1. Beat Those Eggs
Water polo training requires excellent swimming skills, as the entire game is in the deep end of a swimming pool. Players use the eggbeater stroke to keep their bodies upright in the water. The stroke involves moving your legs continuously like an eggbeater. To train for water polo, you must learn the eggbeater. On land, sit on the edge of a sturdy chair. Move your right leg from the knee in small, counter clockwise circles. Add your left leg, moving it in clockwise motion. Time it so they do not collide. This is the eggbeater. Go into the deep end of the pool with a flutter board. Rest your arms on the flutter board and practice the eggbeater. When you feel confidant, let go of the flutter board, but keep your hands on the top of the waters surface. Slowly raise your hands so that they are above your head. Speed up your kicking to bring the top half of your body out of the water. This is a necessary skill for water polo and one that requires practice to complete with skill.
2. Ball Handling
All players can only touch the ball with one hand at a time. There is no switching the ball from one hand to another. To practice the skill, try it on land. Using a tennis ball, throw the ball against a wall and catch it with the same hand. Switch to your other hand for at least 10 minutes each practice session. You need to be able to use both hands with accuracy. Once you have mastered this requirement on land, go into the pool. Have a spotter on the deck throw you the polo ball. Practice catching and throwing with both hands as part of your water polo drills.
3. Swimming Skills
Water polo players use a variation of the front and back crawl while playing. In both strokes, the head stays out of the water. The arm stroke is short and quick to maintain control of the ball at all times. Practice this skill with drills. Go to the pool and take a polo ball in the water with you. Swim a full length front crawl while maintaining control of the ball. Then swim the back crawl while maintaining control of the ball.
4. Conditioning
Water polo is a high intensity sport that requires all athletes to be in top physical shape. Water polo exercises includes cardio exercises three times a week and weight lifting to improve muscle tone and strength.
5. Mental Alertness
Water polo players must be aware of all the activity around them at all times. The competition for the ball is fierce and players must stick to the game strategy despite the noise, water and distractions. Practice water polo with loud music playing to get players accustomed to the noise.
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