Becej Training Camp

1
Man Up and Man Down
Acknowledgement Slides 2 and 14 onwards were
written during the England Senior Water
Polo teams Training Camps in Becej
(Yugoslavia)during June and October 2001. These
were produced by Paul Annegarn and I would like
to thank Paul for his permission in reproducing
them.
Michael Yates
Coach GB Junior Team
2
Position Numbering - Man Up/Down
2 m
1
4
3
2
4 m
5
6
Attack Numbering
4 m
2 m
3
Man-up 1 The first few seconds are vital
Scoring a high percentage of your man-ups will
probably lead to you winning a close game.
Somebody in your team (at senior level usually
the centre forward) has worked very hard to win
the man-up its essential that everybody else
now raises their game in order to capitalise on
this advantage to score a goal (you then enjoy a
brief rest rather than sprinting back 30 metres
to defend - followed by another 30 metres before
getting the opportunity to attack again).
When a defender has been excluded the first few
seconds are very important.
For example, if the pit defender is sent out then
the centre forward is unmarked only 2 metres away
from the opponents goal. If the ball can be
passed to him/her either by a pass from the arc
or a quick one-two with an arc players this leads
to a clear 1 vs. 0. These odds are better than a
6 vs. 5. It is vital that the passer uses good
technique to deliver a good pass to hand. As
such all the arc players need to be alert to the
exclusion (s)he may need to move (usually
sideways) to create a new passing lane to enable
a one-two pass to be made (moving sideways rather
than swimming keeps an attacker vertical and in a
better position to receive the ball and then
accurately deliver a pass of shoot).
Practice During training games when a man-up is
awarded a shot must be made within 5 seconds
this gets players thinking and forces the ball to
do the work. Whatever the outcome, a 6 vs. 5 is
then played and if a goal is scored, play a
corner and allow the team to keep attacking 6 vs.
5 provided they keep scoring.
4
Man-up 2 The value of a left hander
When a defender has been excluded the first few
seconds are very important. If the Man-up
advantage is not taken quickly then a 6 vs. 5 (or
5/4, 4/3, etc.) needs to be set-up (see diagram
on page 2 for numbering system).
The value of a left hander
The most important position in my view is ? -
this position needs to be adopted by the teams
play maker. If this happens to be a left
hander then you have a winning combination. A
left hander offers a more attacking option since
he can receive and distribute the ball quicker
(either as a pass or shot) because of his natural
body position he has five fellow attackers, who
are usually right handed ready to receive the
ball.
Lets consider the options available to ? in
possession of the ball
Shoot need to beat defender ?s block - this
can usually be accomplished with a (dynamic)
movement and shot.
5
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
Lets consider the options available to ? in
possession of the ball
Shoot need to beat defender ?s block - this
can usually be accomplished with a (dynamic)
movement and shot.
4 m
2 m
1
2
6
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
Lets consider the options available to ? in
possession of the ball
Near-post pass to ? - he needs to move 1-2 metres
away from goal at a 45? angle this avoids being
dispossessed by defender ? dropping from 4 metres
(diagram from Right Wing Move).
move starts here
6
6
4 m
2
Attacker 2 completes the move
2 m
1
2
7
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
Lets consider the options available to ? in
possession of the ball
? moves into the 2-metre zone with the ball.
Such a movement needs to be dynamic and really
splits the defence. Look for near-post pass to ?
(as above) or a pass over the goalkeeper to ? -
the ball needs to be slightly ahead of ?, who
needs to follow ? into the 2-metre zone but stay
behind!!! (diagram from Left Post Attack Move).
4 m
2
2 m
3
1
8
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
Lets consider the options available to ? in
possession of the ball
Pass to ? - this can lead to the team attacking
from the left wing through positions ?, ? or ?.
This is often more effective if ? moves into the
2 metre zone before releasing the pass to ? if
this is done well the defence can be left in
disarray and can lead to attacking players with a
lot of space on the left wing.
6
6
4 m
2
2 m
1
1
9
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
5
5
6
4 m
2
2 m
1
1
10
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
5
6
4 m
3 or4
2
2 m
4
3
1
11
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
If ? moves
Shoot or ?! Pass to ?
5
6
4 m
4
2
2 m
4
3
1
12
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
If ? moves
Shoot or Pass to ? - Options ??
5
6
4 m
3
2
2 m
4
3
1
13
Man-up 2 contd The value of a left hander
If a shooting opportunity has not been created
encourage the players in positions ?, ? or ? to
get the ball back to ? as quickly as possible,
with a direct pass if necessary. Remember he is
the play maker. If ? has the ball, then a left
hander at ? is the only player who can catch the
ball without having to take it across the
body. How many times does a pass from ? to ?
result in a spilt pass and loss of possession
get the ball to ? and let the threat of attack
commence again.
N.B. In all of the above players must never be
stationary. A stationary attacker is easier to
defend against. Man-up is not a rest all
attacking players need to work to create a goal.
Passing drills involve moving with and without
the ball are extremely important and their part
in Man-up needs to be emphasised. A rest is the
reward when a goal is scored.
Practice Passing and moving with and without the
ball. Passing in triangles as if they are in
positions ? , ? and ? or ?, ? and ? (two groups
can use one goal). Play 6 vs. 5 every time a
shot is made feed ? with a fresh ball. Count
goals scored in ten attacks. One player is always
an attacker. If a 6 vs. 5 breaks down then a
counter attack commences to the other end. If a
goal is scored a corner is awarded (this reminds
players of the importance of scoring)!
14
Man Up Right Wing Move

• Attacker 6 moves 45 across goal, if defender 2
  does not follow him he should take on the shot
• Attacker 2 moves out at 45 simultaneously and
  parallel to attacker 6
• Ball is passed from attacker 6 to attacker 1 who
  then makes a rapid pass to attacker 2 who takes
  an immediate shot
• If defender 1 follows attacker 2 then attacker 1
  should walk in and beat the keeper one on nothing
• If defender 4 plays low on attacker 3 then
  attacker 4 can move across at 45 to take pass
  and immediate shot

7 m
move starts here
6
5
6
4 m
2
Attacker 2 completes the move
2 m
1
4
3
2
15
Man Up Left post attack Move

• Attacker 6 dummies and passes to attacker 5
• Attacker 5 dummies and passes to attacker 4
• Attacker 4 dummies, drawing the defence to his
  side and then passes to attacker 1
• Attacker 1 makes an immediate pass to attacker 3,
  the ball being passed high above the heads of
  defender 1 and 2 so attacker 3 has to jump
  forward and up to take the pass and shoot.

7 m
Move starts here
6
5
4 m
Attacker 3 completes the move
2
2 m
4
3
1
16
Man Up Straight Line Post Attack

• This move is designed when the defence plays high
  and defenders 2 and 4 have been drawn out.
• Attacker 5 dummies and draws out defender 4 out
  further
• Attacker 3 makes a sudden movement away from goal
• Attacker 5 passes a high ball to attacker 3 who
  then twists and shoots.

7 m
6
5
4 m
2
2 m
4
3
1
17
Man Down - Static Defence (1)

• With the ball on the defenders left post (with
  Attacker 1) defender 1 must first make sure his
  post is covered
• Defender 1 now moves towards attacker 1 to close
  him down
• Defender 1 must focus on not letting the attacker
  score on his near post
• Defenders 2 and 3 will play towards attackers 2
  and 3 to prevent ball being thrown to them
• Defenders 2 and 3 should try and block the far
  post shot as well
• Goal keeper will stay on his line and one third
  away from left post. He must cover middle and
  far side of goal
• Defenders 4 and 5 will stay within jumping
  distance of post attackers, but ready to go into
  immediate blocks on attackers 5 and 6
  respectively
• Defenders 4 and 5 may play higher (further out)
  if the attackers are very good shooters
• The same principles apply if the ball is on the
  other wing

5
6
4 m
2 m
1
4
3
2
GK
18
Man Down - Static Defence (2)

• When the ball is passed to Attacker 6 defender 5
  should immediately block and advance part way
  towards Attacker 6 to close the angle and cover
  the left side of the goal
• Defenders 1 and 3 drop onto the post attackers
  and lean on their shoulders as they block with
  their respective posts with the other hand
• Defender 2 now moves rapidly to Attacker 3,
  placing his right hand on Attacker 3s shoulder
  and blocking the right side of the goal with his
  left hand
• Defender 4 must prevent the ball being played to
  Attacker 3, and may try to intercept any pass
  thrown from Attacker 6 to Attacker 4.
• If the ball is passed to Attacker 5 the same
  principles apply in mirror image e.g. Defender 2
  goes to Attacker 2 and covers the left side of
  the goal

5
6
4 m
2 m
1
4
3
2
GK
19
Man Down - Active Defence

• Defence starts by playing the same as the static
  man down defence (see previous two slides)
• At some stage, as the ball is played to Attacker
  1, a press will be called. Defender 1 charges
  out to Attacker 1 to prevent him taking a clean
  pass. He then presses but tries not to concede a
  foul
• Defender 2 presses Attacker 2. Defender 3
  presses Attacker 3
• Defender 5 presses Attacker 6. Defender 4
  presses Attacker 5
• The pressing defenders should attempt to run down
  the clock as the wait for the excluded player to
  return to the water

5
6
Press is called as this pass is made
4 m
1
2 m
4
3
2
GK