Ball handling and passing backward
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
Carrying the oval ball in two hands while running, and passing it backward: the one pass rugby allows. A good pass is swung across the body and lands in front of the receiver, so they run onto it.
Words on this card Receiver
- Receiver
- The player the ball is passed to; a support player runs close by, ready to take a pass.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Hold the ball in two hands, fingers spread along the seams, and jog with it.
- Stand beside and a step behind the child; look at them and call their name.
- Swing the ball across your body with both hands and follow through toward the child's chest, a little in front of them.
Your part while they practise
Be the receiver; stand beside and behind the child for passing.
Step by step
- Carry the ball in both hands while running and changing direction.
- Look at the receiver.
- Swing the ball across the body with both hands.
- Follow through so it arrives just in front of the receiver.
- Standing first, then walking, then jogging.
How much: 20 passes 10 min a session 4 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Pass and swap
Pass backward, then run to the receiver's place; count the passes in a minute.
Who plays: 2 or more, together against your own best; you time.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Stand side by side, a few steps apart, with one of you slightly behind
- Pass, then swap places by running behind the receiver
- Count the passes caught in one minute
- 3 rounds
- Fair play
- A grown-up passes only with the weaker hand leading.
- Points
- 1 point for each pass caught.
- Fouls
- That pass does not count
- The pass goes forward
- A one-hand pass
- The ball is dropped
- Winning
- Beat your best minute.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 20 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A soft ball, standing still.
Pass on the run.
What you will see, and what to say
- the pass goes forward
Pass backward
Behind you, never ahead. - the ball is dropped
Two hands, soft hands
Reach and give.
Self-check
8 of 10 backward passes caught at chest height.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the wrist or finger.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains handling, passing.
awiseathlete.com/sports/rugby/rugby-b1