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Rugby passing basics

To play good rugby you are good at dealing with the ball in a multitude of situations. Rugby passing basics are the things common to all good rugby passes.

Good handling skills lead to good passing

You do well in a rugby game...
...when you control the ball.

Set yourself up...
...to make good passes...
...by making the best start with skills...
...you learn at rugby handling skills

How do you pass a rugby ball well

You will have great ability to pass a rugby ball...
...when you concentrate on just a few rugby passing basics...

aim to pass to a player behind you
know your target
keep your eyes and mind on the target
develop good body/eye co-ordination
put yourself in the right place
put yourself in the right place at the right time
choose the right pass for the situation

You aim to pass to a player behind you

Rugby rules stipulate that the ball...
...must not be passed or thrown forwards.
Forwards meaning towards the opposition dead-ball line.

For the sake of simplicity and rugby passing basics...
...if you always aim to pass to a player...
...who is behind you, you will rarely throw forward.

They may be 5 metres away to your right...
...and 1 centimetre behind you, say.
If you pass straight to their body...
...it would not be a forward pass...
...but you would be cutting it fine...
...and it may even be ruled a forward pass!

Although the ball may not be thrown forward...
...the ball may sometimes travel forward...
...and it can be ok.
Visit YouTube...
...for an excellent explanation of the forward pass

You correctly identify the target

One of the rugby passing basics...
...is to correctly identify the target of the pass.

If the player to receive the ball...
...is stationary and likely to remain there...
...then you pass within arms length of the player.

If the player is moving...
...the ball must be put out in front of them...
so as to allow the player to reach out for the ball...
...as they run towards itl.
The ball is best put between waist and chest height...
...of the receiver...
...being a little too high is preferable...
...to being a little too low.

Focus...eyes and thoughts on the target

In rugby games there is a great deal...
... - sights, sounds, feelings, noises and smells...
...competing for your attention.

Not to mention tacklers!

When you are about to pass...
...you have already done much of the work.
You have identified your target...
...and you must continue to focus on the target.

It may well be far from easy.
Train often and enthusiastically.
Make sure you look the part.
Wear the right gear and take good care of it.
Own your own good quality ball and play with it.
Strange, but these are some...
...of the rugby passing basics
On the field move around boldly.
Believe in yourself.
The more you train and practice...
...the stronger, fitter and more skilled you are...
...and the sooner you will excel.

You have good eye/body co-ordination

You know about one of the rugby passing basics.
You concentrate your eyes and mind...
...on the targetl.

To actually pass the rugby ball...
...you must ensure you have good eye/body co-ordination.

How?

Train and practice well.
When you train well..
...you will be consistent during a game...
...and your skills will hold up longer.
Be fit and hard.
Work hard on your basic skills.
It will all show.
It will tell the other players you mean business.
Body language is hugely important

Remember, concentrate on the target...
...think about passing...
...and your subconcious mind does the rest.
Moving your body to the best position.
Making sure all your body parts...
...are co-ordinated...
...to achieve the pass you want.

How will your mind know how to pass?

Because you have done it so well...
...and enough times before the one that matters!!

You have trained your body
Thinking repeatedly about passing...
...and by doing the same things over and over...
...so you know the best pass to use.
You have kept focusing...
...your eyes and mind on the target

The results were perfect passes...
...which you then repeated.
When the passes were not perfect...
...you worked again and you improved.

Rugby passing basics is very much...
...about what goes on in your mind.

You position yourself well for the pass

In mastering rugby passing basics...
...you learn to move well...
...co-ordinating your movements...
...with those of other players...
...who are potential receivers of your pass.

To do this watch the game closely as it unfolds..
Examine the performance of other players.
Know their abilities...
...are they positioned well?
If not can you make up for it...
...by adjusting your position

Know your own abilities and work to improve them.
Do you have enough space and speed...
...to get through that gap...
...or would you be better...
...making a good pass well before you have to.

Know the abilities of your team mates.
What angles are they running/likely to run.
Know their speed and take it into account.
Use the knowledge to put the ball...
...just the right distance out in front of them

Weigh up what is going on.
Which support player is most likely...
...to advance the ball if you pass it to them.
Or can you take advantage of their run...
...by not passing the ball to them.

You make a pass that is easy to catch

Another of the rugby passing basics...
...is to make sure the pass is catchable!.
A wobbly looking pass...
...that is caught...
...is better than...
...a fantastic looking pass...
...that the receiver cannot hold.

Select the right pass...
...to give the ball the maximum probability...
...of the receiver hanging on to the catch.
Work hard and develop a good range of passes...
...then select the right one for the job.
If you have had enough practice...
...you will do it instinctively.

Use your whole body to the maximum...
...when making the pass.
Fingers, arms, torso and legs provide the power.
Fingers, arms, torso and legs provide the guidance.
Examine the passes and your own performance.
Work out what is important for each pass...
... so you KNOW IT rather than...
...know what you have been told about it.
There is a big difference.

Click on the link below...
...to find more information...
...and apply your rugby passing basics...
...to the individual types of pass.

Return from Rugby passing basics to Rugby Passing

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia