Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Water Polo Positions - Part 1

Once you have mastered the basics of the game, you need to have a good understanding of the concepts and different positions used.
These can be divided into two sections, mainly, Defensive and Offensive plays. For now we shall concentrate on Defensive tactics as these too are split into sub-sections namely:-

  1. Zone Defense
  2. Press
  3. Man Down
  4. 5 on 6 Defense

Zone Defense

When playing a zone, every player has a specific area of your end of the pitch to cover. If any opposing player ventures into your circle of responsibility, then "that" is the player you should be marking.

Zone marking can be a very effective method of defense if done correctly and if every player understands their area of responsibility. In simple terms, every defending player should remain in their "area" and never swim out or follow an opposing player. Teams usually use the zone defense, either when they have a good goalie and try to force the opposing team to shoot, the opposing team could have a dangerous centre forward or else to gain an advantage through a counter attack deploying fast swimmers.

Saturday, 13 June 2009

Water Polo - The fun part

What are some pros and cons to water polo?

Pro's
  • You save water by showering at the pool.
  • You are automatically disinfected with all the chlorine found in the water
  • You can blame the scratches on your body to the game
  • Your tan line will be smaller than every one else's
  • You can show off when going swimming with friends who are not comfortable in the water
  • You body is so toned you are the envy of your friends
  • You find it easier to make friends especially after seeing them naked in the showers
  • Your arms become so powerful that your bowling shots start getting harder and love the sound the pins make when they are being destroyed
  • Your eyes are used to seeing perfectly under water
  • You can eat as much food as you like without putting on the weight
  • You dont mind swimming naked as you get used to your suit being ripped
  • People watching the game all know your name

Con's

  • You smell of chlorine 24/7
  • You hair turns to straw
  • You have so many cuts and bruises people think you like getting into fights
  • Your eyes become so red with the chlorine that your friends think you are on drugs
  • Your most sensitive areas are usually attacked under water
  • You end up spending so much money on bathing suits that you end up broke
  • Your fingernails seem to be non-existant any more
  • Waking up at 6.00 in the morning is the norm for early training
  • People peeing on you during showere time becomes normal
  • Your bathing suit is never dry
  • The sound of a whisle turns your head
  • You are sworn at by people who do not know anything about the game because you missed the last shot

Sunday, 7 June 2009

Water Polo - The basics

Water polo combines strength, stamina, concentration, reflexes and power into one sport. The basic skills needed to be able to compete in this activity are:-

  1. Swimming
  2. Leg Work
  3. Ball Handling and Shooting.


Swimming

To be able to play water polo effectively, a good background of swimming is essential. During the game, a player usually covers anything between 3 and 4 km so good swimming technique and stamina are a must.


Leg Work

Good legs and good leg conditioning are musts for the successful Water Polo player. The front and back flutter kicks should be extensively conditioned as they are constantly used in the sport. Breaststroke and sidestroke (scissor) kicks also find extensive use in Water Polo. They provide the thrust for what is commonly known as the lunge kick.


Ball Handling and Shooting

Ball handling preparation is sometimes overlooked by many coaches and players do not give it the necessary importance as they prefer shooting practice to passing. Without good ball handling skills, accuracy while passing and shooting will severely diminish and might cost the team the game. There have been countless occasions when players have either let the ball slip out of their hands or given the ball away to their opponents with a bad pass. The same can be said when players on the same team give an inaccurate pass and miss out on a golden scoring opportunity.

Monday, 1 June 2009

What are the benefits of playing Water Polo?

Water Polo is an incredibly tough and demanding sport which requires dedication and a willingness to be able to push through the tough training sessions. At times it can be amusing speaking to people who have never tried to play as they find it inconceivable that we can actually rise out of the water to shoot and swim. So what makes the sport so advantageous?
One of the biggest benefits of this sport is that it is played in water and thus, is the ideal medium for the prevention of injuries. Why? Because the water around the body acts as a cushion around the joints and muscles and helps in softening the strain.
The second benefit is that while swimming, you are not only toning your muscles but also losing weight and excess fats. The amount of energy used and calories burned during a typical training session is one of the highest when compared to other sports.
The third and one the most beneficial, swimming and water polo training have a huge positive impact on your back and spine. In fact, many doctors recommend patients who suffer from back pain to take up a swimming program because it strengthens the muscles around the spine.