Mastering Canoe Polo Shot/Throw: A Comprehensive Tutorial
Introduction:
Welcome to a tutorial on mastering the Canoe Polo throw. We'll explore the key elements essential for a successful throw, catering to both beginner and intermediate players.
Understanding the Basics:
A shot can be explained from two different perspectives right arm player and a left-arm player. It is very complex to define a perfect shot as each player has their own variation or personal shot that may be successful.
However technique may vary and change dynamically during a players development, and this will lead to overall performance increase as you will unlock new skills and implement them in passing, and game scenarios.
Elements of a Good Shot:
Elements of a good shot include choosing a target player speed shot power shot accuracy and the reproducibility of a good shot also called precision. A good shot may not always have all of these aspects but mostly at least two.
Training to gain all of these aspects may prove beneficial in improving the arsenal of a player.
Breakdown of the Throw:
The throw can be defined as receive, visualise and execute. Receive the ball, visualise the shot and execute the shot. This will be demonstrated with a player about 6m away from the goal. Stationary with no goalie and no defenders. and the phases of the throw will be explained.
Phases of a Throw:
* Setup, face the goal and be in a good position to receive the ball. Visualise a target by segmenting the goal in 6 squares, pick a point.
* Loading, get the ball in your throwing hand and rotate the torso in the direction of the throwing hand, this is often accompanied by boat rotation around the central axis to generate more power. Maintain a 90 degree angle between your torso and the elbow.
* Unloading, reverse the direction of rotation, allowing the body to move rapidly back to a forward facing position, torso first then, bring the arm around in a loaded state (you will feel the lag of the arm compared to the body movement). lead with the elbow then accelerate the hand past the elbow when the torso rotation is nearing completion.
* Release the ball with a forward flick of the wrist at the very end of the arm extension.
In practice, these are the things you are feeling, not necessarily what you are doing, but it works as a framework. You will have to work on your own rhythm of the moving components.
Technique Insights and refinement:
Choosing a target is a good way to measure if you can be accurate, hitting your target more than once is training precision.
Utilise the large muscle groups like your abdomen and your legs, and rely on the smaller muscle groups for speed. This will give a balance of speed and power.
Overall flexibility is a good thing to train, this will allow you to increase the rapid movements required for a good shot.
Utilise the paddle for rotation and stabilisation, it is also good practice to never let go, but might be beneficial to get both hands free by putting it on your spray deck.
Try variations, concealing the ball behind your head, or by trying different take away positions and heights, this will improve your dynamics.
Accuracy Precision and Power:
Signs of a throw that can be improved is torso rotation, arm extension, wrist mobilisation, and accuracy and precision.
Theory will only get you that far, but practice will give you the ability to develop different throws for different scenarios, all based on the fundamental throw concept. Practice, develop and hone the skill, learn to listen to your body and to develop a keen sense of muscle memory and your game will drastically improve.
Conclusion:
* Training and repetition is very important in developing a well-rounded, powerful, and accurate throw, essential for successful gameplay.