Teaching and Executing Offensive Picks

Picks and screens are a great way to create movement on offense and free up players for high percentage goal scoring opportunities. Coach James Graham shows how to implement these picks correctly and in a variety of ways for any game situation.

From rule interpretations to drills and plays, Coach Graham gives you everything you need to create quick and easy scoring opportunities in the front court.

Pick Rules
Many rules in water polo are up for interpretation by the officiating crew, and picks are no exception. With four key guidelines, Coach Graham teaches you how you can use picks legally in during a game.

Pick Drills
Discover a series of drills that will teach you how and when to use vertical picks and horizontal picks to free up players on offense. You'll also learn how to run a pick and roll, which involves setting a screen on the defender guarding the ball. Also included is Coach Graham's philosophy on running picks while the defense is dropped off in a zone. You'll see how to set up the defense by driving and picking off an opponent with either a 32 or 23 pick. These drills are designed to help your players learn the best cuts and pick angles during practice so they can execute them correctly in games.

Types of Picks
A great way to get a player open is by creating opportunities in transition with the counter pick. By learning to use a screen on the counter attack, you will be able to free up players even when switching from a dropped, zone defense.

Another effective move shown is the cross screen, which uses a teammate to create an opening by crossing two drivers. Cross screens are great for creating movement and keeping your offense from becoming stagnant.

Coach Graham also takes you through two differing drives to show how to set screens using the center or post position. With a wrap drive or reverse, your offense will get an opportunity to score or an easy pass inside to the center.

You'll find many ways to use the picks and screens presented in this video to better your team's offense. If executed correctly, the techniques presented by Coach Graham can be used at all levels to enhance the play of any team seeking a championship.

63 minutes. 2015.