Water Polo Badges
Level 1
Beginner
Progressions:
- Swim 5 metres head up frontcrawl
- Complete a 2 metre pass with a 1.5 size ball
- Catch a 2 metre pass with a 1.5 size ball
- Swim 10 metres as frontcrawl arms, breaststroke legs
- Swim 10 metres as backstroke arms, breaststroke legs
Level 2
Beginner
Progressions:
- Swim 2 widths head up frontcrawl
- Swim forward 5 metres, controlling a ball in front
- Tread water vertically for 30 seconds
- Tread water vertically for 10 seconds using egg-beater kick
Level 3
Beginner
Progressions:
- Swim 2 widths, controlling a ball in front
- Pass, demonstrating the rotation of the shoulder (1.5 size ball)
- Catch a pass with 1 hand (1.5 size ball)
- From standing, pick up the ball from underneath the surface with alternate hands into a throwing position
- Score a goal from 3 metres
Level 4
Beginner
Progressions:
- Tread water vertically and comfortably for 2 minutes, using egg-beater kick
- Maintain a vertical position moving forwards, backwards, left and right, using sculling and egg-beater kick for 5 metres
- Perform 5 metres horizontal lateral slides, to the right, return to centre and then left and return to centre
- In vertical egg-beater, pick up the ball from underneath the surface with alternate hands into a throwing position
- Show ability to use a size 3 ball
- Play a simple water polo game
Level 5
Improver
Progressions:
- Maintain a horizontal position, moving forwards, backwards, left and right, using sculling and egg-beater kick for 5 metres
- Swim 5 metres head up frontcrawl, change direction 90 degrees left, swim 5 metres, change direction 90 degrees right
- Swim 5 metres head up frontcrawl, change direction through 180 degrees, swim 5 metres
- Swim 5 metres water polo backstroke
- Swim 15 metres as 5 metres head up frontcrawl, 5 metres water polo backstroke, 5 metres head up frontcrawl
Level 6
Improver
Progressions:
- Pass and catch a ball accurately with a partner, with one hand, over a 3 metre distance while using egg-beater legs
- Pass and catch a ball accurately with a partner, with one hand, over a 3 metre distance while maintaining a strong body position
- Swim 10 metres head up frontcrawl, receive a ball on the water, and continue to swim whilst controlling the ball
- Swim 5 metres with a ball, pass ball to a target, and continue to swim 5 metres
Level 7
Improver
Progressions:
- Hold a tripod position, with a ball, for 30 seconds
- Pick up a ball, shoot at a target from a 5 metre distance and repeat five times
- Demonstrate knowledge of the offside rule, and principles of a minor foul
- Confidently handle a size 3 ball
- Play a simplified deep end water polo game, demonstrating a basic understanding of rules
Level 8
Improver +
Progressions:
- Swim 5 metres, receive a ball on the water, control the ball in front for 5 metres, change direction one way, swim 5 metres, change direction the opposite way, swim 5 metres and then pass to a partner
- Jump vertically, sideways and forwards
- Jump ½ turn and pass ball while on back
- Demonstrate correct body position for marking
- Egg-beater for 30 seconds with wrists out of the water
Level 9
Improver +
Progressions:
- Pick up a ball, shoot at a target five times from a 5 metre distance, using an off-water shot. The target may be a kick board, plastic bottles, a player or into a goal
- Jump ½ turn and pass ball
- Demonstrate correct marking, using mirror arm block
- Maintain a vertical position whilst moving forwards, backwards, left and right, using egg-beater kick with wrists out of the water for 5 metres
- Complete a 360 degree spin with and without a ball, using egg-beater legs
Level 10
Improver +
Progressions:
- Understand concepts of stepping and gliding and when to apply in a game situation
- Understand major fouls and what to do when receiving one
- Understand minor fouls completely, correct ref hand signals and the 6 metre rule
- Show understanding of how to complete a correct substitution, both during play and out of play
- Play a deep end water polo game, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of rules