Rugby coaching tips - lose the passing curve

Pendulum swing

If the player’s arms swing like a pendulum, he has to release the ball at exactly the right moment to get the desired flight path. Too early and the ball is too low, too late and the ball is too high.

Torso twist

If the body is turned too much through the swing, the effective release moment has to be exact. Too soon and the ball is passed forward, or too far in front of the receiver. If released too late, the ball curves and goes behind the receiver.

If the player combines the swing and the twist, he will have major problems in controlling both the height and direction of the ball.

The problems are magnified when the pass is longer and harder, as the extra effort and speed required means the optimum release time is even shorter and it is harder to get the timing right.

Curing the curves

Players should bring the ball across their body without dropping the ball height. They must keep their hands up. This will eliminate the pendulum swing.

Restrict or eliminate the torso twist by getting players to finish their pass by pointing their back hand along the desired flight path. If they cannot finish pointing the back hand, or have to pull it into place afterwards, they are rotating the torso too much.

Emphasise that players should be passing “down the line” of the pass by shifting their weight along that line and not rotating or swinging their body or the ball.

This article is from Rugby Coach Weekly.