Teaching Water Polo with Purpose: The Head, Heart, Hands Way

At Wellington College International School Bangkok, water polo is more than just a game—it’s a purposeful part of our swim curriculum that builds confidence, teamwork, and tactical thinking. Introduced in Year 3 and 4 at the end of the year, and leading off the year in Year 5 and 6, our water polo programme is designed to grow with our learners. For our oldest students, it all culminates in a high-energy interhouse tournament—a celebration of teamwork, character, and progress.

Our teaching is guided by the Head, Heart, Hands model: a framework that ensures every lesson balances thinking, teamwork, and technical development.

🧠 Why Water Polo? Why These Year Groups?

Water polo is introduced progressively across Key Stage 2 to match students’ physical development, swimming ability, and social-emotional readiness.

• Year 3: Water polo is introduced as the final unit of the year through guided play. Lessons focus on simple ball-handling, movement with the ball, and awareness of teammates. Small-group ratios (1:8) allow for high participation and individual support. The emphasis is on exploration and enjoyment in a non-competitive setting.
• Year 4: The final unit of the year continues to build water polo foundations. Students begin to understand simple rules, positional play, and team structure. Lessons introduce attacking and defending principles through small-sided games. Players start recognising roles within a team and are encouraged to make decisions with and without the ball.
• Years 5 & 6: Water polo opens the academic year and sets the tone for teamwork, leadership, and tactical thinking. Students explore space creation, communication, pressing vs. dropping, and movement off the ball. Roles such as defender, playmaker, and goalkeeper become more defined. The unit culminates in an interhouse tournament—giving every student the chance to apply their learning in a spirited, competitive setting that prioritises sportsmanship and collaboration.

💡 Teaching Through Head, Heart, Hands

• Head – Students learn to think tactically: when to pass, shoot, or reposition. They understand not just what to do, but why.
• Heart – We build communication, resilience, and team spirit. Reflection and role rotation help every child feel valued.
• Hands – Core skills like dribbling, passing, and blocking are taught progressively and practised through small-sided games.

🔁 Lessons That Build Up and Out

Each 50-minute lesson follows a rhythm: warm-up, skill focus, game play, and reflection.

We assess progress not just through physical performance but through decision-making, effort, and attitude—ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed, contribute, and grow.

💬 Final Thoughts

Water polo offers far more than physical challenge—it’s a platform for leadership, collaboration, and personal growth. By teaching it with purpose, we ensure students don’t just become better players; they become better teammates, thinkers, and young people ready to thrive in and out of the water.

At Wellington College International School Bangkok, we believe that how we teach matters just as much as what we teach—and water polo is a perfect example of that.