation of a drill, putting on caps, water breaks, etc. Sometimes we forget these transition phases. It is also important to maintain flexibility if something doesn’t go as planned. It’s not just enough to plan a practice: real coaching is active observation during training. As a coach, you must be taking notes, mental or otherwise. A big mistake I see young coaches make is to assign a drill and then go sit down and not watch carefully. Coaches have to actively observe every aspect of training. This includes something as rudimentary as how a player kicks, throwing mechanics or movement in the water. If a training is void of an attentive coach, these mistakes go uncorrected. Great coaches are all over their players about the little details of the game, which - as we all know - add up to the big details. We try to be detail-oriented in every phase of our training from planning to actuation.

DAN KLATT USA Olympian (2000 Sydney) / Head Coach, Women’s Water Polo, UC Irvine Assist. Coach USA Women’s Senior Team (2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio)

At UC Irvine, we break up our off-season training into 4 Cycles: Introduction, Non-Traditional Competition, Progression and Maintenance. The primary purpose of the first cycle is to assimilate new student-athletes into our program and reintroduce continuing student-athletes to the physical and mental pillars of our program. The first week primarily focuses on team building activities and clarification of team expectations. Mental training and team building will continue throughout the year. Depending on the academic timeline the first week may include a team retreat to allow players to spend time together in a less rigorous setting. The majority of this phase will be dedicated to building a fitness base in the water and weight room. A small part of each week will be dedicated to individual skill development and technical and tactical training. As we transition into our second cycle, we focus on assimilating student-athletes into a full time training schedule. The time commitment to strength training will remain the same, but the volume and intensity will increase, as student-athletes should have a solid base created in the first cycle for injury prevention and core strength. The time commitment to tactical and technical study, as well as water training, will increase 2-3 times and will be a reflection of the commitment during our traditional season. The team’s playbook will be introduced; however, the primary focus will be general team play. A strong emphasis on fundamentals will continue throughout the cycle.

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There will be a competitive component to this cycle, as well. We will use 2-3 of our teams NCAA designated competition dates to allow the student-athletes the opportunity to compete against outside opponents and to be evaluated by the coaching staff. These games are an opportunity for student-athletes to measure progress and get familiar with the opposing players and teams we will meet in the traditional season. As we enter the “Progression” Phase (Cycle 3), we aim to continue our development and build upon progress made in Cycle 2 through training and competition. We will continue to commit to strength training and conditioning, both in and out of the water, and perfecting the base fundamental skills. A high level of fitness and strong fundamentals will always be cornerstones of our program. This cycle will include an element of individual training during holiday and academic final interruptions where student-athletes are expected show self-discipline by making time to train while with family or during times of intense academic preparation. Following the competition in Cycle 2 the coaching staff will reevaluate the team’s fundamental, tactical, and technical strengths and weaknesses. Training sessions will be organized to continue progress in these areas as planned and include a further commitment to areas of deficiency. Through this training we will continue to promote a competitive environment through high-level intramural competitive opportunities. Video analysis will be introduced to:

1. Teach student-athletes the importance of self-evaluation, 2. Teach student-athletes how to watch video and what to look for, 3. Study our opponent’s tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses, and 4. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of our own team. The results of film study will help

student-athletes and coaches formulate short and long term goals for the program and specific individuals. The purpose of Cycle 4 (Maintenance) is for student-athletes to spend quality time with friends and family. This phase is followed by the traditional season, which can last up to 4 and a half months and allows very little time for social engagements and recuperation. We encourage student-athletes to make plans that allow them to be in a comfortable environment that provides the opportunity for rest and relaxation. There is no emphasis on learning during this period. Student-athletes should use this opportunity to rest their mind as well as their body. It is requested that student-athletes find a minimal amount of time (3%) in their schedule to commit to training so that they can maintain the progress that has been made throughout the fall training segments. It is acceptable to participate in other activities such as high school or club training, fitness classes, etc. during this time. The coaching staff trusts that the student-athletes will show maturity in evaluating what is acceptable for maintaining their fitness.

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Situational Drills *Taken from Terry Schroeder’s “Back to Fundamentals” article series  

One of the most valuable tools that coaches can use in practice is to scrimmage with a specifics situations in mind. This will keep the athletes focused and help to create intensity. during the drills. Additionally, this will help to develop and improve on the athlete’s water polo IQ. If an athlete practices specific situations repetitively during training than when these situations present themselves in games, the athletes will be better prepared to do the right thing and improve their team’s chances of winning the games. MANAGING THE GAME CLOCK Every athlete and coach should know the game situation and the time on the clock at all times during the course of the game. It should become a habit to glance at the clock (game and shot) repetitively during the course of the game. Knowing the clock will help determine what you should be doing in the game. The most beneficial game situation drills are the ones that create the most intensity. They should create urgency which is sometimes hard to create in practice, but happens all the time in a game. Most all of the game situations that you practice with your team should be 1-3 goals up or down, as well as tie score. All of these situations can be practiced with as much or as little time left on the clock. For example, down by 3 with one quarter to go. Begin with the sprint. Water polo officials love to make the game close so if the team that is down is working hard and playing smart they will earn some exclusions and get chances to get back into the game. Defensively, I would have my team press a bit more without taking silly chances. If you are down by 3 the last thing you want to do is to give up another goal. So focus on playing good hard defense, getting in the lanes on defense and trying to make a steal. If the ball goes into center, crash hard to help the center defender. Avoid getting exclusions if at all possible. As the clock is winding down you may need to press more and take more chances. On offense, you must play smart and continue to play. Don’t play “not to lose”, play to win! Be smart with the ball and use the clock to your advantage. Protect the ball on the perimeter, knowing that the defense has to press a bit more. Try to isolate the center late in the clock with players not involved in the play going back to defense. If a defender cherry picks and leaves early, by all means go with them and play defense. Let your offense go five on five or four on four which makes it even more difficult for the defense. As the clock gets lower realize that the defense needs to take more chances and take advantage of this. If the defense is pressing hard than spread out your offense (which in turn spreads out the defense)

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SCORE/TIME IS IN THE OPPONENT’S FAVOR Officials will generally let the team that is behind press a little harder and make the team that is ahead really protect the ball. The team that is behind can not give up a goal and can not afford to get excluded. Being excluded is almost as bad as giving up a goal. Not only do you give the opponent a new :30, but they also have a good chance to score and put the game away. If an exclusion does occur when you are down in these situations you need to take some chances – storm and try to get in the passing lanes. YOU ARE DOWN AND THE CLOCK IS NOT IN YOUR FAVOR

1. Look for isolation right off the counter – try to stop the clock. 2. If your center is not open right away then run a play – isolation post up (2 across to the 4 / 5 side with 1

posting up and isolating 3 with the ball and the post up) Look to get the ball inside to set or the post up. It is likely that if you are behind and get the ball into an isolated post player you will draw the exclusion.

3. If you get an exclusion - look for the quick and make something happen fast. Time is still the enemy. Attack quickly to break down the defense and generate good scoring opportunities.

4. Make good passes -the last thing you want is a turnover. 5. On defense – high in the lanes – jump the lanes to try to steal. Front the center – look to get underneath

and draw the offensive. Jump in front on the drives or fake a push off YOU ARE UP WITH THE CLOCK IN YOUR FAVOR

1. Protect the ball on the perimeter – do not expect a foul. The officials will tend to let the defense overplay a little so you need to adjust and really protect the ball on the perimeter. Do not draw a foul if possible – you want the clock to run.

2. Be conservative if you drive. Only drive if being pressed way out and you need to help the ball. Everyone should be aware that if one player is driving you must protect the ball even more so – don’t shoot or make a crazy pass to center during the drive.

3. The opponent may try to bait you into committing an offensive foul – play smart – no individual battles. 4. Don’t surprise your teammates. No quick shots or a blind passes. Each pass should have eye contact. 5. Play for your center – do not put the ball to set until there is less than 10 seconds on the shot clock. When

the ball comes to set do not expect a call. Keep your head up and work for a turn and a natural goal. 6. If you draw an exclusion – make good safe passes and be patient a new shot clock is just a valuable as a

goal in this case. Spread the offense out and make the defense take high risks. 7. As time runs down on the shot clock dump the ball (with 2 – 3 s. left) where appropriate. Do not allow

anyone to take off on the counter in isolation. 8. Clean defense with no exclusions on the other end. Perhaps play in a zone to protect center.

Be creative with your situations. Think about where your team is struggling and create opportunities to work on these situations. Do they have trouble protecting a lead? If so play more situations with the starters having a lead with 3 min. left, 2 min left, 1 min left. Or, if your team is having trouble playing from behind, create situations where they have to try to play “catch up”.

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Coach, Mentor, Influencer & Leader *Taken from Terry Schroeder’s “Back to Fundamentals” article series

BE “OTHERS ORIENTED” If you are self centered and your ego is in the way it will be difficult for you to grow as a leader. Be focused on the team and what you can do to help them. Move from a position of authority to a position of service. Albert Schweitzer once said “The only ones among you that will achieve true happiness are those that have sought and found how to serve”. YOUR TEAM IS YOUR FLOCK If your team is your flock, then you are it’s shepherd. There is a great difference between a hired hand and a shepherd. Here is the difference: When a wolf comes to attack the flock the hired hand will run off to protect himself and leave the sheep to fend for themselves. Only the shepherd will stay and fight for his flock. He will do whatever needs to be done in order protect and care for the flock. When bad things come up with your players what do you do? Are you willing to take the time and energy to be there for them and help them through a trying time or a great challenge in your their life? Or, do you run away and leave them to fend for themselves? Obviously, there is a great difference in leadership. Be the shepherd. Your players will love and respect you for being this type of leader. CREATE AND SELL YOUR VISION Every successful team needs to have a vision that each athlete can buy into to. The vision needs to be larger than any one individual and needs to be something that everyone can get behind. This gives the team direction and purpose. They make us strive for a high goal – one that is difficult to reach. We all like to be challenged and a good vision will do this. As the players are working hard a strong vision will keep them focused on the goal. BUILD TRUST This matters more than anything else. In order to build trust you have to first show that you have trust in your team. Let your players know that you trust them by giving them a role and then expecting them to do that. If you want to build trust, then be trustworthy. There are two main ingredients to building trust on your team. First is character. In a crisis, people will follow those with the greatest character not necessarily the person in charge. Character is the foundation on which all leadership is built. Character is really the sum of your values as a human being. It is about integrity and consistency. The second element for building trust is competence. How well do you know the game? Are you constantly trying to make yourself better by reading books, seminars and talking with other coaches? Look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. Are you trustworthy? Do you exhibit good character and competence?

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BE AN ENCOURAGER Praise your team – don’t just correct. John Wooden tried to always stay positive with his players. He tried to give each player 4-5 positives (praises) for each criticism that he doled out. We all have the tendency to correct and look for what our players are doing wrong. In reality most people learn better when they are praised for what they are doing well. Then on occasion, you tell them what they can do to improve and they will be much more receptive to it. This is very difficult because most of us are so used to criticizing or critiquing. It takes awhile to change old habits but as you change, so will you team. Everyone wants to know that what they are doing matters and that they are appreciated. This one change on your part could make a huge positive difference in the way that your athletes respond to you. TEACH, HELP AND GUIDE You are the coach and your job is to teach your athletes the details of the game. Teach the fundamentals. Make sure your team does the simple things well. In our game, it all begins and ends with legs. Spend time making sure that your athletes have good leg strength and that they are using their legs correctly. Passing drills that emphasize good body position and strong legs are great. Obviously, teaching any skill required for your athletes to get improve will fall under this category. Challenge yourself to teach your athletes something new everyday. Whenever possible relate a part of the game or something that happened in practice to a life lesson. Sport is a great place to learn valuable lessons for all. This is the greatest thing you can teach your athletes. ENGAGE WITH YOUR TEAM This does not mean be their friend! You are not their friend, you are their coach. However, with that said, you must engage with your team. You must care for your players and be willing to get into the trenches with your team. Most of the great war generals were willing to be on the front line with their soldiers. They were willing to risk their own lives to fight for the cause. This proved not only that the cause was worthwhile but that the leader would not ask them to do anything that he/she was not willing to do himself or herself. Obviously, this is a bit extreme but it is a good example of engaging. Don’t be afraid to show your players that you are willing to work hard, too. If you demand that “early is on time”, yet you are the one who is constantly showing up late, that is a problem. Build good relationships with your players. Leadership is about relationships, so build good ones with your players. When you have strong relationships with your players they are willing to fight hard for you. Your willingness to get into the trenches with your team will pay great dividends. BE APPROACHABLE AND AVAILABLE Once again this is about building relationships with your players. Often times it is the coach that must reach out and open the lines of communication. Go to your players and ask them how they are doing. Not just in the pool but ask them about their families. Get to know your players. Make time for your team. Relationship building takes time. You can not do it overnight and it takes more than lip service (you will be outed and your efforts viewed as un-authentic). It takes a consistent commitment to be there. Certainly it is tough to stay approachable and available under tough circumstances – like making cuts or announcing travel teams. However, the best way to do this is to communicate openly and honestly eye to eye. Don’t run away and hide during the tough times. Your team is always watching you and they will notice how you react in the most trying of times.

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ADD VALUE TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS As a coach, you are provided the privilege to work with and influence young kids everyday. What message do you want them to take with them when they are done with your program? What can you do to add value to the lives of the kids you coach? If you pay attention, you will see many opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of the people that you coach. ACTIONS MUST ALIGN WITH YOUR WORDS This is all about leading by example. No matter how good of a communicator you are, if your actions don’t match your words, you are going to have problems with your team. It is very important that you stay honest with yourself and your team. When you say you are going to do something, then do it. This may be as simple as setting workout times. Stick to the times. Get out when you are suppose to get out. It begins with simple things but it is during a crisis that your team will notice the most if you stick to your word. When you are able to match your actions to your words you gain tremendous respect. THE GOLDEN RULE Utilize the golden rule: “do unto others as you would like them to do onto you”. This simple law is present in almost every religion and walk of life in the world. It really is all about being able to put yourself in your player’s shoes. Everyone wants to be respected and treated fairly. Coach with this rule in mind. ALWAYS LOOK TO GET BETTER All coaches should constantly be looking for opportunities to grow, learn and get better. Some of the best advice ever given regarding this is that if you feel like you have nothing else to learn or have lost the drive to seek opportunities to learn - it’s time to get out. Keep yourself sharp and learn something everyday. Strategies like journaling can be a great way to learn. Don’t get stale and stubborn and don’t let your ego get in the way. As John Wooden said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”.

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Credits and Acknowledgments 

This manual is in no way the result from effort of one person. Instead, it is the product of a group of coaches and water polo professionals committed to continuing the development of programs that provide opportunities for growth, amongst athletes and coaches. USA Water Polo would like to publicly thank the following individuals for their contributions to the information presented in this manual.

Gavin Arroyo Kyle Kopp Guy Baker

Adam Krikorian Dejan Udovicic Terry Schroeder Heather Moody

Natalie (Golda) Benson Dan Klatt

Brett Ormsby Dan Leyson

James Lathrop Tracy Stapleton Bryan Lynton Drew Clute John Abdou

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that’s what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” - Vince Lombardi 

THURSDAY - 7 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Defense & Ball Skills

Practice Plan #1 5:15-6:45 PM

Pre-Practice Notes:3 x 20:00 stations: 1) On-Ball Perimeter Press Defense; 2) Horizontal Ball Skills; 3) Center Defender 1

Rotations: Each station runs 20:00 + 2:00 switch/rotate5:40-6:00p / 6:02-6:22p / 6:24-6:44p

Time Min. Agenda5:15-5:35p 23:00 General Warm-Up

1 4x25 Freestyle2 2x25 4 Strokes EZ eyes down / 4 Strokes Sprint eyes out (repeat)3 2x25 5 Strokes Freestyle + 1 Vertical Jump (alt. arm)4 2x25 Spider into 4 Strokes Freestyle, 4 Strokes WP Backstroke - Whip body back into Spider (repeat)5 2x25 Reverse Scull to Reach Lunge (throw chin & cover water)6 2x25 Forward Lunge7 2x25 Lunge Over Hips8 2x25 Hipover into Crash and Lunge9 2x25 Knock Down Lunges

5:35-5:40p 5:00 Organize into three (3) training groups1 - Should have groups pre-organized

5:40-6:45p 60:00 3 x 20:00 Stations + 2:00 for Switch20:00 On-Ball Perimeter Press Defense

1 25s Repeat Breaststroke Kicking (RBK)2 25s RBK w/ Reach Lunge3 25s Base Position4 25s Base Position w/ Forward Lunge5 25s Lunge to Press6 25s No Foul Lunges

20:00 Horizontal Ball Skills1 25s Dry Ball Freestye2 25s Dry Ball Backstroke3 25s Ball in Hand Swimming4 25s Elbow Swimming5 25s Reverse Scull w/ Ball - build and slam every 2 black lines

20:00 Center-Defender 11 5:00 Hand Check + Lunge to Lane2 5:00 Pendulum + Lunge to Lane3 5:00 Inside Swim Around4 5:00 Inside Spin Around

Post-Practice Notes:

THURSDAY - 7 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

THURSDAY - 7 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Defense, Movement in Water & Ball Skills

Practice Plan #2 9:00-10:15 PM

Pre-Practice Notes:3 x 20:00 stations 1) Wall Drills; 2) Vertical Ball Skills 1; 3) Center-Defender 2

Rotations: Each station runs 23:00 + 2:00 switch/rotate9:00-9:25p / 9:25-9:50p / 9:50-10:15p

Time Min. Agenda8:55-9:00p 5:00 Organize into three (3) even groups

1 - Use groups/teams from previous session

9:00-10:15p 1.15:00 3 x 23:00 Stations + 2:00 for Switch23:00 Wall Drills

1 7:00 Reverse Scull w/ Hipover Skate (repeat movement back to wall)2 7:00 Reverse Scull w/ Hipover into Shot Block Position (Double-Skate back to wall)3 7:00 Reverse Scull w/ Hipover into Shot Block Position (Skate-Lunge back to wall)

23:00 Vertical Ball Skills 11 25s Double Threat Position (DTP)2 25s DTP + 1x Forward Kick - back into DTP3 25s DTP + 1x Elbow Swim - back into DTP4 25s Ball in Hand Swimming into DTP5 25s Dribble to Hand Tranfer into DTP

23:00 Center-Defender 21 5:00 Pendulum + Lunge to Lane

Hand Check + Lunge to Lane (review)2 5:00 Outside 1-Arm Swim Around3 5:00 Outside Swim Around4 5:00 Outside Spin Around

Post-Practice Notes:

THURSDAY - 7 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

FRIDAY - 8 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Passing, Ball Skills and Defense

Practice Plan #3 9:30-11:00 AM

Pre-Practice Notes:3 x 20:00 stations 1) Off-Ball Perimeter Defense; 2) Vertical Ball Skills 2; 3) Passing 1

Rotations: Each station runs 20:00 + 2:00 switch/rotate9:55-10:17a / 10:17-10:39a / 10:39-10:59a

Time Min. Agenda9:30-9:50a 20:00 Warm-Up (General)

1 4x25 Freestyle2 2x25 4 Strokes EZ eyes down / 4 Strokes Sprint eyes out (repeat)3 2x25 5 Strokes Freestyle + 1 Vertical Jump (alt. arm)4 2x25 Spider into 4 Strokes Freestyle, 4 Strokes WP Backstroke - Whip body back into Spider (repeat)5 2x25 Reverse Scull to Reach Lunge6 2x25 Spider7 2x25 Spider to Reach-Lunge8 2x25 Skating9 2x25 Double-Skate10 2x25 Skate to Reach-Lunge

9:50-9:55a 5:00 Organize into three (3) even teams1 - Use groups/teams from previous session

9:55-11:00a 65:00 3 x 20:00 Stations 2:00 for Switch20:00 Off-Ball Perimeter Press Defense

1 25s Lunge to Lane2 25s Zig-Zag Stroke to Vertical Jump3 25s Lunge to Lane to Vertical Jump4 25s Lunge to Lane w/ 360 Recovery Spin

20:00 Vertical Ball Skills 21 25s Rainbow Self-Passing2 25s Pressure Passing Away3 25s Up-Fake into Back-Skate

20:00 Passing 11 10:00 Triple-Ripple (w/ finger touch)2 5:00 Breast-Kick into Pass3 5:00 Off-hand on Shoulder

Post-Practice Notes:

FRIDAY - 8 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

FRIDAY - 8 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Passing, Offense & Shooting

Practice Plan #4 1:30-3:15 PM

Pre-Practice Notes:4 x 23:00 stations 1) Passing 2; 2) Center-Forward 1; 3) Shooting; 4) Dryland

Rotations: Each station runs 23:00 + 2:00 switch/rotate1:35-2:00p / 2:00-2:25p / 2:25-2:50p / 2:50-3:15p

Time Min. Agenda1:30-1:35p 5:00 Organize into FOUR (4) even groups

1 - Re-organize athletes into four new groups

1:35-3:15p 1.40:00 4 x 23:00 Stations + 2:00 for Switch23:00 Passing 2 Groups of 2-3

1 5:00 5 Fast, 5 EZ (repeat)2 5:00 Off-Hand on Shoulder Passing3 5:00 Ball Fake into Wrist Pass4 5:00 Crossface into Twist Pass5 5:00 Tip Passing

23:00 Center-Forward 11 2x25 Base Position2 2x25 Base Position with Back-Up3 2x25 Base Position w/ Slow-Fast + Snap to Ball4 2x25 Turn, Set, Seal + Back-Up into Snap to Ball5 2x25 Snap to Ball into Strong Side Turn; Build and Finish (imaginary ball)6 2x25 Snap to Ball into Weak Side Turn; Build and Finish (imaginary ball)7 2x25 Turn, Set, Seal into Backup into Snap to Ball + Layout

23:00 Shooting 112:00 Round 1: 3 lines (pos. 2, 3 & 4). Player begins w/ ball. Forward kicks toward goal. Reset body. Shoot. 12:00 Round 2: 3 lines (pos. 2, 3 & 4). Player begins w/ ball. 2-3 dribble into hand-transfer.Reset body. Shoot.

23:00 Dryland (Stretching/Bands)

Post-Practice Notes:

FRIDAY - 8 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

FRIDAY - 8 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Offense & Shooting

Practice Plan #5 8:00-10:15 PM

Pre-Practice Notes:4 x 23:00 stations 1) Releasing/Pressure Passing; 2) Shooting; 3) 1x1 Entry Passes; 4) Dryland

Rotations: Each station runs 23:00 + 2:00 switch/rotate8:30-8:55p / 8:55-9:20p / 9:20-9:45p / 9:45-10:10p

Time Min. Agenda8:00-8:25p 25:00 Warm-Up

1 25s Reverse Scull to Reach Lunge2 25s Spider3 25s Spider to Reach-Lunge4 25s Skating5 25s Double-Skate6 25s Skate to Reach-Lunge7 25s Forward Lunge8 25s Lunge Over Hips9 25s Hipover into Crash and Lunge10 25s Knock Down Lunges

8:25-8:30p 5:00 Organize into 4 Training Groups1 - Have groups organized prior to training

8:30-10:15p 1.45:00 4 x 23:00 Stations + 2:00 Switch23:00 Perimeter Releasing & Pressure Passing

1 12:00 Crossover to Live Entry (Pressure Pass)2 12:00 Spin Release for Live Entry (Pressure Pass)

23:00 Shooting Drill 212:00 Left-Post: 3 Shots: 1) Step to Ball; 2) Catch, Kick Away; 3) Kick to Ball12:00 Right-Post: 3 Shots: 1) Crossface - slide onto legs; 2) Side Kick to Ball (hip whip); 3) Kick to Ball Crossface

23:00 1x1 Entry Passes into 2m1 25:00 Attacking 1 Man Drop for Entry Pass (Defense holds group as offense attacks; when they are 1

lunge away, knock down player w/ ball; Entry pass can't be made until there is contact between defender and attack).*Each player has 3 possessions in a row; each successful entry pass = 1 pt. Play 3 rounds; Losing 2 players has 5 vertical jumps. Reset, re-play game. Make this competitive.

23:00 Dryland (Throwing Exercises)

Post-Practice Notes:

FRIDAY - 8 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

SATURDAY - 9 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Tactics

Practice Plan #6 9:30-11:45 AM

Pre-Practice Notes:3 x 30:00 stations 1) Front Court Offense Walk-Thru; 2) Counter Attack 3) Front Court Controlled Scrimmage

Rotations: Each station runs 30:00 + 5:00 switch/water10:00-10:35a / 10:35-11:10a / 11:10-11:45a

Round 1: Course 1 = Counter Attack AR #1 / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = Counter Attack AR #2, #3Round 2: Course 1 = Counter Attack AR #1 / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = Counter Attack AR #2, #3Round 3: Course 1 = Counter Attack AR #1 / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = Counter Attack AR #1 *Each course opperates in the 1/2 court (6 x 1/2 courts in total)

Time Min. Agenda9:30-9:55a 25:00 Warm-Up (Coaches Choice) w/in the 3 Courses

1 - Draw from warm-up drills from previous sessions

9:55-10:00a 5:00 Organize into six (6) even teams1 - Have team organized prior to training

10:00-11:40a 1.15 3 x 30:00 Stations + 5:00 Switch/Water

30:00 Counter Attack Advantage Rule #1- 3 offensive players on defensive 5m line with 2 defensive players in between.- 3x2 advances down the pool with defensive players pressing the ball- Offense applies Advantage Rule #1

30:00 2x Half-Court Stations- Connect technical to tactical - Bal starts at Pos. 4. Pos. 3 drives to ballside while lef-side releases or triangle drives to allow the ball to move

to the side of the center. - Take time to teach.

30:00 Counter Attack Advantage Rules #2 and #3- 3 offensive players on defensive 5m line with 2 defensive players in between.- 3x2 advances down the pool- First, forcus on applying Advantage Rule #1, then move to Advantage Rule #3.

Post-Practice Notes:

SATURDAY - 9 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

SATURDAY - 9 DECEMBER 2017Practice Theme: Tactics

Practice Plan #7 2:30 - 4:45 PM

Pre-Practice Notes:3 x 30:00 stations 1) 1-Way Counter Attack; 2) Counter Attack; 3) Brian Alexander

Rotations: Each station runs 25:00 + 5:00 switch/water2:45-3:15p / 3:15-3:45p / 3:45-4:15p / 4:15-4:45p

Round 1: Course 1 = Advantage Rules 1-2-3 Review / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = FC to Counter to FC / Dryland = Brian AlexanderRound 2: Course 1 = Advantage Rules 1-2-3 Review / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = FC to Counter to FC / Dryland = Brian AlexanderRound 3: Course 1 = FC to Counter to FC / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = FC to Counter to FC / Dryland = Brian AlexanderRound 4: Course 1 = FC to Counter to FC / Course 2 = Half-Court / Course 3 = FC to Counter to FC / Dryland = Brian Alexander

Time Min. Agenda2:25-2:30p 5:00 Organize into six (6) even teams

1 - Use groups/teams from previous session

2:30-2:45p 15:00 Warm-Up (Coaches Choice) w/in the 3 Courses. 1 - Draw from warm-up drills from previous sessions

2:45-4:45p 2.00:00 4 x 25:00 Stations + 5:00 Switch/Water

25:00 Counter Attack Rules #1, #2 and #3 - Coaches Choice- 3 offensive players on defensive 5m line with 2 defensive players in between.- 3x2 advances down the pool - Offense applies Advantage Rule #1, #2 or #3 (depending on the defense's decision making)

25:00 2x Half-Court Stations of Live (Controlled) Scrimmaging- Ball starts at Pos. 4. - Allow them to play live. Stress spacing, driving and releasing to work for the center.- Stop to teach when needed.

25:00 1x Half-Court Scrimmage into 1x One-Way Counter into 1x Front-Court Possession- Stress spacing, driving and releasing in the front court to work for the center.- Shooter stays when transitioning in the counter attack (stress Advantage Rules)

25:00 Dryland (Lecture)- Brian Alexander - Growth Mindset

Post-Practice Notes:

SATURDAY - 9 DECEMBER 2017Pool Set-up & Practice Details

Window Side

2017 Snowball Classic - Tournament Schedule

SATURDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2017 Practice Plan #8 / 7:15-9:15 PM

TIME COURSE WHITE DARK WINNER / SCORE7:15-7:45p ALL Warm-Up, Passing & Shooting

7:45-8:15p A A1 A2B B1 B2C A3 A4

8:15-8:45p A B3 B4B A1 A5C B1 B5

8:45-9:15p A A2 A3B B2 B3C A4 A5

SUNDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2017 Practice Plan #9 / 7:00 - 11:00 PM

TIME COURSE WHITE DARK WINNER / SCORE7:00-7:30a ALL Warm-Up, Passing & Shooting

7:30-8:00a A B4 B5B A1 A3C B1 B3

8:00-8:30a A A2 A4B B2 B4C A5 A3

8:30-9:00a A B5 B3B A1 A4C B1 B4

9:00-9:30a A A2 A5BC B2 B5

9:30-10:00a A 5th A 5th BB 4th A 4th B

C (SEMI 1) 1st A 2nd B

10:00-10:30a A (SEMI 2) 2nd A 1st BBC 3rd A 3rd B

10:30-11:00a A (1st Place) Winner SEMI 1 Winner SEMI 2B (2nd Place) Loser SEMI 1 Loser SEMI 2

Pool Set-Up Goal Goal Goal18 Lanes

Course 1 Course 2 Course 3

Goal Goal Goal

 

USA Water Polo Holiday Camp Player Evaluation Form P. 1 

 

ATHLETE: ZONE: POSITION:

OFFENSIVE TECHNICAL SKILLS

Areas of Strength:

Areas for Growth:

DEFENSIVE TECHNICAL SKILLS

Areas of Strength:

Areas for Growth:

COUNTER ATTACK / TRANSITION

Areas of Strength:

Areas for Growth:

 

 

 

 

 

USA Water Polo Holiday Camp Player Evaluation Form P.2 

 

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

____________________________________ __________________ _______________________

Coach Name Date ODP Position