Fastbreak Offense

Guy Baker coaching UCLA Womens Water Polo

  General Concepts

• Fastbreak at every opportunity.
• Move the ball into the strike zone as quick as possible.
• Anticipate what will happen (shot, steal, etc).
• On the fastbreak, watch the ball and communicate.
• Release with total effort. When heavily pressured, penetrate/swim toward the middle of the pool then release. Types of releases:

1. Look swim
2. Roll over onto back
3. 45°
4. 90°

• Always remain an offensive threat (especially after releasing). You may become the free player.
• If you are not open, but there is an open player behind you, move away from the open player with enough effort to occupy your defender. If your defender drops off and jams middle or takes the open player, continue hard downcourt and set-up appropriate fastbreak situation.
• If you are pressed with the ball and there is an open player, there are three options:
  1. Draw defender away from open player by swimming wide with the ball. Try to advance the ball as far into the strike zone as possible.
  2. Pass to open player before being fouled.
  3. Draw foul to stop the clock and gain a free pass. Do not lose possession of the ball while being fouled. If defender drops after fouling, get the ball live and remain an offensive threat.
• Always try to create fastbreak opportunities. Out number and/or maneuver the defense (picks, ball side drives, maintaining eye contact for quick shot, etc).
• All seven players must react quickly to change of possession.
• Keep your head up and look for open player. Read the fastbreak situation.
• If you are open, communicate immediately to your teammates.
• If you are open in a non-congested area and the ball is still with the goalie, either roll over on your back or look swim and receive pass from the goalie (eye contact with the goalie is imperative).
• If you are open and the defensive player is catching you, cut in front of the defender and keep the player behind you. Shutter/conserve water to force defender to pause, then explode away from the defender.
• If you are open with the ball, dribble and/or penetrate the ball aggressively toward the goal. Commit the defender. If the defender comes to you, pass the ball to the open player. If the defender stays, it is your shot.
• As a shot is about to be shot, all players not involved in the fastbreak should be rotating to defense. This is an extremely important team concept.
• If you do not have a lead, move to the right or left for a possible ball side drive.
• Look to create offensive mismatches on the fastbreak, drivers guarded by two-meter players, and two-meter players defended by drivers. Also, if an oppenent is in foul trouble, force the player to play defense beginning on the fastbreak and continuing into the half court offense.
• Backcourt players always go as hard as you can. This will keep pressure on the opponent.
• Backcourt players, if the free player is ahead of you, swim to mid-court. Be ready to go to the defense.
• If you do not have a good shot, do not shoot the ball. Be patient. Fastbreak under control. Use the shot clock for advantage.

Fastbreak Offense

• The most important component of an effective fastbreak is an effective half-court defense.
• Move the ball into the strike zone 12m - goal line as quick as possible.

Fastbreak Accomplishments

• An effective fastbreak will accomplish one or more of the following:
  1. Score!
  2. Create a solid goal attempt.
  3. Moves players quickly into the half-court offense allowing more time for the half-court offense.
  4. Fatigues the opponent.
  5. Swings the momentum of the game.
  6. Fastbreaking every opportunity will keep our opponent hesitatnt in their half-court offense.

Fastbreak Opportunities

• The best fastbreak opportunities are:
  1. Offensive fouls.
  2. Bad angle shots.
  3. Outside shots.
  4. Laning / the weakside.
  5. Steals (bad passes).
  6. Any shooter and/or shot.
  7. The two-meter player.

Keys to the Fastbreak

• The keys to utilizing the fastbreak offense are the following:
  1. Conditioning
  2. Anticipation
  3. Communication
  4. Releases
  5. Passing
  6. Shooting
  7. Controlled Intensity
  8. Patience and Unselfishness
  9. Ability to quickly read defense