- Nov 14, 2025
5 Common Mistakes Young Water Polo Players Make (And How to Fix Them)
- Marko Radanovic
- 0 comments
When you’re 10, 12, or 14, water polo should be about learning, improving, and falling in love with the game—not about proving that you’re the best today.
But a lot of young players (and parents) accidentally focus on the wrong things. They chase short-term results and ignore the habits that actually create a strong player later.
Let’s go through some of the most common mistakes in younger ages and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Caring More About “A/B/C Team” Than Playing Time
One of the biggest traps is thinking your value is in the letter of the team:
“I have to be on the A team or I’m not good.”
“B team means I failed.”
“C team doesn’t matter.”
This is completely wrong thinking, especially at a young age.
What Actually Matters: Playing Time & Experience
When you’re young, the most important currency is not the team name. It’s:
Minutes in the water
Touches on the ball
Different game situations faced
Opportunities to make mistakes and learn
If you sit on the bench on the “A” team and barely play, you’re not growing.
If you play 2–3 quarters every game on a “B” or “C” team, you are:
Learning how you react under pressure
Seeing many different offenses and defenses
Making decisions with the ball again and again
That experience is what makes you better.
For Parents
If your child is on a lower team but plays a lot, that’s not a failure—that’s a gift. It means:
They are getting more real game repetitions
They are learning how to behave in different situations
They’re building confidence instead of being afraid to make mistakes
Support the process, not just the label. The “A” and “B” don’t follow them forever. Their skills and mindset do.
Mistake #2: Believing Strength Matters More Than Technique
Another common mistake: thinking that strength is everything.
Yes, being strong helps. But at younger ages, many players believe:
“If I’m stronger, I’ll automatically be better.”
That’s not how it works.
Strength + Technique = Real Power
You need both strength and technique. They go hand in hand:
Technique tells your body how to move.
Strength gives your body the ability to do it with speed and power.
If you only train strength and ignore technique, you’ll hit a wall later:
Your shot will look powerful now, but as players around you get stronger and smarter, your “messy” mechanics won’t work anymore.
You won’t be able to adapt to higher speed and pressure.
If you only have technique but never build strength:
You’ll move beautifully, but you’ll struggle to win physical battles
Your shots will be accurate, but slow and easy to save
The goal is not “strength or technique.”
The goal is strength with technique.
At younger ages, focus on:
Clean movements
Good body position
Balanced egg-beater
Correct passing and shooting mechanics
Then build strength on top of that over time.
Mistake #3: Thinking “Goals Scored” = How Good You Are
Many young players (and parents) judge performance only by:
“How many goals did I score?”
But that’s not how high-level water polo works.
In Real Games Later, You Won’t Score 15 Goals
When you’re young, sometimes you play against teams that are much weaker. You might score:
8, 10, even 15 goals in a game
That can feel amazing. But you must understand:
At higher levels (national teams, strong clubs, college), you will not score like that.
Defenses will be better.
Goalies will be stronger and smarter.
You will be sharing the ball with many good teammates.
If you connect your confidence only to “I score a lot of goals,” then:
You feel lost in games where you don’t score.
You might force bad shots instead of making good decisions.
You can become selfish with the ball.
What Actually Shows Your Quality
Instead of asking “How many goals did I score?”, ask:
Did I make good decisions?
Did I help my team create good chances?
Did I drive, pick, post up, and move without the ball?
Did I play good defense?
Did I communicate and play as a team player?
These are the skills that make coaches trust you in important games.
What to Do in Games Against Weaker Teams
If you are clearly stronger than the other team, it’s a perfect opportunity to grow, not just to score:
Try new drives
Work on different fakes
Practice posting up in a new position
Look for assists instead of forcing every shot
Challenge yourself to improve one specific part of your game
It’s not just about “scoring, scoring, scoring.”
It’s about expanding your game.
Mistake #4: Sacrificing Shooting Technique for Power
This one is very common around ages 11–13:
“If my shot looks powerful now, I must be doing it right.”
So what do players do?
They push the ball with their arm only
They don’t rotate their body
Their elbow drops
Their legs and core aren’t really involved
Sometimes, the shot is actually strong at that age, because the ball is light and defenses are slower.
The Problem: It Won’t Work Later
If your shooting technique is bad but you rely on arm strength only:
It might work this season
It might even work next season
But it will not work in the long run
As you move up:
Goalies will read your shot easily
Defenders will block you more
You’ll start getting pain in the shoulder
You’ll hit a ceiling you can’t break through
What You Should Focus On Instead
At younger ages, focus on:
Correct body position on the shot
Strong egg-beater to stay high in the water
Elbow above the ear line
Full-body rotation (hips + core + shoulder)
Smooth release, not just a “push”
You want a shot that is built to last.
It’s better to have:
A technically clean shot now that gets stronger every year
…than a “fake powerful” shot now that dies in 1–2 seasons because the mechanics are wrong.
Mistake #5: Ignoring Communication With Coaches and Teammates
The last big mistake: not understanding how important communication and teamwork are.
A lot of younger players:
Want to do everything by themselves
Don’t listen fully to instructions
Don’t ask questions
Get frustrated but stay silent
Or blame teammates instead of trying to connect with them
Water polo is not a solo sport.
You Must Be a Team Player
Being a great player means:
Talking in defense (“left”, “right”, “switch”, “center!”)
Calling for the ball at the right time, not every time
Encouraging teammates, not blaming them
Listening to feedback from coaches
Adapting your game to what the team needs
You can be the best shooter in the pool, but if you don’t:
Listen
Communicate
Help the team
…coaches will struggle to trust you in important moments.
For Parents: Your Role Matters
Parents also play a big role in this mistake—positively or negatively.
You can help by:
Encouraging your child to communicate with the coach
Teaching them to accept feedback instead of making excuses
Avoiding constant criticism of teammates and coaches after games
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Asking questions like:
“What did you learn today?”
“What did the coach ask you to focus on?”
“How did you help your team, not just yourself?”
Sometimes coaches don’t have time to explain all of these deeper points in detail—especially in big clubs. That’s why it’s important that someone shows kids:
What the common mistakes are
How to think about them
How to grow past them
That “someone” is often a combination of:
The coach
The parents
And sometimes extra help through water polo courses, water polo classes, and online learning resources that explain fundamentals clearly.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a young player (or a parent of one), remember:
Being on the “A” team means nothing if you never play.
Strength without technique has a short life.
Goals scored are not the only measure of a good player.
A powerful-looking shot with bad mechanics will eventually break down.
Communication and teamwork are just as important as speed and strength.
The players who succeed long-term are the ones who:
Care about learning, not just labels
Build strong technique now
Use games to try new things, not just pad stats
Respect coaches and teammates
Think like students of the game
If you avoid these common mistakes early, every season becomes easier, more fun, and more productive—and you give yourself a real chance at a long, successful water polo career.