How to Guard the Hole Position in Water Polo

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Stay in front of the hole player to prevent him or her from getting the ball, or guard the hole player from behind to prevent him or her from getting a shot off.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Water Polo Balls
Water polo goal cage

Fronting the Hole Position

Step1

Position yourself in front of the hole set, so that he or she is between you and the goalie.

Step2

Stay a meter or so away from the hole set, so that he or she can't reach you to turn you. Keep the hole set's hands off you, and don't let him or her grab you.

Step3

Keep your hands where the referee can see them.

Step4

Be aware of the location of the ball at all times. Stay between the ball and the hole set, so that the perimeter cannot feed him or her the ball.

Regular Hole Defense

Step1

Position yourself between the hole set and the goalie.

Step2

Place your chest against the back shoulder of the hole set, with your head staggered to the side so you can watch the ball. Your head should be on the ball side of his or her shoulders.

Step3

Keep your hips up behind you to push against the hole set and to prevent him or her from grabbing your suit.

Step4

Keep your hands in the air for the referee to see at all times.

Step5

Reach out to knock the ball away as it is thrown into the hole. Be careful not to climb over the hole set.

Step6

Try to get the ball only when the hole set is holding onto it. While he or she is holding the ball, you can do whatever is necessary to get the ball, as long as you are going after the ball and not the player.

Step7

Relax your defense when a foul is called. After the hole set passes the ball, begin defending him or her immediately.

Tips & Warnings

Be careful of the wing men at the two meter line. If they feed the ball to the hole inside of you, you cannot touch him or her without drawing a major foul.
If the hole set is good at the position, you want to foul the hole set right away to negate his or her shooting ability.
If the hole set is a poor player, try not to foul him or her too soon.
Be aggressive, but don't appear aggressive.
If you have any condition that would impair or limit your ability to engage in physical activity, please consult a physician before attempting this activity. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 9/23/2006 Actually, it all depends on the referee and what league you play in (JV vs Varsity etc.) I've had refs tell me that I'm not allowed to touch the hole set's chest in hole d, and some refs who allow pretty much anything. It also depends how far up you are. For example if you are winning 15-4 then you shouldn't be playing vicious hole defense.

Anonymous said

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on 7/14/2006 You can use your chin to push his weak shoulder down too, keep your hip up and away from his reach.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 most refs won't call fouls in the hole unless you completely kill the other man. if you do it underwater you're almost 100% guarenteed no foul.

the best way to hold them is from their weak side, reach around as if they were your girlfriend, and grab their strong hand. then pull them close to your body and squeeze their weak hand between your body and their body. this leaves your other hand to grab the pass and swim it out or give it to your goalie.

if they manage to break free then either grab them again, hold both of their hands behind their back, or grab their strong hand by the wrist or higher and hold yourself up.

make sure that you are between them and the ball if they are close to the goal. if they are far from the goal make sure that you are to their side, preferably on the side of the ball. this prevents them from getting a pass between them and the goal and wet shotting it in.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Keep some distance between yourself and the holeset, so they cannot grab on to you or turn you. Keep a hand on their back. If they throw elbows to maintain position, grab their elbows and hold them to their sides.

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