Comments on: How to Guard the Hole Position in Water Polo

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.

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.

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.

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.