How to Defend a 4-Meter Shot in Goal in Water Polo

Choose a strategy and commit to it when defending a 4-meter shot from the goal.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water Polo Balls
• Water polo balls
• Water polo goal cage

1. Decide how you are going to defend this shot. You have three basic options. Go straight out at the shooter. Go left. Go right. Unless you are very experienced and don't need these instructions, your best bet for a block is to choose beforehand and stick to it.

2. Set your hips on the goal line. The referee won't let the shooter proceed until you are set.

3. Wait for the whistle. The shooter must shoot at the whistle. He may not fake. So you know when the shot is coming.

4. Commit to your block by leaping in the direction you chose. If you go forward, come up and out of the water at the shooter. Get as high up as you can and spread your arms as wide as they will go. Watch the shooter's arm. If you chose a side, dive to that side with both arms up above your head, one high and one low.

5. Block the ball and try to bring it down into the water in your control.

6. Swim the ball to the side of the cage.

Tips & Warnings

• The shooter has a definite advantage on the 4-meter shot. In fact, he is expected to make it. By choosing a side, you are playing a 50-50 game of chance. Don't let it get you down if you choose wrong. The next time, you'll be right.
• 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 to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[Sanjaya]

on 4/22/2007 Through experience or commonsense a goal-keeper will know that; Right hand shooters will tend to shoot towards the right side of the cage (Goal-keepers' right side)almost 65% of the time. This is merely due the fact that; a shooter generelly allows his arm flow with the shot, rather than targeting the wrong end. Hence while agreeing with Dougin, I feel that; this weakness of shooters can be used to effect with regard to a 5-meter penelty shot.I.e. the goal-keeper should lay the bait and line up off-center towards the right side of the cage for a right hander (Goal-keepers' right), where by; forcing the shooter to go at the 35%, which presents a weaker shot and a higher probability for the goal-keeper in stoping the shot.

[Dougin]

on 2/14/2007 on a different eHow someone suggested smiling at the shooter to psych him/her out and put their focus on you. You can also remind him/her how embarassing it is to miss a 4 (now 5-meter) shot, as they are gimmies.

You can also bait the shooter into shooting to the side of your choosing. Line up off-center (e.g. to the right side) of the goal. The shooter is likely to shoot to your left because there is more open goal. Being off-center may mean that you do not have the range to block the shot even if you know which side it is coming to. But it sometimes lures the shooter into a false sense of security and they may not shoot as close to the post as they otherwise would.

on 12/20/2005 You can stop a 4-meter you've just got to believe you can! I was able to stop 3 out of 4 4-meters thrown at me! I've seen people miss the cage by hitting the sidebars!