Test. Assess. Repeat.
The 6-8 Challenge comprises six water polo-specific drills designed to properly teach, evaluate, and improve the most crucial fundamentals of the sport.
Whether you’re a field player or a goalie, the Challenge provides an objective measurement of your abilities across the skills that matter most — giving athletes and coaches actionable insights for targeted improvement.
The 6-8 Challenge provides athletes with the first standardized skill testing in water polo – benchmarking performance nationally and globally.
Getting Started
How It Works
Four simple steps from your first Challenge to measurable improvement.
Take the Challenge
Participate in the 6-8 Challenge with your team or at one of our clinics, camps, or Academy sessions.
View Your Results
Access your results and see how you rank against athletes regionally and globally on the 6-8 Sports mobile app.
Train to Improve
Follow our 3-level video training program designed to improve each specific skill tested in the Challenge.
Track Progress
Retake the Challenge over time and track your improvement with detailed progress data and comparisons.
The Assessment
The 6-8 Challenge Drills
Standardized drills testing the most critical fundamentals for both field players and goalies.
Field Player Drills
DRILL 01
12.5 Meter Sprint
Assesses quickness and hip movement in the water — a key indicator of an athlete’s swimming speed and agility.
DRILL 02
Medicine Ball Hold
Tests leg strength and treading power by measuring how long an athlete can hold a medicine ball above the water.
DRILL 03
Vertical Jump
Measures explosive power out of the water — critical for shooting, blocking, and defensive positioning.
DRILL 04
Obstacle Course
Evaluates comfort with hip movement and ball handling through a series of in-water obstacles and transitions.
DRILL 05
Radar Gun
Measures shot speed using a radar gun, providing an objective metric for shooting power and technique.
DRILL 06
Two Buoy
Tests horizontal movement without taking strokes — assessing an athlete’s core strength and lateral mobility.
Goalie Drills
DRILL 01
12.5 Meter Sprint
Assesses quickness and hip movement in the water, a key indicator of an athlete’s swimming speed and agility.
DRILL 02
Medicine Ball Hold
Tests leg strength and treading power by measuring how long an athlete can hold a medicine ball above the water.
DRILL 03
Vertical Jump
Measures explosive power out of the water, critical for shooting, blocking, and defensive positioning.
DRILL 04
25 Meter Breast Sprint
Evaluates breaststroke skill and endurance, the foundational swimming technique for goalkeepers.
DRILL 05
Four Corners
Assesses full range of motion by requiring goalies to reach all four corners of the goal rapidly and accurately.
DRILL 06
Eight Touch
Measures lateral movement speed, testing a goalie’s ability to transition quickly across the goal.
Results & Rankings
Every Challenge result is recorded and accessible through the 6-8 Sports mobile app, giving athletes a comprehensive view of their performance and growth.
- View individual results for each drill after every Challenge
- Compare your scores against regional and global benchmarks by age group
- Track improvement over time with detailed progress charts
- Access a global athlete results database with rankings
- Share results with coaches and college recruiters
For Coaches & Teams
Run the Challenge
Everything you need to set up and execute the 6-8 Challenge with your team.
Video Training Series
The 6-8 Challenge: Videos
12.5 Meter Sprint
Shows how quickly an athlete can move over their hips and sprint.
Medicine Ball Hold
Tests an athlete’s pure leg strength.
Radar Gun
Shows the speed of an athlete’s shot.
Two Buoy
Shows how quickly an athlete can move over the hips and cover ground effectively without taking a stroke.
Vertical Jump
Shows how high an athlete can explode out of the water.
Obstacle Course
Shows an athlete’s comfort level going over the hips and zig zagging with the ball.
25 Meter Breast Sprint
Shows a goalie’s skill in breaststroke and the breaststroke kick.
Four Corners
Evaluates the goalie’s full range of motion.
Eight Tough
Evaluates how quickly a goalie can continuously move laterally.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 6-8 Challenge is run by certified coaches at the 6-8 Academy, College Series events, and other 6-8 camps and clinics globally. You can also have your team’s coach run the Challenge using our Setup & Execution Guide and Challenge Kit. Email sara@6-8sa.co.za for options.
The 6-8 Challenge is open to water polo athletes of all ages and skill levels. There are separate drill sets for field players and goalies, and results are benchmarked by age group for fair comparison.
All Challenge results are available through the 6-8 Sports mobile app. After completing the Challenge, your results are uploaded and you can view your scores, rankings, and track your progress over time.
Yes. Coaches can purchase the Challenge Kit and follow the Setup & Execution Guide to run the full Challenge with their team. Results can be submitted through the 6-8 platform for benchmarking against the global database. Email sara@6-8sa.co.za to explore options.
We recommend taking the Challenge at regular intervals — such as at the beginning and end of a season — to track improvement. Following our 3-level video training program between Challenges will help you improve your results.
The Challenge Kit includes all the specialized equipment needed. You’ll also need access to a pool and standard water polo equipment. The Setup & Execution Guide provides a complete list of everything required. Email sara@6-8sa.co.za to learn more about how to get the right equipment.