Water Polo Myths: True or False? What Young Players & Parents Need to Know

If you hang around a pool long enough, you’ll hear all kinds of “facts” about water polo:

“You have to be huge to be good.”
“It’s all upper body.”
“If you start late, you’ll never catch up.”

Some of these ideas are harmless. Others can actually slow down a young player’s development or make parents feel discouraged for no reason.

In this blog we’ll go through some of the most common water polo myths, label them true or false, and explain what actually matters—especially for younger age groups like 10U, 12U, and 14U.

Myth #1: “You have to be tall and huge to be good at water polo.”

Verdict: Mostly FALSE.

Things that matter more at these ages:

• Strong, consistent eggbeater

• Good body position (hips up)

• Solid passing and catching

• Ability to listen and learn systems

• Work ethic and consistency at practice

A smaller player with great legs, good decision-making, and strong fundamentals will often dominate a bigger opponent who just relies on size.

I was 5'10, 170 pounds and I won the European championship, plus I wasn't even talented.

Later, when everyone grows and the level rises, size becomes one factor—but it’s never the only one.

Myth #2: “Water polo is all about upper body strength.”

Verdict: FALSE.

This is a big one. From the stands, it looks like players are just muscling shots and passes with their arms. But anyone who has actually played knows:

Water polo is a leg sport.

Your legs and hips are what keep you high in the water, give you balance, and allow you to:

• shoot harder

• pass more accurately

• defend over the hips

• block shots

• stay stable when being fouled

If your legs die, your arms don’t matter. You can have massive shoulders, but if your hips drop and you’re sinking, you can’t show your real quality.

So no, it’s not “all upper body.” In serious training, we build everything from the legs up, not the other way around.

Myth #3: “You must start water polo very young or it’s too late.”

Verdict: FALSE.

Starting early helps, but it’s not a requirement. Many strong players start around:

• 10–12 years old

• late middle school

• even early high school

What matters most is not the age you start, but the consistency and quality of training once you do start.

If a 13-year-old or 14-year-old decides:

• “I’m going to show up to almost every practice,”

• “I will work on my legs and fundamentals outside of practice,”

• “I will study the game and not just play it,”

they can catch up to (and pass) many players who “started earlier” but never really took it seriously.

Myth #4: “To get better at shooting, just shoot more.”

Verdict: Half TRUE, half FALSE.

Yes, you need lots of reps to become a good shooter. But just firing balls at the goal with poor technique does not help much—and can sometimes make things worse.

What you actually need is:

• Good body position

• Strong leg drive

• Correct arm path and wrist

• Repetition with good form, not just volume

If your arm is too low, your elbow drops, or your hips are under water, you’re repeating the wrong movement over and over. That just builds bad habits.

So:

• True: More reps are necessary.

• False: Any kind of shot counts. You need quality + quantity.

Myth #5: “Defense is just grabbing, holding, and drowning people.”

Verdict: FALSE (and dangerous).

Young players sometimes think defense is just:

• pulling suits

• pushing people under

• grabbing necks or shoulders

Not only is that illegal, it also doesn’t work well against good players and good referees. Proper defense is about:

• position (staying between your player and the goal)

• legs (hips up to move quickly)

• press angles (hand in the passing lane)

• timing (knowing when to help, when to switch, when to drop)

Yes, water polo is a physical sport. But the best defenders are not the dirtiest—they are the ones who can stay over their hips, move intelligently, and win possession without constantly getting kicked out.

Myth #6: “Goalies just stand there and block shots.”

Verdict: FALSE.

Goalies are not just shot-stoppers. They’re like a second coach in the water. A good goalie:

• reads the offense early

• talks constantly to their defenders

• calls out shooters, drives, and picks

• leads the counterattack with fast, accurate outlet passes

Young goalies should spend time learning:

• basic positioning

• eggbeater and leg strength

• reading body language of shooters

• communicating clearly (“Press 3!”, “Watch drive!”, “Help center!”)

If you treat goalie as “just block the ball,” you miss half the position.

Myth #7: “Dryland doesn’t matter—only pool time counts.”

Verdict: FALSE.

Especially for 10U, 12U, and 14U players, dryland training is a huge advantage when it’s done properly and age-appropriate.

Good dryland:

• builds leg strength (huge for eggbeater and jumps)

• protects shoulders and core

• improves overall athleticism and coordination

• helps with injury prevention

Dryland should never replace all pool time, but it should support what happens in the water.

Players who do smart dryland consistently often:

• rise higher in the water

• move quicker laterally

• feel more stable and balanced on defense and in shooting

So no, dryland is not “extra.” It’s part of the full picture.

Myth #8: “Games are more important than practices.”

Verdict: FALSE (especially for younger ages).

Games are fun. Players love them. Parents love them. But games are just a test of what you’ve learned in practice.

If you don’t practice well:

• games will feel messy and confusing

• results will be random

• you’ll keep repeating the same mistakes

For 10U, 12U, and early 14U, the main focus should be:

• learning fundamentals

• building good habits

• understanding basic systems (press, drop, simple offense)

Games are opportunities to test these habits—but the real development happens at practice.

The players who show up consistently, listen, and work at practice are usually the ones who eventually shine in tournaments.

Myth #9: “Water polo is only for super swimmers.”

Verdict: FALSE.

Being a good swimmer helps, of course. If you can’t move up and down the pool, it’s hard to play. But water polo technique is different from pure swim technique.

Strong swimmers who jump into water polo have to learn:

• how to change speed constantly (not just swim straight)

• how to eggbeater and move vertically

• how to pass and catch with body control

• how to play with contact and traffic around them

At the same time, a player who is not the fastest swimmer but:

• has good legs

• great ball control

• strong game IQ

can be very effective in set offense, at 2M defense, or as a shooter.

So yes, you need enough swimming ability to play the game. But you don’t need to be a future Olympic freestyler to become a strong water polo player.

Myth #10: “You can only learn water polo by playing more games.”

Verdict: FALSE.

Games are one way to learn, but not the only way—and certainly not the most efficient way when you’re still learning basic skills.

You can improve by:

• focused technical drills

• video analysis of your own games

• watching higher-level games and pausing to see positioning

• studying through structured water polo courses and water polo classes that explain concepts step by step

A lot of players just play weekend tournaments without ever really analyzing what happened or learning specific skills in between.

The fastest improvement comes when you combine:

• games (experience)

• training (repetition)

• education (understanding)

Myth #11: “Legs are everything in water polo.”

Verdict: This one is actually pretty TRUE.

You might hear coaches repeat:

“Legs, legs, legs.”
“Everything starts from the legs.”
“Strong legs = strong player.”

And they’re not wrong.

If your legs are strong and your hips are up:

• your passing, shooting, and blocking will automatically improve

• you’ll hold position better on defense

• you’ll stay in the game longer without your quality dropping in the 3rd or 4th quarter

That doesn’t mean you ignore technique or game IQ, but if there’s one thing almost every coach agrees on, it’s this:

Investing in your legs is never a waste of time.

Myth #12: “If the referee doesn’t see it, it’s okay.”

Verdict: FALSE (and short-term thinking).

Some players think they’re smart if they commit fouls “the referee can’t see.” Yes, at higher levels there is a lot of hidden physical play—but:

• constantly playing dirty creates a bad reputation

• referees and coaches eventually notice

• you waste energy on wrestling instead of smart positioning

• you never really learn how to defend properly

In youth water polo, this mentality can also scare new players out of the sport.

Playing strong, physical but fair defense is better long-term. You’ll:

• draw fewer exclusions on yourself

• gain trust from coaches and teammates

• focus your energy on reading the game, not just grabbing people

So What Should Young Players Focus On Instead of Myths?

If you’re 10U, 12U, or 14U, and you want to grow without getting lost in myths, focus on:

1. Legs & hips up

   • Eggbeater

   • Vertical stability

   • Quick changes of direction

2. Basic fundamentals

   • Passing and catching

   • Shooting with proper form

   • Body position on offense and defense

3. Consistent practice

   • Show up often

   • Listen

   • Repeat the right habits

4. Game understanding

   • Who is your player?

   • What defense are you in (press, drop, zone)?

   • Where is the most dangerous player right now?

5. Smart physicality

   • Play strong, not dirty

   • Use your legs, not just your hands

   • Learn how to win position without constantly fouling

If you do these things, the myths won’t matter. Your game will speak for itself.

Learn Water Polo the Right Way with Structured Courses & Classes

If you want to avoid bad habits and confusion, and you prefer learning water polo step by step, that’s exactly why we created Waterpolo University.

Inside our water polo courses and water polo classes, you’ll find:

• clear explanations that break down fundamentals for 10U, 12U, 14U and beyond

• drills for passing, shooting, eggbeater, defense, spacing, pressure passing, body position, and more

• dryland programs designed specifically for water polo players

• a structured path so you’re not just guessing what to work on next

Clubs and teams can also get club licenses, so the entire team can follow the same system and language, instead of everyone learning random things at different speeds.

👉 If you’d like to see what’s inside and how the training is organized, you can preview all the courses and memberships here:
https://www.waterpolouniversity.com

Forget the myths. Learn what really matters, train with purpose, and the results will follow.