Water Polo Positions for Kids: Simple Guide to Center, Driver, Wing & Goalie (Ages 10–15)

One of the most common questions I hear from kids and parents is:

“What position should I play in water polo?”

And usually it’s followed by:

“What’s the difference between a center, a driver, and a wing anyway?”

If you (or your child) are between 10 and 15 years old, it can be confusing:

• Coaches move you around the pool

• You sometimes start at wing, sometimes at point, sometimes you’re told to “crash” or “post up”

• Everyone says positions matter… but nobody explains them clearly

In this guide, I want to fix that.

We’ll go through the main water polo positions in simple language:

• Center (also called center forward or 2m)

• Drivers / perimeter players

• Wings

• Goalie

You’ll learn:

• What each position actually does

• What type of kid usually fits each role

• The key skills to train between ages 10–15

• And how to use Waterpolo University to develop the right fundamentals for your position with online water polo courses and drills

First: What Is a “Position” in Water Polo?

In water polo, a position is simply:

The main role you play in the attack and in defense.

Just like in basketball you have point guards, centers, and forwards, in water polo you have:

• Players who work in the middle and fight for position

• Players who move on the outside, drive, and create chances

• Players who sit on the posts and shoot from angles

• And of course, the goalkeeper

At 10–15 years old, you do not need to lock yourself into one position forever.
But it is very helpful to:

• Understand what each role is supposed to do

• Start building the skills that fit you best

• Know what to look for when you’re watching higher-level games or training online

Overview of the Main Water Polo Positions

To keep it simple, let’s group them like this:

1. Center (Center Forward / 2m) – The player who battles in front of the goal.

2. Drivers / Perimeter Players – The outside players who move, drive, pass, and shoot from distance.

3. Wings – The players on the left and right “posts” near the goal, important for finishing and feeding the center.

4. Goalie – The last line of defense and first line of attack.

Now let’s go one by one.

1. Center – The Fighter in Front of the Goal

The center (sometimes called 2m, hole set, center forward) plays right in front of the opponent’s goal.

What the center does

On offense, the center:

• Fights for front position in front of the goal

• Holds off the defender using legs, hips, and body position

• Receives passes under pressure

• Draws exclusions, penalties, or good scoring chances for the team

On defense, the center often becomes the 2m defender (guarding the other team’s center), so they also need to know how to:

• Stay over their hips

• Use their legs instead of grabbing

• Read the entry pass

What type of player usually fits center?

At youth level, centers are often:

• Stronger or bigger kids

• Players who aren’t afraid of contact

• Kids who like physical battles and staying close to the cage

But you don’t have to be the biggest kid in the pool. A good center is also:

• Smart with angles

• Great with body position

• Very strong with legs and hips

Key skills centers should train at 10–15

Between ages 10–15, centers should focus on:

• Leg strength and eggbeater – You can’t hold position if your legs are weak.

• Hips-up body position – Playing from the hips, not the shoulders.

• Receiving under pressure – Catching the ball with a defender on your back.

• Simple finishing – Quick, controlled shots and movements, not tricks.

Inside Waterpolo University, centers benefit a lot from:

• Fundamentals courses that focus on hips up, eggbeater, and balance

• Passing & catching modules (because bad receptions kill center play)

• Future position-specific content (centers learning to seal, step-out, and draw fouls)

2. Drivers / Perimeter Players – The Movers and Creators

“Driver” can mean many things, but for kids, think of drivers as:

The players on the perimeter who move, attack space, and create chances.

They’re often the ones:

• Swimming into gaps

• Driving from the outside into shooting or passing lanes

• Shooting from distance

• Helping the ball get into the center and out again

What type of player fits driver?

Drivers are usually:

• Quicker swimmers

• Players with good legs and endurance

• Kids who like to move, attack space, and be active all over the pool

They might not be the strongest in wrestling, but they’re:

• Fast

• Aggressive

• Able to change direction and pace quickly

Key skills drivers should train at 10–15

Drivers should focus on:

• Swimming with the ball correctly (hips high, legs up, ball under control)

• Explosive legs for quick starts and direction changes

• Accurate passing and quick release shooting

• Driving timing – when to cut, when to move, not just “swim around”

In Waterpolo University, drivers benefit from:

• Courses on swimming with the ball in 3 steps

• Passing & shooting fundamentals

• Dryland for speed and leg explosiveness

• Defensive modules that teach how to press without getting turned

3. Wings – The Finishers on the Posts

Wings are the players who sit on the left and right side close to the goal, usually slightly off the posts.

They are critical on:

• Man-up (6 on 5) situations

• Regular front-court offense when the ball moves into the center and out again

What wings do

• Provide passing lanes to and from the center

• Threaten with shots from the angle

• Keep the defense honest so they can’t just collapse on the center

• On defense, help crash or press out, depending on the system

What type of player fits wing?

Wings are often:

• Players with good shooting from angles

• Quick, but also patient and smart

• Able to read the game and react fast when the ball comes out of center

They don’t have to be the fastest swimmer or the biggest player, but they must:

• Catch the ball cleanly

• Make quick decisions

• Be comfortable shooting from the side

Key skills wings should train at 10–15

Wings should work on:

• Catching and shooting from bad angles

• Quick catch-and-shoot technique

• Passing into the center safely (correct entry angles)

• Reading the goalie position and making smart shot choices

In Waterpolo University, wings benefit from:

• Shooting fundamentals and angle-shooting drills

• Passing courses that show how to feed the center properly

• Game-understanding content (when to shoot vs when to pass across)

4. Goalie – The Last Line of Defense and First Line of Attack

The goalie is a special position. Some kids know right away they love it; others grow into it.

What the goalie does

• Stops shots (obviously!)

• Organizes the defense – talks to teammates, calls out matchups

• Starts the counterattack with accurate outlet passes

• Reads the shooters and angles

What type of player fits goalie?

Goalies often are:

• Kids who like to read the game

• Comfortable being different from the rest of the team

• Strong in legs and core

• Not afraid of the ball

Height and arm span help, but at ages 10–15, the most important things are:

• Leg work

• Reaction

• Courage

• Willingness to learn

Key skills goalies should train at 10–15

Goalies should focus on:

• Vertical leg strength – holding high position for a long time

• Basic blocking technique (hand position, body angle)

• Explosive lateral movement

• Accurate outlet passing to start counterattacks

Inside Waterpolo University, goalies can use:

• Leg and dryland programs designed for youth players

• Passing & vision drills

• Future goalie-specific modules that explain positioning and reading shooters

Should Kids 10–15 Specialize in One Position?

This is a big question for parents and coaches.

My honest answer:

At 10–15, kids should learn every position, but they can start to lean toward roles that fit them best.

Why?

• Trying every position gives them better game understanding.

• A future center who has played driver will understand outside movement better.

• A future driver who has played some center will know how hard it is to fight inside and will feed the center smarter.

• Even field players who have spent time in the goal understand angles better.

However, around 13–15, it’s normal to start seeing:

• “This kid is clearly more of a center.”

• “This one has speed and shooting – more of a driver.”

• “This one reads the game well and communicates – possible goalie.”

You don’t have to lock it in forever at 13, but you can:

• Give them extra work in that role

• Make Waterpolo University training more position-specific

• Let them build an identity and confidence: “This is what I’m good at.”

How to Figure Out Which Position Fits You

Here are some simple questions you (or your child) can ask:

1. What do I enjoy most?

• Do you enjoy wrestling and fighting in front of the goal? → You might be a center.

• Do you love swimming, driving, and shooting from outside? → You might be a driver/perimeter player.

• Do you like being closer to the goal, finishing from angles, and feeding the center? → You might be a wing.

• Do you like seeing everything in front of you, reacting to shots, and organizing others? → You might be a goalie.

2. What does my body type support (for now)?

• Taller / stronger kids often do well at center or as goalie, but not always.

• Lighter / quicker kids often do well as drivers.

• Players with good touch and feel for the ball often make great wings.

Remember: kids grow and change. A “small driver” at 12 can become a strong center at 16. Don’t panic. Just use the present to build fundamentals in every area.

3. What does my coach say?

Ask your coach:

“Where do you see me long term? What should I focus on for the next year?”

Then, you can use Waterpolo University to:

• Build the fundamentals that fit that role

• Get extra reps outside team practice

• Move faster than just waiting for games and scrimmages

Training for Your Position With Waterpolo University

Whatever position you lean towards, the process is the same.

1️⃣ Start with a Personalized Plan

On the Waterpolo University homepage, there is a blue button:

“Start Here – Get Your Personalized Plan”

You (or your child) fill out:

• Age

• Current position (or positions you’re trying)

• Experience level

• Main goals and struggles (for example: “I’m a center and I can’t hold position”, or “I’m a driver with a weak shot”).

I review the answers personally and send back a step-by-step plan:

• Which online water polo courses to start with

• How many sessions per week

• Which drills are most important for your position at your age

2️⃣ Use the right courses for your position

For example:

• Centers

  • Focus on leg and core dryland, hips-up courses, receiving under pressure, and later center-specific content.

• Drivers / perimeter players

  • Focus on swimming with the ball, passing & shooting fundamentals, leg speed, and defensive footwork.

• Wings

  • Focus on catching and shooting from angles, entry passing to center, and game understanding around the posts.

• Goalies

  • Use dryland for legs and shoulders, passing drills, and future goalie modules.

3️⃣ Combine WU with your team practice

The idea is not to replace your club, but to support and accelerate your progress.

A simple weekly structure:

• 2–3 WPU sessions per week (15–30 minutes)

• Plus your normal team practices

Each WU session:

1. Learn 1 skill for your position (for example: “center leg work” or “driver shooting form”).

2. Take 1–2 key cues from the lesson.

3. At your next practice, focus on those cues and, if you can, tell your coach:

“Coach, I’ve been working on this specific thing. Can you watch me for a few minutes and tell me if I’m doing it right?”

4️⃣ Get feedback (Premium and Clubs)

If you’re on Premium Membership, you can:

• Send me videos of you playing your position

• Get direct feedback on your technique and positioning

• Receive simple corrections and drill suggestions to try next practice

If you’re a coach or club, a Club License lets:

• All your players access Waterpolo University

• You build your training plan around WU courses and dryland programs

• New or developing programs get a ready-made youth water polo curriculum

Final Thoughts

At ages 10–15, you don’t need to have your entire water polo career decided.

But you do benefit a lot from:

• Understanding the basic water polo positions

• Getting a feel for where you might fit best

• Training the right fundamentals for your body and personality

• Using a clear system—like Waterpolo University—to guide your water polo training, drills, and lessons

Whether you see yourself as a center, driver, wing, or goalie, the path is the same:

Build strong fundamentals now, and every position you play later will be easier.

If you want help figuring out your position and getting a plan for it:

• Go to the homepage

• Click “Start Here – Get Your Personalized Plan”

• Tell me about yourself

I’ll help you map out the best way to train for your role—with the right water polo courses, lessons, and drills for your age and goals—so the position you play becomes a place of confidence, not confusion.