The dangers of the offload move
An offload is a ball that is passed after the ball carrier goes into the contact. Most commonly a player is tackled and, as they fall over, they "flip up" the ball to a player in support.
How a good rugby offload is supposed to work
Ideally, your ball carriers should avoid the contact. When players do take a tackle, an offload can keep momentum in the attack, but only if the ball gets to a team mate as quickly as possible. If a defence is particularly strong, with few spaces to go through, an offload can be a powerful tool to attack behind the defensive line.
So, the offload can:
- Maintain "go forward" momentum in the attack.
- Help attackers find space behind the defensive line.
To be successful with the offload, your supporting players must have "good hands" and, crucially, ball carriers must present or pass the ball effectively. If there is no forward momentum, the chances of a successfully offload are diminished.
If a ruck is formed, continued possession will be with "dirty ball". The game slows down, the momentum of your attack is lost, and the opposition defence regroups.
When the offload doesn't work
Conscious offload: When a player makes the decision to pass the ball, they should be moving the ball to a player in a better position to go forward. Taking the tackle can reduce the attacking options. For example, supporting players may have less space, the ball carrier's momentum is lost, a ruck may be formed.
Contact gives the opposition the opportunity to win the ball in the contact. As Collin Osbourne, the former Zimbabwe coach and current manager of the Harlequins academy in the UK, puts it: "pass first, contact second".
Going "over the man": The worst offload "crime" is when the ball carrier holds the ball high into the contact, hoping to get their arms over and behind the tackler's back. The idea is to then pass to a support player. However, this simply makes the ball carrier a more inviting target for tacklers. It has the added risk of the ball being dropped in contact.
Calling "offload" in a tight defence: Against tight defences, ball carriers need to be positive about two key things: that their pass is going to a team mate, and driving forward through the tackle.
When a player takes the ball into the contact against an organised, tight defence, calling "offload" is dangerous. With lots of traffic, the ball carrier can easily flip the ball to a defender. Collin Osbourne goes so far as to say that teams should ban the call "offload".
Any attempt by the ball carrier to position themselves to make a pass can also open them up to being tackled (and often very easily). Johnny Wilkinson is a good example of a tackler who particularly seems to enjoy taking on attackers attempting to go over him to pop a pass to team mates.
Offload tips
- Players should not pass in the tackle unless they can see the support player.
- Players should not just pass over and behind the tackler, but also in the direction of the tackle: if a player is tackled on their left hand side, they should pass right.
- Support players should not run in straight lines, but angle their running line towards the ball carrier. They should try to attack the space just behind where the tackler was before the contact.
- Good offloads happen when there is a "diamond" support structure.
Key rugby coaching tips
The offload has a vital role to play in continuity. The main danger is that it is used as an alternative to a pass. Ball retention comes first in the contact, so an offload might not be possible. Consequently, momentum is lost.
When taking the contact, players must make every effort to make the tackle as difficult as possible for the opposition. They then should look to make the ball available.
Support players should not call "offload". They should rather look to put themselves in the best position to take the ball if contact is made.
Rugby coaching tips
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