Playing Technique - The Crawl, Sidestroke, Breaststroke

In European methods of training for water polo, a sharp distinction is made between the type of swimming used in competition and in water polo. The progress of a competitive swimmer in the water is continuous, with emphasis on speed and endurance for longer events. The water-polo

This is a relatively calm moment in a water-polo game, with competing players both above water and concentrating on the ball.

player’s swimming is varied in intensity and interrupted by the progress of the plays in the game. Also, the game calls for the player to hold his head high, in order to follow the progress of the ball and the game. In addition, the competitive swimmer need perfect only one stroke, while the competent water-polo player must be equally skilled in all the strokes and techniques he may need during the same. The “purists” of the sport decry the practice of many coaches of selecting aspirants who prove limited in competitive skill to form a water-polo team for a club or school. The strokes necessary in water polo are the crawl, side-stroke, breaststroke and backstroke, although the various strokes must be adapted to the specific needs of the player during a game.

The Crawl

The crawl stroke is used during the greater part of the game, for it is the stroke used by a player in changing his position within the playing area. Since the swimmer must keep his head high to observe the game and the other players, his head must be held up. With the head held up, the legs will sink deeper than in competitive swimming. This changes the position of the body in the water. The higher angle of the body makes the legstroke more difficult. To compensate for this, the legs must be bent more at the knees to bring the feet nearer to the surface.

The armstroke must also be adapted to the needs of the game. In order to give support to the raised head and shoulders, the recovery stroke must be shortened. This is done by bending the elbows slightly so that the hands reach the water more quickly, producing a more forceful arm-stroke. Swimming with the arms slightly bent is also necessary when dribbling the ball along the surface of the water.

The Sidestroke

For maneuverability during plays and for quick turns, the sidestroke is important in water polo. However, this stroke as used in water polo differs from the competitive sidestroke. It is a modified sidestroke with emphasis on the powerful scissors kick. The armstroke is also changed, with the elbow of the arm moving in the air being sharply bent, giving an accelerated armstroke. The body is turned high on its side, with the eyes looking to the side. The legs are submerged just enough to provide support for the scissors kick. This half-side body position changes when one of the arms swings forward during recovery. Then the body is turned on the chest so that the raised head looks ahead. With the body in this position, the player sinks the arm that is swung forward into the water, and a forceful pull occurs simultaneously with the closing of the legs, pushing the body forward. When the pull begins, the body is turned again on the side to reduce water resistance. During the pull, the other arm reaches forward under the water, so that when one arm, completing the pull, swings back into the air, the other arm provides a continuous glide with an oarlike motion toward the breast. The player should develop facility in using the sidestroke on both sides to meet the needs of the game.

The Breaststroke

During much of the action in a game, the player must rise high out of the water as in throwing or receiving passes, shooting goals, attempting interceptions. The goalkeeper must especially be ready to “jump” out of the water to defend his goal. For these situations, the breaststroke is advocated. Again, the stroke differs from its namesake used in competitive swimming. Here, emphasis is on the upward effect of the kick, and not on the forward propulsion of the stroke. The normal breaststroke calls for an almost flat position in the water. The water-polo player using the breaststroke forms an angle of 40 to 60 degrees with the surface. The pull which provides forward momentum is reduced to a bare minimum, and the press, which lifts the upper potrion of the body, is increased to the maximum.

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