# Passing and Handling · Rugby Level 2: Elementary

Rugby · Level 2: Elementary · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/level-2/passing-and-handling/)

How passes are thrown and handled: the spin pass, the pop pass, the long pass, the weaker hand, switches and loops, the offload, the inside pass, depth and handling drills.

## Test 1: The spin pass

- The back hand rolls the ball to create the spin. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Fingers finishing at the target steer the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A stable ball cuts through the air. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short passes need soft hands, not speed. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Stepping towards the target transfers weight into the pass. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A one-sided passer makes the attack predictable. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Spread fingers give control and spin. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Grip, wind up, roll, follow through. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The longer the pass, the more spin it needs. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Hands finishing at the target show a clean follow-through. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 2: The pop pass technique

- A short, soft pass into the runner's path. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- At close range a soft ball is easiest to catch. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Close support makes the pop pass possible. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Keeping the ball free lets it be popped up. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A runner hitting a short ball at speed is hard to stop. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The receiver times a run onto the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short passes suit the tight work near the breakdown. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Carry, protect the ball, sense support, release. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The closer the support, the better the pop pass. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A soft pop to a runner on the shoulder. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 3: The long pass

- Long passes move the point of attack quickly. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A long, slow pass gives defenders time to read it. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Power comes from the whole body, not just the arms. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Spin gives accuracy at range. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Early hands make a long ball easier to take. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Looking at the target too early gives the pass away. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Getting the ball to the spare man quickly. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Catch, turn, swing, finish. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Longer passes spend longer in the air. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A long pass can be read and picked off. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 4: Passing off the weaker hand

- Most players have a stronger and weaker passing side. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A poor pass gives the defence time. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Repetition builds the weaker side. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Early balance is easier than fixing it later. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Keep it simple when under pressure. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Going both ways along a line works each side. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A one-sided nine is easy to read. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Build speed only once the technique holds. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Longer passes expose a weaker side most. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Nines must pass well both ways. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 5: The switch pass

- The carrier turns in to hand the ball over. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Defenders drifting one way are caught out. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Both runners must meet at the right moment. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The players are almost touching. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Hiding the ball sells the dummy. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A dummy switch is a strong option. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Midfield switches change the angle of attack. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Run across, crossing runner, turn, hand over. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A switch is the shortest exchange. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Crossing runners swapping the ball make a switch. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 6: The loop

- The passer loops round the outside. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Running round makes one player count twice. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Fixing a defender creates the space. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Any return pass must not go forward. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Ten and twelve are the classic loopers. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Speed of execution beats the cover. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The threat of the loop pulls defenders. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pass, loop, fix, return. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Crash ball needs one pass, a loop two. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Passing and running round is a loop. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 7: The offload in contact

- The ball is released out of the tackle. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A free arm can pop the ball away. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Play goes on before the defence resets. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Fijian rugby is known for flowing offloads. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A forced offload often loses the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Offloads need runners on the shoulder. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Going forward in contact makes the offload possible. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Contact, free arm, tackle, release. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Arms and ball held make offloads hard. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Legs held, arm free: the offload is on. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 8: The inside pass

- The ball goes back towards the middle. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The space opens behind the drifting line. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Runners track the break on the inside. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pulling defenders out opens the inside. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Covering defenders leave the inside open. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Angles must be judged carefully. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Against the grain means against the flow. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Break, cover, draw, inside ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Inside back towards the middle, miss pass furthest out. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The inside runner is free. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 9: Flat and deep lines

- Flat attack takes the ball close to the defence. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Depth gives time and space to run onto the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Close to the line, defenders must decide fast. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Depth lets players run onto the pass. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- There is little room for error. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Two layers stretch the defence. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Attacking shapes are built in layers. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Distance behind the gain line sets depth. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Depth, eyes, burst, catch. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Well behind the passer means depth. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 10: Handling drills

- Two attackers learn to beat one defender. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A committed defender cannot mark the receiver. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The ball travels down the line and back. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Small grids force fast decisions. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Keeping the ball builds decision-making. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pressure turns drills into game practice. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Three attackers against two leaves one free. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Defenders add pressure step by step. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Run, fix, pass, finish. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Fixing the defender frees the team-mate. (Source: General rugby union reference)

Sources: World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.

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