1

Billy Schmid
Water Polo Modified Games

Water Polo Knockout...2
Trench Ball.4
Polo-Ball.6
Double Whammy...8
Water Bowling...10
Keep Away.12






Water Polo Knockout

5 Players per goal with a total of 4 goals (20 people)

2
Groups will be student chosen based on competitive level. Goals on the left hand side
will be deemed as most competitive, while goals on the right hand side of the pool will
be non-competitive.

All players will be shooters, and all players will be goalies. There will be a line of
shooters and one goalie. Once the first player shoots, he or she will then swim to the
goal and become the goalie. The goalie for the initial shot gets the ball and throw it to
the next thrower. The first goalie swims and gets in the back of the line.

Needed: Pool (a 25ftx25 foot works best, but use what's available), 4 water polo balls
(or usable pool ball), four goals (water polo or small soccer goals) 20 noodles (for
students who can't tread water for very long)

Focus: student shooting and saving shots (goalie)

Psychomotor: Demonstrate proper shooting technique by getting the ball on target 4 out
of 5 times by the end of the game. NASPE # 1 ; MA CF # 2.17

Cognitive: Identify correctly 4 areas of the goal were students should be aiming for
during closure questions. NASPE # 2 ; MA CF # 2.17

Affective: Show good sportsmanship by encouraging other students to do well at least
once during each game. NASPE # 4 ; MA CF # 7.10

Rules and Regulations:
4 players will create a line about 10 yards away from the goal
1 player will be in the goal playing as the goalie.
On the teachers whistle, the game will begin, starting with a shot from the first
shooter.
Once the shooter takes the shot, he becomes the goalie.
The initial goalie will get the ball, either from inside the net or out of bounds and
pass it to the next shooter. (he will then swim to the end of the shooting line) The
2nd shooter then takes a shot on the new goalie.
Students will earn two points for every goal they score, and one point for every
shot they save (shots wide or not on target do not count as saves)
The game will be played for 5 minutes, the students at the end of the 3 minutes
with the highest score wins!

Safety Tips:

No shooting the ball until the goalie is ready and looking at you.
3
Students must shoot from at least one lane line away (roughly 8 yards)
If you can not tread water for an extended period of time, or are feeling tired from
swimming, as the teacher for a noodle to keep you afloat.

Extension Up:
Students in the shooting line will back up 3 yards.
Extension down:
Students in the shooting line will go 3 yards closer.



Reference:
http://www2.uwrf.edu/static/portfolio/current_examples/spears/1_2_wp_less.pdf



Trench Ball

4 teams of 5 players. Teams selected based on teachers choice prior to class. Teach
will match players of high skill with lower skill for balenced teams.

Each team will have defensive players and offensive players. The team can chose how
many of each would be best.
4

Needed: Pool (a 25ftx25 foot works best, but use what's available, 4 water polo balls, 20
noodles (in case students have trouble treading water), 40 bowling pins with numbers
one through five on each pin

Focus: Transitioning from defense to attack to score points

Psychomotor: Demonstrate successful transitioning / passing by getting the ball from
the defense to the offense 3 out of 5 times during game play.NASPE # 1 ; MA CF #
2.17

Cognitive: Identify and correctly explain a formation that can be used to successfully
defend AND attack during the closure of the lesson NASPE # 2 ; MA CF # 2.17

Affective: Show good communication by calling a team mates name before passing to
them throughout gameplay.. NASPE # 4 ; MA CF # 7.10

Rules and Regulations:
Each player will be given a pin with a number on it.
Each player on the team will have a different number, and will set their pin on the
outside edge of the pool.
The student will remember which number pin is theirs.
The teams will start on the wall nearest to their pin. The teacher will then throw
the ball into the middle for the game to begin.
The objective of the game is to get the ball and knock over one of your
opponents pins.
If a pin gets knocked over, the player whose pin got knocked over will get out of
the pool and WALK behind the opponents pins.
That player is in jail and can only return to the game if they catch a ball thrown by
their teammate.
If they do catch a ball, they place the ball back inside the pool to the other team,
walk around to the other side of the pool, restack their pin, and enter the pool.
If a ball leaves the water and is stuck on the pool deck, the opposing team (not
the team who it last touched) may get out, get the ball, and start with the ball.
The team that can successfully knock down all five of the opposing teams pins is
the winner!

Safety Tips
The players in jail must have their feet FROZEN! once they find a spot behind
their opponents pins, they can not move their feet if a ball is thrown away from
them.
5
Players entering the pool after being in jail must sit on the pool deck and slowly
glide themselves in. No diving or jumping in.

Extension up:
A second ball will be added to the game
Extension down:
Each student will place two pins of their numbered pins side by side to increase
the size of the target.


Reference:
http://www2.uwrf.edu/static/portfolio/current_examples/spears/1_2_wp_less.pdf









Polo-Ball

There will be 4 teams of 5 players each. Students will pick their own groups of 5with at
least 2 members of each sex per team.

6
In this game, there will be attackers and defenders. There will be no goalie for this
game, and the team can chose how many people they want to use on offense and
defense.

Needed: Pool (a 25ftx25 foot works best, but use what's available, 4 water polo balls, 2
small soccer goals (smaller than actual water polo goal), 20 noodles, 2 floating
basketball hoops

Focus: Passing the ball efficiently to creating scoring chances

Psychomotor: Demonstrate successful passing by completing at least 5 passes by the
end of the game. NASPE # 1 ; MA CF # 2.17

Cognitive: Explain and justify the strategy used by their team to score both 1 point and 3
point goals during the closure of the lesson NASPE # 2 ; MA CF # 2.17

Affective: Show good sportsmanship by giving high fives to everyone on the other team
at the end of the game. NASPE # 4 ; MA CF # 7.10

Rules and Regulations
Each team will start at their wall, ready to go. On the whistle, the teacher will drop
the ball at the side of the pool (not directly in the middle) and students will swim
to get it.
There will be a basketball hoop in the middle of the pool. Teams who score in
that goal get 1 point, and the ball returns to the defense of the other team.
There will also be one small soccer goal at each end of the pool. 3 points are
awarded if a team can successfully get the ball into the other teams soccer goal.
The ball will be turned over to the team who was just scored on.
Turnovers are caused from pass interceptions, missed shots, or goals. Students
can not steal the ball from an opponent, they can only block them.
The game will be played for a certain amount of time (around 5 min), then teams
will rotate to another team they have not played.

Safety Tips:
students who are feeling tired or can not swim/tread water can grab a noodle to
keep them afloat.
If a ball gets stuck outside the pool, one student will get out of the pool and
WALK to the ball. No jogging or running on the pool deck.

Extension Up:
7
Each team must complete 5 passes before scoring (can not pass back to the
person you received the pass from.
Extension down:
1 more basketball hoop will be added in the middle of the pool (instead of one
right in the middle, they will be spread apart in the middle)



References:

http://arc.sdsu.edu/intramurals/rules/5-on-5-Innertube-Water-B-ball.pdf








Double Whammy

Each team will consist of 10 players, some offense players and some defense players
(no goalies). Each team can choose how many offensive and defensive players they
wish to use. Teams will be chosen by the teacher asking each student to find a partner
8
and stand one in front of the other on the pool deck. The teacher will tell students in the
front of the line are one team, the students in the back are another.

Needed: Pool (a 25ftx25 foot works best, but use what's available, 4 small goals, 2
water polo balls, 20 noodles

Focus: Switching the field of play (crossing the ball to the other side)

Psychomotor: Demonstrate successful passing by switching the field of play at least
three times per game. NASPE # 1 ; MA CF # 2.17

Cognitive: Explain why switching the point of attack would be beneficial in a game like
this by answering closure questions during the closure. NASPE # 2 ; MA CF # 2.17

Affective: Show good team work by involving all members of the team into the game by
the end of the lesson. NASPE # 4 ; MA CF # 7.10

Rules and Regulations:
Four goals will be set up, 2 on each side of the pool
Teams can score on either goal
The game will be played with similar rules to an actual water polo match.
The game will start with players on the wall nearest to their goal. The teacher will
throw the ball into the middle to start the game.
There is no contact in PE water polo. Students are not allowed to dunk other
players and can only turn over the ball through a pass interception, a goal or a
missed shot
After a goal is scored, a defender of the team who was scored on will start with
the ball.
A goal is scored by a player throwing the ball into either of the opponents goals.

Safety Tips
Students who feel tired or can not swim for long periods of time can ask for a
noodle to keep them afloat
Students will be reminded to keep an eye out for the walls of the pool. Students
who are close to the wall could swim into the wall or try and jump into it.

Extension up:
A seconds ball will be added to increase the action.
Extension down:
Defending students can not get within 10 feet of the goal when defending.

9


References:
http://vrstc.org/waterpolo/rules.pdf










Water bowling

2 teams of 10 players. Teams selected based on birthdays (January through june, July
through December- the teacher will balance teams)

Each team will have 10 players who are responsible for offense and defense. No player
will have a specific role

10
Needed: Pool (a 25ftx25 foot works best, but use what's available, 2 water polo balls, 20
noodles (in case students have trouble treading water), 40 bowling pins

Focus: Accurate shooting

Psychomotor: Demonstrate successful shooting form by knocking at least one pin over
by the end of each game.NASPE # 1 ; MA CF # 2.17

Cognitive: Identify why it is important to practice accurate shooting by answering closure
questions at the end of the lesson. NASPE # 2 ; MA CF # 2.17

Affective: Show self control by not arguing or complaining about any calls made by the
referee (teacher) during the entire lesson. NASPE # 4 ; MA CF # 7.10

Rules and Regulations:
There will be pins set up around the playing area (the whole pool or one end of
the pool, depending on pool size and playing area needed)
Players will start in the middle of the pool with teams mixed up (not one team on
one side)
The teacher will throw the ball into the pool to start the game.
The team that has the ball needs to complete 4 passes until they can try to score.
Once the team has completed three passes (not to same people back and forth),
they can try to knock over a pin on the pool deck for a point.
Every pin that the team knocks over gets them one point.
Once one team has scored, the ball will start with the team who was just scored
on.
Teams can knock over any pin they see.
The team with more points after a 5 minute game is the winner.

Safety Tips
If the ball leaves the pool and a student gets out to get the ball, students must
WALK to get the ball, regardless of the time situation.
No contact made between players, including trying to knock the ball away,
dunking, or splashing water. Players seen violating the rules will serve a 2 minute
penalty.

Extension up:
A second ball will be added to the game
Extension down:
Each team will only need to complete 2 passes before scoring
11


Reference:
http://www2.uwrf.edu/static/portfolio/current_examples/spears/1_2_wp_less.pdf














Keep Away

4 teams of 5 players. Teams selected based on bathing suit colors (For example, blue
and black on one team, yellow and red on another- the teacher will balance teams as
needed)

Each team will have 5 players who are all on offense at one point of the game and all on
defense at another.

12
Needed: Pool (a 25ftx25 foot works best, but use what's available, 2 water polo balls, 20
noodles (in case students have trouble treading water),

Focus: Passing under pressure

Psychomotor: Demonstrate successful passing by completing 10 passes in a row at
least 2 times by the end of each game. NASPE # 1 ; MA CF # 2.17

Cognitive: Identify why it is important to make quick passes while trying to keep
possession of the ball during closure questions. NASPE # 2 ; MA CF # 2.17

Affective: Show good communication by calling out the name of an open player before
passing to them 100% of the time by the end of the game. NASPE # 4 ; MA CF # 7.10

Rules and Regulations:
The team with the oldest player will start with the ball in the middle of the pool
Once the teacher says go, the team must try to complete 10 passes in a row
without getting the ball intercepted.
Every time a team completes 5 passes, they receive a point, the team does not
need to turn the ball over once they get 5 passes.
Each player has 5 seconds to make a pass or the ball gets turned over to the
other team. The team that has the most points at the end of 5 minutes is the
winner.

Safety Tips
If a player gets tired or can not swim for extended periods of time, that student
should ask for a noodle to help them float.
Aggressive play, splashing or dunking other players will result in a 2 minute
penalty

Extension up:
The team must complete 10 passes in a row.(ieep increasing)
Extension down:
The team must only complete 5 passes in a row.

13


Reference:
http://www.norcalwaterpolo.com/downloads/wpb_401.pdf