Step 1: Hold the ball in shooting position
Keep your elbow high, wrist towards target, and body balanced.
Step 2: Move elbow + shoulder+shoulder of non shooting arm together
Don’t fake with just your elbow or just your shoulder.
Both need to move at the same time so the motion looks powerful and real.
Step 3: Don't pass your “headline”
Imagine a vertical line that runs down the center of your body.
Never move the ball past that line — if you do, the defender can steal it.
Step 4: Match the fake to your real shot
The fake should look almost identical to your shooting motion.
This is what tricks the goalie into reacting early.
Step 5: Use variety
There isn’t just one type of fake. Different players have different shots, so their fakes will look different too.
But the general rule is always: combine elbow + shoulder, stay safe with the ball, and make it look like a shot.
Step 1: Start in shooting position (tripod).
Elbow high, ball in hand, off-hand in the water for balance.
Legs in a strong eggbeater, hips up.
Step 2: Initiate the slide with a breaststroke kick.
Perform a strong, controlled breaststroke kick to push your body forward.
At the same time, extend the ball slightly in front of you (never past your headline).
Step 3: Use the off-hand for balance.
While kicking, your free arm (left or right, depending on ball hand) moves parallel with your stroke.
This stabilizes your slide and keeps your chest square to the cage.
Step 4: Control distance with kick power.
Short slide: weaker breaststroke kick, smaller push.
Long slide: stronger breaststroke kick, more reach forward.
You can also reset into shooting position between slides if needed.
Step 5: Return to shooting position immediately.
As soon as the slide is complete, put the ball back in the shooting pocket.
Legs underneath you, hips up, balanced tripod restored.
DON'T DO THIS
DON'T DO THIS
There are only two real reasons to use fakes in water polo:
To trick the goalie into thinking you’re about to shoot.
To move closer to the cage so you can finish at a higher percentage.
From ages 10 to 14, the focus should be on the second reason — sliding. At this stage, players need to learn how to close distance to the cage with control and balance. The technique for sliding forward has already been explained: start in shooting position, use a strong breaststroke kick, and reset quickly into your shot pocket.
If you do decide to fake the goalie, the golden rule is this: your fake must look exactly like your shot. The more believable the motion, the more effective the fake. If your goal is to move closer while faking, then you need to combine both — forward slide + shooting motion.
For young players (10–14), however, the priority is clear: don’t overuse fakes. Build your game around slides first, so you can consistently attack from better angles and higher-percentage positions. Once that foundation is in place, fakes can be layered on top to make you unpredictable and dangerous.