Getting back on defense in a counterattack situation.
One against zero, and two against zero, getting back on defense.
One against zero or 'one on 0' is when an offensive player is headed towards the goal
and he's ahead of everybody.
A two against zero or '2 on 0' is when two offensive players are ahead of the field.
When a 'one on 0' situation occurs the other five field players on the offensive team should
go back on defense rather than continuing down the pool.
If a '2 on 0' situation occurs the other four field players should get back on defense.
If you are not part of the one against zero or the two against zero play, you need to
get back on defense in case your teammates miss or the goalie blocks the ball.
Looking only at your man while playing defense or 'Tunnel Vision Defense.'
'Tunnel Vision Defense' occurs when you are so focused on guarding a single player that
you're completely unaware of all the other players in the game.
In this picture the black caps are on defense and number five black is guarding number two
on the white team.
She's unaware that white number three is wide open right in front of the goal.
In this situation white number three has a much better scoring opportunity than white
number two so the defensive player should see the entire playing field and guard white
number three.
Always guard the players closest to the goal first.
If you're in a two against zero situation, you and your teammate want to line up on the
goal posts about three or four meters away from the goal.
The player with the ball should pump fake at the goal to make the goalie slide towards
him or 'set the goalie.'
Then he should pass the ball to his teammate on the opposite post.
What does it mean to 'set the goalie.'
If I'm on the right goal post and I 'set the goalie,' the goalie is not going to stay in
the center of the goal, the goalie is going to slide somewhere in between the right post
and the center, they're going to be set on me.
Once the goalie is 'set' on me my teammate on the opposite post has a wide open shot.
Don't force the ball at the goalie, pass the ball of the teammate where he has a wide open
shot.
Use your teammate and make the right play.
One against Nobody.
Shooting Angle.
If you are on a 'one on 0', you need to try to get center cage if you can.
You also want to take the ball as close to the goal as you can without letting the goalie
steal it.
Going center cage will improve your shooting angle and give you an easier scoring opportunity.
Clearing weak side when your teammate has an advantage.
During a counter-attack or during the course of a set offense if a teammate has beaten
their man and is heading towards you with the ball you need to clear out to the weak
side goal post, away from the ball.
If you don't move, you allow one defender to guard two players.
If you do move to the weak side, you force your defender to make a choice.
If your defender stays with you, your teammate will have the advantage.
If your defender goes to the ball, then you'll be open for a shot.
Not giving up on a play.
Don't stop playing defense until the referee has signaled a goal or until you gain possession
of the ball.
Too many players stop playing defense as the player they're guarding is shooting assuming
it will be a goal.
Never assume it will be a goal.
In fact, assume the opposite.
Assume they are always going to miss.
In this clip the defender in the black cap continues with intensity and speed all the
way through the shooting motion of the offensive player.
if the offensive player had missed or the goalie blocked the ball the defender would
have been in position to take the ball.
Now let's take a look at that same defender in the black cap as he gives up halfway down
the pool.
In this clip the defender is lazy or assumes it's going to be a goal so he gives up on
the play and on his teammates.
This is a terrible thing to do to your goalie.
You don't want to ever quit on yourself or any of your teammates and you certainly don't
want to quit on your goalie.
It doesn't matter if you're tired and and the offensive player is about to shoot the
ball, you have to go maximum speed until the referee signals the goal.
You owe that to yourself, to your team, and to your goalie.
Would you want your teammates to quit on you?
Think about that the next time you're tired.
Six simple ways to improve your game.
You make these adjustments, you make yourself more valuable to your team.
From Shaquatics Water Polo I'm David Farkas, see you next time