Most Common Water Polo Mistakes for Beginners (And How to Fix Them for Ages 10–15)

If you’re just starting water polo—or you’re a parent or coach of kids ages 10–15—you probably see a lot of the same things over and over:

• Shots flying over the goal or dribbling weakly into the goalie

• Legs stuck deep underwater

• Players turning on defense and chasing instead of actually guarding

• Passes that go sideways or sink halfway

Here’s the important part:

These mistakes are normal for beginners.
They are not a reason to panic.
But if you don’t fix them between 10 and 15, they become bad habits that are very hard to break later.

In this guide, we’ll go through the most common water polo mistakes for beginners and how to fix them with:

• Simple explanations (so kids actually understand)

• Easy cues they can remember in games

• Drill ideas you can use in practice or at home

• References to how you can work on each mistake inside Waterpolo University (WU)

Let’s start with one of the biggest shooting mistakes almost every beginner makes.

Mistake #1 – Elbow in Line With the Shoulder When Shooting

This is a huge one:

Having the elbow in line with the shoulder at the moment of the shot (instead of above it) is one of the biggest shooting mistakes for beginners.

What it looks like

• The player’s elbow is flat, in the same line as the shoulder.

• The arm looks more horizontal than vertical when they throw.

• The shot comes out like a push or a side-arm sling, not a real whip.

The ball:

• Floats

• Lacks power

• Often goes too high or too wide

• Is easy for the goalie to read

Why it happens

• Kids are trying to throw “hard” with arm only.

• They don’t trust their legs yet, so they don’t get up high.

• They’ve never been shown the difference between:

  • Low elbow (wrong) and

  • High elbow (correct shooting position)

Why it’s such a big problem

With a low elbow:

• You lose power

• You lose accuracy

• You strain your shoulder more

• You can’t adjust your angle easily over the defender’s blocking arm

A proper water polo shot should look like:

• Elbow is higher than the shoulder

• Arm is more vertical

• You feel like you’re “up and over” the ball

• The throw is a whip, not a push

How to fix it – simple cues

Give them one or two simple cues, like:

• “Elbow above shoulder.”

• “Show me your elbow to the sky.”

• “High elbow, high hand.”

In shooting drills, watch first their elbow, not only where the ball goes.
If the elbow is low, stop, reset, and repeat the motion without speed, then add power later.

Drills to help

• Wall shooting form without ball

  • Stand in water by the side, eggbeater up

  • Arm in shooting position, elbow high

  • Rotate body and “fake throw” 10–15 times with correct form

• Slow-motion shooting

  • Catch → set → slow motion arm path with elbow high → then finish shot

  • The focus is purely on the elbow staying above the shoulder as long as possible.

Where to work on this in WU

Inside Waterpolo University, this is something to emphasize in any shooting fundamentals or passing & shooting course.
In your personalized plan (via “Start Here – Get Your Personalized Plan”), this mistake can be tagged so the player gets pointed to:

• Shooting mechanics videos

• Slow breakdowns of arm position

• Drills for high-elbow form

Mistake #2 – Hips Down (Playing From the Waist Down)

The second huge beginner mistake:

Hips down – everything is happening from the waist down, and the body is “sitting” in the water.

What it looks like

• Player’s hips are deep under the surface

• Shoulders and head barely above water

• They look like they are constantly fighting the water instead of gliding

This shows up in:

• Swimming

• Passing

• Shooting

• Defense

• Literally everything

Why it happens

• Weak or untrained eggbeater / legs

• No awareness of body line

• Player focuses only on arms (“I must throw/pass harder”)

• Fear or tension → they sink more

Why it’s a problem

When hips are down:

• You move slower

• You use more energy for everything

• Your passes and shots lose power

• On defense, you sink and start grabbing instead of moving

Good water polo is played with:

Hips high, head calm, legs doing the work.

How to fix it – simple cues

• “Hips to the surface.”

• “Show me your belt at the top.”

• “Body on top of the water, not in it.”

On every drill, you can ask:

• “Where are your hips?”

• “Can you feel them close to the surface?”

Drills to help

• Vertical kick with ball at chest

  • Hold ball at chest, eggbeater with hips as high as possible

  • Coach or partner checks where the hips are

• Streamline kick on back and stomach

  • Focus on straight body line

  • Feel what “high hips” actually feels like

Where to work on this in WU

This is heavily connected to:

• Eggbeater & leg training modules

• Dryland for legs and core for 12U and 14U

• Any course that talks about body position and balance

In WU, your plan might combine:

• Video tech lessons on body position

• Specific dryland to build the strength to hold hips high

Mistake #3 – Flat Legs (No Real Eggbeater)

Related to hips down is another classic:

Flat legs – no real eggbeater, just a weak, flat scissor kick under the water.

What it looks like

• Knees close together, feet far apart

• Or knees very wide, messy shape

• Legs move, but the body doesn’t rise much

The player:

• Feels tired

• Can’t stay up long

• Can’t jump high for blocks or shots

Why it happens

• They were never taught how eggbeater works, only told “kick, kick, kick”

• They use a bicycle kick (like in shallow swimming)

• They don’t practice legs separately

Why it’s a problem

Without real eggbeater:

• You can’t hold a stable position on defense

• You can’t rise up to pass or shoot cleanly

• You are always relying on grabbing or sinking someone instead of moving

How to fix it – simple cues

• “Big circle with each leg.”

• “Knee, open, press.”

• “One leg out, one leg in.”

Think of each leg drawing a circle in the water, not just flapping up and down.

Drills to help

• Wall support eggbeater

  • Hold onto wall or lane line lightly

  • Practice eggbeater with focus on big circles

  • Alternate slow, controlled reps and faster ones

• One-leg eggbeater

  • One leg eggbeaters, other leg straight

  • Helps feel the circle and isolate each leg

Where to work on this in WU

Inside Waterpolo University:

• Look for eggbeater / legs fundamentals for youth

• Dryland and in-water progressions for leg strength

• This will often appear in 12U/14U dryland courses and basic technique modules.

Mistake #4 – Sideways Passing (Falling Over With Every Pass)

Another big beginner issue:

Sideways passing – throwing across the body with no balance, falling over after every pass.

What it looks like

• Player leans to the side as they pass

• Whole body twists, and they almost fall onto their side

• The ball leaves their hand from a weird angle

Result:

• Inconsistent speed

• Inconsistent height

• Hard to catch for teammates

Why it happens

• Kids are copying a “throw” from a different sport (like handball or throwing a rock).

• They haven’t learned to pass over their hips, with a strong base.

• Legs and core aren’t engaged; it’s all arm.

Why it’s a problem

• Passes are hard to read and control

• Teammates drop more balls → team looks messy

• On man-up, this kills rhythm and makes it easy for defense

How to fix it – simple cues

• “Pass over your hips.”

• “Strong base, soft arm.”

• “Throw from stable body, not from falling body.”

Drills to help

• Partner passing with balance check

  • After every pass, player must stop and hold position for 1–2 seconds

  • If they fall sideways, they know they passed from bad balance

• Wall passes focusing on body line

  • One hand on ball, other hand sculling

  • Pass to wall and receive, keeping body upright

Where to work on this in WU

This connects directly to:

• Passing & catching fundamentals courses

• Youth-specific modules that focus on “body over hips while passing”

Inside your personalized plan, this mistake would point to specific video lessons teaching:

• Correct arm path

• Hip position and stability while passing

Mistake #5 – Turning on Defense (Showing Your Back)

One of the most costly beginner mistakes in games:

Turning on defense – defender turns their back to the attacker and chases instead of staying squared and in front.

What it looks like

• Defender is guarding in front

• Offense moves or fakes

• Defender turns fully around and chases

• They lose body position and end up behind

Why it happens

• Player panics when they feel they are being “beaten”

• Legs are weak, so they can’t slide laterally or hold hips up

• They don’t understand that turning = giving up position

Why it’s a problem

• You lose front position

• You foul from behind → exclusions and penalty shots

• The offense controls the situation

Good defense in water polo is about:

Staying over your hips, seeing both ball and player, and not turning your back.

How to fix it – simple cues

• “Don’t show your back.”

• “Stay over your hips, chest to the attacker.”

• “Slide, don’t turn.”

Drills to help

• Mirror drill

  • Offense moves slowly side to side

  • Defense must slide laterally with hips up, never turning

  • Coach watches for any turning of shoulders/back

• Ball & player vision drill

  • Offense with ball, defense in between

  • Defender must always see both ball and attacker (head on swivel)

Where to work on this in WU

This is ideal for:

• Defense fundamentals courses inside WU

• Modules on “press defense basics”, “over-hips defense”, and “not getting turned”

Your personalized plan can direct you to:

• Video breakdowns of defensive stance

• Specific drills for staying square and sliding instead of turning

Mistake #6 – Not Understanding the Game (Just Swimming Around)

A big mental/tactical mistake for beginners:

Not understanding the game – just swimming around following the ball, with no idea of role or position.

What it looks like

• Everyone swims toward the ball

• No spacing

• Players don’t know:

  • Who is set

  • Who is wing

  • Who is up top

• On defense, they chase whoever has the ball, leaving others wide open

Why it happens

• They are new; everything is fast and confusing

• No one has explained basic positions and roles in simple language

• Practices are only scrimmages with no clear teaching of “where you should be and why”

Why it’s a problem

• Kids get frustrated: “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

• The team has no structure → can’t improve tactics.

• Talent is wasted because they’re never in the right place.

How to fix it – simple cues

• “Know your job before you touch the ball.”

• “Where do you start? Where do you go next?”

• For example:

  • “You are a wing → your job is X.”

  • “You are a driver → your job is Y.”

  • “You are a center → your job is Z.”

Drills to help

• Walk-throughs without defense

  • Set up offense positions

  • Walk them through:

    • Where they start

    • Where they move on pass

    • Simple patterns

• Freeze and explain

  • In scrimmage, blow whistle and freeze everyone

  • Explain where each should be and why

Where to work on this in WU

Inside Waterpolo University, this is addressed in:

• Rules & fundamentals courses

• Modules on positions and basic tactics for youth players

• Blogs and lessons around “understanding your role”

This is also something that can be explained clearly in a personalized plan email based on the player’s position.

Mistake #7 – Being Afraid to Make Mistakes

This one is more mental, but very real:

Kids are afraid to miss a shot, miss a pass, or make a mistake, so they play small.

What it looks like

• Open shot → they hesitate and pass instead

• They only make “safe” passes

• They apologize constantly

• They shut down after one mistake

Why it’s a problem

• They never learn under real pressure

• They limit themselves even if they have good skills

• Coaches can’t see their true potential

How to fix it – simple cues

Remind them:

• “Only players who try make mistakes.”

• “Your job is good decisions + effort, not perfection.”

• “Miss, learn, adjust, try again.”

Give them specific freedom:

• “If you are open, you must shoot 3 times this game.”

• “It’s okay if you miss—just don’t stop playing.”

Where to work on this in WU

This connects with:

• Mindset / coachability blogs and lessons inside WU

• Pre-game routines and mental approach in selected courses

• Parent-focused content (so they don’t add extra pressure)

Mistake #8 – Only “Training” in Games (No Extra Work on Fundamentals)

Finally:

Many beginners think only team practice and games are enough. They never do extra technical work or structured drills.

Why it’s a problem

• Team practices are often crowded, short, and focused on team tactics.

• There’s not enough time to fix each player’s elbow, hips, legs, or passing.

• The players who progress fastest are the ones who do extra:

  • Extra shooting form

  • Extra eggbeater work

  • Extra ball control

How to fix it

• Add short, focused sessions each week:

  • 15–30 minutes at home or in the pool

  • Follow a specific online water polo course

  • Target 1–2 mistakes at a time

This is exactly where online water polo training becomes powerful for kids 10–15.

How Waterpolo University Helps Fix These Mistakes Step by Step

All of these mistakes:

• Low elbow on shots

• Hips down

• Flat legs / weak eggbeater

• Sideways passing

• Turning on defense

• Not understanding the game

• Fear of mistakes

…are fixable. But they’re best fixed with:

1. Clear explanation

2. Simple cues

3. Proper drills

4. A structured plan over weeks and months

That’s what Waterpolo University is built for.

Start with a Free Personalized Plan

On the Waterpolo University homepage, you’ll see a blue button:

“Start Here – Get Your Personalized Plan”

Here’s how it works:

1. You (or your child) fill out the “Tell Us About Yourself” form.

2. You share age, position, current level, and biggest struggles (for example: shooting form, hips down, defense, etc.).

3. I review it personally.

4. I send you a step-by-step plan with:

   • Which courses to start with

   • Which mistakes to focus on first

   • How many sessions per week

   • How to combine club practice + WU training

Then Choose Your Level of Support

• 👉 Individual Membership
  Get access to all youth water polo courses, drills, and lessons for ages 10–15—shooting, passing, defense, body position, dryland and more—so you can systematically fix these mistakes.

• 👉 Team License
  If you’re a coach or you want this for a whole team, a club license gives all your players and coaches access to Waterpolo University. You can build your practice plans around WU courses and dryland for 12U and 14U.

If you’re a beginner or a young player making these mistakes now, that’s totally okay.

What matters is:

You see them, you get a plan to fix them, and you start doing the right things consistently between ages 10 and 15.

Do that, and you won’t just stop making beginner mistakes—you’ll build the foundation for whatever level of water polo you want to reach.