7 Ways to Improve Passing with Footwork
Which of your players concentrates on getting their feet right before they pass the ball?
Scrum halves have the advantage of a steady platform from which to pass, but the rest of your team will usually be passing on the run. So how do you improve passing when their feet are not in their best place?
Here's one way - practise with drills that get them off balance first!
The idea is to create situations where the players are not in full control of their next step and yet still have to pass the ball. (Assuming they are capable of passing the ball accurately when they are balanced!)
Here are seven ways to get them to practise. You should have some fun and it might make them better balanced passers.
1. Through ladders
With greater access to footwork equipment, such as ladders, it seems an ideal opportunity to practise fast feet and passing at the same time. Simple passes can be done at a set point, such as after three steps and in the next ladder after four steps.
Another way is that a coach or receiver could shout for the ball at anytime which would have to be delivered immediately. With more confidence in ladder work, players could be performing some quite complicated footwork drills combined with passing.
2. Off tyres
This is an old favourite of mine. Instead of, and cheaper than ladders you can use old tyres. Tyres should be free as garages are often keen to get rid of them. Get your players to step through or even balance on them to give and take passes.
You can also set up quite intricate obstacle courses with a pass having to be made at specified tyres. Since Better Rugby Coaching first mentioned it way back at the start 2004 as a training tool, it has been a popular training item.
3. Off one foot
Another particular favourite of mine is to make players pass when they are hopping. This drill helps to improve the ability of players to pass the ball when they are running normally.
Experience of these drills tells me that it is best to get the player to run first, then revert to hopping before passing the ball. It is easier to pass left hopping on the right foot and vice versa, so ensure that the players are challenged to pass the ball both ways.
4. Backwards
Although running backwards does not happen that much in a game, it still provides an interesting diversion from the normal passing drills, as well as enhancing a player's awareness of the passing dynamics.
To get the most benefit, players should pass to players running towards them and then to players running away from them. It certainly keeps the heads of the passing players up and the challenge of staying out of harms way promotes quicker feet.
5. Surprises
Running through a random "minefield" of cones, bags and even clothing can cause enough of a distraction to increase the pressure on the pass. As players try to avoid the various traps, they will be encouraged to pass to team mates in the clear.
A more advanced session could include tackle bags being tipped over as the players approach, with a pass executed immediately the bag has been hurdled or avoided.
6. Hurdles
Hurdling obstacles is the natural progression from ladders and tyres. Again, passes should be made after the hurdle has been cleared. It could be on the run, or a series of jumps back and forth or side to side, with the ball given and taken at certain landing points.
7. Sprinting
Most players slow down to make a pass. I don't advocate passing while sprinting in a game, but it is still a challenge to work outside what is comfortable, so get them to give it a go.