Power passing

Passing out of contact can devastate an opposition defence. The receiver can often get behind the defensive line and the ball is kept “clean”. This means that the momentum of continuity is not broken. This session works on your players keeping the ball alive by driving through the tackle, and then passing out of the tackle.

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Warm up time: 7-10
Session time: 10-15
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 10-15
Warm down time: 7-10

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What to think about

• Players leaning too far forward whilst running.
  
  This occurs when players don’t have the core strength to maintain a good body position. Reduce the amount of resistance until they can keep a good posture.
• Players giving inaccurate passes.
  
  This happens when players fall away from the pass because they are working so hard to keep moving forward. Emphasise that they need to control the pass with the wrists and fingers not their whole upper body.
• During the game players stop driving their legs
  once they are caught.
  
  You need to continually emphasise to players that when they take contact they need to drive hard with the legs.

Set-up

1. Drive your legs hard and fast to keep moving forwards.
2. Put your hands out to receive the pass, and then keep the ball away from your body to give a pass.

What you get your players to do

1. Players work in pairs taking turns to provide resistance. The resistance should allow the player to run but make them work hard.
2. The working player then has to run through two players, receiving and giving a pass, all the while with his partner providing resistance.

The runner keeps his hips forward and his body upright so he can control the pass.

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Development

• Vary the distance the player needs to pass. You can vary this from player to player depending on their ability.
• Add a second set of passers, so after running through the first set, the resisting player lets go and the runner accelerates through the second set taking and giving a pass.

The working player takes and gives a pass as he runs through the gate.

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Game situation

Set up a game of 4 v 4 in a box. The tacklers have to grab the ball carrier by the waist and hold on to make a tackle. Once held the ball carrier can drive forward for four paces before he has to pass. If he can’t pass to a supporting player or the pass goes to ground the ball is turned over.

If a ruck or maul develops it’s also a turn over. More than one tackler can go for the ball carrier.

The tackler can grab at waist height. The tackled player has to pass within four paces.

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What to call out

• “Keep your hips forward and stay on the balls of your feet.”
• “Move the ball across the body quickly.”
• “Control the pass with the wrists and fingers.”