Shooting Technique Being Revised?

Is there a Canadian standard for water polo shooting technique? No, nothing close to resembling that. Should there be? Well, if national coaches are concerned that the majority of club players are not coming into the national team system with correct shooting technique then there must be a standard set for all to follow. I am discussing this now because the MWPA just had a weekend shooting clinic with the former Men's national team captain, Noah Miller, and the current women's national team captain, Krystina Alogbo. We chose those clinicians to bring us the perspective of the current national coaches on domestic athlete shooting technique.

Of course, with a standard shooting technique would come a standard skill set to support that shot. There would be specific passing technique to set up that shooting skill, specific catching to prepare for the pass and shot. These would be supported by specific strength and flexibility of the upper body and torso. Also needed would be exact legwork needed for support, lunge and recovery. All of that wouldn't take more than a 1 or 2 hour workshop lead by national coaches to create such a family of "basic shooting skills". Delivery of that information would be so simple at a national coaches symposium I won't even bother to discuss it.

So, why isn't this sort of national shooting skill being taught across the country? A skeptic would say that the fewer clubs there are teaching standard technique the fewer athletes (ie clubs) would be involved in the national team system. That idea can not be taken seriously since EVERY national coach must want competition for spaces and want as many great athletes as possible to fight for team spots. No, the reason most likely for this lack of a national system is related to security for those that create it. National coaches believe they have too many things they are responsible for to create this program and oversee it. If they don't oversee it then they don't want it brought forward. More to the point, if a national skill set is created there will never again be a possibility for national coaches to use lack of skills coming into a program to be the reason for lack of program success.

Maybe there is an "it's coming, don't worry" idea out there in Water Polo Canada that this is part of the current LTAD project. If so, it puts too much faith in that program as delivery will still be the obstacle that it is today. LTAD will deal with this sort of hierarchical structure of learning and skill development but what the skills are and how they are delivered are a generation away. Why wait that long?

The basic difference in the way Canadians shoot the ball now and the way Dragan is pushing us, toward a Serbian model, is found in a more vertical torso. There is more forward hip pivot and less torque from a torso twist. I will talk about that in more detail once I have reviewed the Dartfish video that Sports Biomechanist Carolyn Taylor, who has worked with our athletes twice this winter, has provided. Today I post a quick, low quality image of Breda showing her evolution from "old skool" shooting to Serbian influenced method. I am going to get some specific feedback from Darko on her shot in Calgary next week, then will make up my mind on the transition in our club for the balance of the season.

Breda Modifying her Shot

If you are interested in coaching science, or education theory, I will touch on supplantive learning when I talk about the alteration of shooting technique in established players. Right now I am allowing this modified shot to be experimented on by just the players who have given up trying to improve their shot through all other methods. Otherwise it is just being experimented with mid-season in some passing drills.

Final thought, I know the video quality is crap but that brand new AGON suit that Breda is wearing is pretty slick and "super heroish". Girls were crazy excited to see those custom made and delivered in 7 days from Spain!