The aim of this article is to outline the basics of the technique for the scrum-half pass from the floor. My recommendations are suggested to demonstrate the fundamentals to facilitate a quicker pass with distance and accuracy. These recommendations are based on the principle of “practice perfect technique’ and being self aware of what the key components are and how they work for the individual. This is key to the most efficient use of the ball.

The scrum-half pass can be coached using the following key factors:

• Consistent address and foot placement
• Low body position (to keep the pass from rising too high)
• Strong wide (very individual) base to maximize weight transfer (helps facilitate sweep to generate distance in the pass)
• Control of shoulders and follow-through with the hands to ensure accuracy (chase the hands).

In terms of bio-mechanics, this pass is like a sling-shot; it has a slow, deliberate start, followed by a long ‘pull’ resulting in the final explosive release of the ball. The challenge for a scrum half is to develop the skill so it is a quicker, more efficient pass while not compromising on accuracy and distance. In short being able to undertake the close skill as quickly as possible without compromising the various components.

When asked what the objective of the pass is, most scrum-halves will reply ‘to get the ball to the fly-half as quickly as possible’. The problem with this is that the perspective is “passing to the fly-half rather than for the fly-half”. Scrum-halves therefore, must first acknowledge their role and responsibility within the team as distributors rather than perceive their pass as an end in itself.

A question often asked is how is a quick pass defined?

I would define a quick pass in relation to the length of time it takes to address the ball to the time it is in the receiver’s hands, rather than the speed a lone of the ball in the air. Lets refer to this as “air time”. Defenders become interested in the scrum half as they approach the ball so speed of thought and action is fundamental from that point on to the delivery for the receiver.

So the outcomes we are attempting to achieve when passing are:-

• Address:- speed of feet and consistency of placement.
• Speed :- reduce “air time” through the hands
• Accuracy:- correct depth & appropriate height
• Distance:- understand and achieve distance required to launch attacks
• Empathy:- passing for rather than to the receiver; ideally passes should fly to make it easier for the receiver to facilitate the next action easily and quickly.
• Support:- after passing the next function is to provide support in orer to maintain quick continuity of play.

In order to achieve the above outcomes it’s necessary to understand and be able to breakdown the specific key factors of the pass to then work on producing a quicker, more flexible pass.

A) Address

An appropriate angle of approach and optimum weight transfer during and following the release of the pass will provide the momentum for a lengthy pass while allowing the use required base to reduce ‘air time’. 

Therefore, understanding how to address the ball will allow the scrum-half to see the receiver while also aligning the passer, ball and receiver.

Understanding the approach and foot sequence (Feet position) dependant on where the scrum half is arriving from, will result in a quicker pass, while the momentum of correct weight transfer through and after the pass will provide the propulsion for greater distances.

B) Feet position

1. Placement:

The rear foot should be placed close to the ball (has to be comfortable; no two scrum-halves are exactly the same) prior to passing. This will facilitate weight-transfer from rear to front foot during the pass.

The two common errors are:

• Straddling the ball, which provides stability but also prevents weight-transfer thus resulting in reliance on upper-body strength and a shorter pass (blocking the ball which is related to alignment points)
• Rear foot too far away from the ball (body not over the ball), resulting in ‘over- reaching’ and falling over & forward after passing, due to the unstable distribution of weight during the passing movement (bending at the back as opposed to sinking at the hips)

2. Alignment:

During the pass the feet should be in line (rear & front feet) with the target. A common error is to place the lead/front foot too far ahead of the target, resulting in the pass being raised and sometimes placed behind the receiver. This is due to the front knee blocking the route of the ball requiring the scrum-half to lift and sweep the ball over and across the lead knee.

3. Base (distance between feet) width:

A wide base provides more stability and the opportunity to swing the ball longer, resulting in great distances. A shorter base is obviously less stable but facilitates the ball moving through the hands quicker (‘air time’). Obviously a shorter base (for speed) will result in a shorter distance due to the lack of ‘propulsion’ a wide base provides, but by modifying the approach through experimentation and practice an optimum base width may be established appropriate to the individual, and substantial increase in the length of pass may be gained. The key for the scrum half is recognizing and being self aware, whether he needs distance to his pass or not.

C. Weight Transfer (Body-height, head & shoulders)

Once you have your solid base the pass requires a low body position, keeping the head down which keeps the pass from rising too high and facilitated greater distance & control.  The two fundamentals are keeping the outside shoulder tucked in to ensure the ball does not open early and ensuring maximum weight transfer by ensuring the chest is over the front knee and the back leg has extension passed 100 degrees. The hands must then look to push through the ball and use the acceleration of weight transfer to generate the majority of the power. The extended arms must “chase the ball” to maximize power and accuracy with the outside extended arm aiming to towards the receiver. The inside arm can come over the ball and the wrist can be used at the end of that movement to try and generate additional spin for flight.

The above components are all applicable to passing from the hands or lineout (as distinct from the ground). There is one key component to consider which is the early catch only adjustments:-

Key adjustment to consider when passing from the hands is the ball should be kept around the centre of gravity (hip height), rather than swept in a pendulum movement. The reason being that the ‘core strength’ of a player is concentrated around this area, resulting in more power and a shorter ‘air time’ through the hands.

With respect to the lineout it is ensuring the scrum half is looking to take he ball in the air early at shoulder height of the inside shoulder so as to use body weight to generate maximum momentum and minimize ‘air time’.

Mike