06/10/2023
Unconventional Insights : Palm Up
Passing, one of rugby’s most fundamental skills. At the start of every session, whether one-on-one or small group, I prefer to begin with a little passing drill named “Go Stand There”. It is as straightforward as it sounds : One player goes and stands there, you stand here. You then pass the ball back and forth, once on the left and then on the right, start with one hand only and then two. There is no need for cones, as you start at a distance close enough to talk to each other. Every ten passes or so, take a few steps back. Continue this until you notice the player struggling to reach you, then restart and change the pass type.
During this drill, I like to ask questions to assess the player’s understanding of passing.
How do you distinguish between a spin pass and a still pass?
What roles do each hand play in a pass?
Is a pass a throw or a push?
It is important not to laugh at the player’s answer or to embarrass them. I’d bet that many coaches would struggle with these questions when put on the spot. To help you out, here is my three step plan to ask and listen:
Ask a skill-specific question.
Shhhh
Pose a relevant follow-up question.
Lekker. Now, let’s take a look at the player’s hands. Imagine the player is passing to you from their right to their left. The following factor would for part of my particular methodology:
A pass is not a push, but a controlled throw.
The left hand (in this example) only keeps the ball from falling out of the right hand.
The right arm (shoulder, elbow and wrist) dictates both the power and direction of the pass.
The right hand is responsible for the ball’s shape, angle and height during flight.
When looking at the right arm and hand in isolation and without the ball, imagine a fluid motion from behind the hip towards the ground and back up into the air. The key of this motion is found during the short transition from 6 to 9-o-clock. Your arm should mimic a whip as it starts to bend at the elbow, followed by the wrist and then the fingers. This sequence generates the same speed akin to what my dad would term a “snotklap”. This phenomenon is the essence of leverage, with the shoulder offering long leverage, the elbow providing medium leverage, and the wrist supplying short leverage.
During practice, we place the ball in the player's right hand, aligning the fingers across the ball's width. They initiate the pass by pulling back and executing the full swing, leveraging as we've discussed.
One vital aspect I repeatedly encourage is the palm-up position. Whether executing a still pass, spin pass, pop pass, chicken wing pass or even buying a bus pass, the critical factor is to ensure that your palm is pushed upward as the swing is completed.
By focusing on the palm-up technique, you encourage the ball to rise towards the receiver at a swifter pace, offering an improved shape and angle. As a receiver, I would always prefer catching a ball that ascends towards me, even if it means taking a rib-tackling hit, as opposed to a ball that descends towards my feet, leaving my head and neck vulnerable and increasing the risk of injury.
In summary, commence your passing sessions with a straightforward drill to establish rapport and gauge players' understanding. Encourage a palm-up finishing technique for all types of passes. Remember, it's not about right or wrong; it's about presenting an alternative approach.
Luister, thank you for reading my first post. It will get better, I promise.
Regards,
Theo Reinecke
