CMU Women's Water Polo

Some slides from Coach Mark, Mark@Rauterkus.com For a mid-season “chalk talk” on Sunday, March 1, 2015

Radical Changes

● Team's first lessons to me:– Pitt play (4 person drive)

● Done well at UVA Tournament by DC Masters

– Tut play (3 person drive)

● Teams in the league do lots of driving.– UPenn had this play all the time

– CMU crushed their offensive plan

Driving for CMU is a liability.

● Sending Offensive player to goal from outside means other team has easy counter-attack.

● CMU's counter attack defense was weak.● Easiest way to win a game is to counter-attack for 4 or

more easy goals. ● Tip: Play Defense First

– Do NOT drive from #3.– Insure that people are back on defense.

– Radical new habit #1 for CMU this season.

Team Goal: No Opponent Counter-Attacks

Never!● CMU won't give up a single counter-attack goal

in any game in the future.● Meanwhile, CMU will score one-third of its

goals with the counter-attack. – Five goals per game on counter attack is realistic.

CMU's Weakness

● No CMU players are HOLE SET super-stars.– Traditional water polo tactics are built around HOLE SET!

– No dominating center for a basketball team.

– No quarterback for a football team.

● Bucknell Univ is text book, old-school, big-time HOLE SET Domination.

● Quckness● Size● Wrestling strength● Go-to terminator

CMU's Talents = individual strengths

● Teamwork is good and can become great.● Swim speed is okay and can to improve. For now,

our team defense and prevention of counter-attacks can cover their threats.

● CMU can beat Pitt and Penn State in the same weekend and earn a trip to the National Collegiate Club Championships, Middlebury, Vermont, May 1, 2 and 3, 2015.

● Individual and team decisions.

Maximize our Potential

● Play smart● CMU's crafty, winning plan / formula.

– Go out of the box.

– Peak at the right time.

– Surprise them, not ourselves.

● Inventory?● Decide?● Communicate decisions.

Priorities

● Need a suit of skills and a system to prevail given what we have and who we will face.

● Defense● Offense● Transitions● Wildcard Teamwork

DefenseHelp the goalie!

● Coaching communications– 85% of my voice strain is repeating, “Get BACK!”

● I'll be at peace on the bench when we all get back all the time.

– Other 15% coaching game-time messages● Tips to goalie on who is open.

– Right, left, center, player's name, send it!● Time outs.

Defensive Systems

● Pressing Defense● Sagging, sloughing defense

– Often like a zone

– Did well to deny UPenn's offense

– To do: Communicate and aware of “panthers”

● RHS Defense– Right Hand Steal

– New. Not yet perfected.

Defense 2:

● Getting back:– Give me a head start and I'll win the race.

– Slow speed is okay– Late start is bad

– Offense over-playing is very bad

– Offense turn-overs are the worse● Passing back to top● Expending all efforts to turn, shoot, support or rebound and then going soft

● Defense begins by protecting the ball. – Okay to use the bulk of the shot clock

● Cherry picking– If they counter, we go back and help our goalie.

● Mid pool defense on transition isn't where wins occur– Get back and let them be early in shot clock if threats are by our goalie.

– Later in possession, pressing is great.

Defense 3:

● Body position– Inside water

– Feet to goal– Hips high

– HAND and ARM high● Too often we grapple but don't block shots with a hand in the air.

● Finish the play● Don't get soft at end.● Take 2 more strokes and great things will happen.● All the way back, not only beside, but in position too.● Send the “BALL UNDER!”

– One hand with other up and look to referee.

Defense 4:

● Foul and Drop– Aid our hole Defenders

– Aid & buck up with those covering the “Panthers”

● RHS = Right Hand Steal– Team defense

– Sandwich the ball

– Trust your mates

Offense

● Turning● Counter Attacks● Back picks● Drawing fouls● Quick strike on man-up● Man up plays● Getting favorable match-ups

Inside Game

● Flopping– Drama

– Overt energy

● Draw Foul– CAR play

● Hands up, can't foul.● Back on if behind.

To do:

● Do 15+ Offense turns every practice– Five minutes

● Play harder on defense with each other– Other sides are clutching

– Be prepared with system defense plans that can change in each quarter

● Master the back pick on offense– Variations

● To a dry pass and shot● Cause an ejection

● Communicate for match-ups– Limit the panther players engagement

– Plan to isolate for advantages on offense

● Score on every man-up opportunity– Quick strikes– Stable of plays

Long Term

● Booster BoardBooster Board● Masters program: Pittsburgh PipersMasters program: Pittsburgh Pipers● Community effortsCommunity efforts● Going down the river this fallGoing down the river this fall