# Using 6-8 stats to measure performance

**URL:** <https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [January 15, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102 "2026-01-15T18:06:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 6

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sacareawaterpolofan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@sacareawaterpolofan](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/sacareawaterpolofan)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102/102 "2026-02-24T18:43:21Z")

</div>

@cmbreeze one way to solve is if “water polo statistician” is a trained/paid position like water polo officials/referees. and have 2 per game just like officials/referees. (one can dream right?). re: the +/- 6-8 formula… agree that needs to be revisited with examples you made.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gibson](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/waterpoloexchange.com/gibson/32/316_2.png) [@Gibson](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Gibson)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102/103 "2026-02-24T18:45:12Z")

</div>

I saw someone who was like 10 for 40 on shooting with almost no assists and still has a very high +/-. That’s insane. I bet his teammates don’t feel like he is a massive net positive contributor when they are sprinting back to cover all the counter attacks his bad shots lead to.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wp2024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@wp2024](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/wp2024)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102/104 "2026-02-24T19:51:11Z")

</div>

I watched @cmbreeze taking stats for his son’s team on a sheet of paper. He was recording data at twice the granularity of the 6-8 system, noting whether goals occurred at 6-on-6, 6-on-5, or via penalty, albeit only for one team. He shared an Excel template with me that aggregates this team and individual data over several seasons. Interestingly, they use a +/- scoring metric that is far more intuitive than the 6-8 methodology.

The primary issue isn’t just the 6-8 definitions, though I find their +/- system to be rudimentary, but rather the inconsistent data entry from untrained individuals. Better alternatives might include a ‘paper and pen’ approach (using screenshots or AI to digitize notes into Excel or 6-8) or, as I’ve suggested previously, a voice-based AI system for real-time input.

Furthermore, leveraging crowdsourced data from dedicated individuals like @cmbreeze, combined with the ability for ‘approved users’ to edit data post-game, would be a significant improvement. In practice, teams could hold admin accounts allowing them to manage their own data within the system.

The continuous adoption of the 6-8 system by major associations (USA Water Polo, MPSF, ACWPC, etc.) without rigorous quality assurance, followed by the promotion of that flawed data on social media, is a poor reflection on the sport.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Polames](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Polames](https://waterpoloexchange.com/u/Polames)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102/105 "2026-02-24T20:26:46Z")

</div>

great feedback and analysis @cmbreeze! Seems like a voice-based AI system for real-time input would not be too difficult to develop. I also see assistant coaches keeping stats - what if the home team had to input their stats at end of game?

[Previous page](https://waterpoloexchange.com/t/using-6-8-stats-to-measure-performance/2102.md?page=5)