Curriculum Portal

neurologyYou need to know

• In rugby, a legal pass must travel sideways or backwards from the passer’s hands; a forward pass is not allowed.
• Accurate catching starts with presenting a clear target with hands up early and securing control of the ball before attempting to pass.
• When holding the ball to pass, both thumbs should point up and both hands should face the same direction to support control.
• A controlled pass is made with two hands on the ball and a follow-through towards the intended receiver (the target zone).
• A good pass reaches a teammate at chest or waist height so they can catch while moving, without stopping or stretching excessively.
• A quality pass should travel cleanly to the receiver without bouncing or spinning out of control.
• Passing under pressure requires a stable body position so contact or distraction does not collapse the passer’s balance.
• An attacking overload means the attacking team has more players than the defenders in that area (for example, 3 attackers against 1 defender).
• Overloads create gaps because defenders cannot cover every attacker at once, increasing the chance of a line break.
• The gain line is an imaginary line across the pitch through the point from which a phase starts, and it is used to judge territorial progress.
• Breaking the gain line means carrying the ball beyond the gain line and making clear forward progress.
• To break the gain line effectively, the ball carrier keeps forward intent by facing upfield with shoulders and hips directed forwards.
• Common evasive techniques to beat a defender include a dummy (fake), sidestep, change of pace, and changing running line.
• Strong ball security uses two hands on the ball until committing to a move, then shielding the ball from defenders when close to contact.
• Safe tackling begins from a low, balanced stance with eyes up, focusing on the opponent’s mid-section to track movement.
• Safe tackle contact is made with the shoulder, not the head, must comply with the current age-grade tackle-height law, and should aim around the opponent’s thighs before a firm wrap of both arms.
• The tackler’s head must stay tightly to the side of or behind the ball carrier and must never be placed in front.
• A completed tackle includes driving with short, controlled steps so the tackler’s body moves up diagonally and the ball carrier is pushed off balance without being lifted or dropped.
• A safe finish to a tackle is “cheek to cheek”, with the tackler maintaining a head position to the side or behind and controlling both players to ground without pulling the opponent on top of them.
• After completing a tackle, the tackler must release the ball carrier, move away from the tackle area, and regain their feet immediately.
• After a tackle, the ball carrier must release the ball and present it long and back towards their own team so it is easy to secure.
• A ruck forms only when at least one player from each team is on their feet and in contact over the ball while the ball is on the ground.
• The offside line for each team at a ruck runs through the hindmost point of the last teammate in the ruck and is parallel to the goal lines.
• Entering a ruck must be done from the player’s own goal-line side, through the gate, and with a full-arm bind onto a teammate or opponent already in the ruck.
• Support players at a ruck must stay on their feet, arrive from behind their team’s offside line, and create a stable base so the ball becomes playable quickly.
• Once a ruck has formed, players must not handle the ball while it remains in the ruck.
• Players must not enter a ruck from the side, charge into it, intentionally collapse it, or make contact with another player’s head or neck.

• Catch and pass while moving by presenting hands early, securing the ball, then delivering a two-handed sideways or backwards pass that follows through to the receiver’s chest or waist height.
• Maintain an attacking overload by spacing effectively, moving to offer passing options, and choosing quick, accurate passes that exploit gaps between defenders.
• Break the gain line by running square with forward intent, then executing a sidestep, dummy, or change of pace to beat a defender while keeping control of the ball.
• Protect the ball in contact situations by carrying in two hands until the move, then turning slightly to shield the ball as defenders close in.
• Track and tackle a stationary or slowly moving opponent by starting low, stepping in close with a stable lead foot, making legal-height shoulder contact around the thighs with the head tight to the side or behind, wrapping both arms firmly, and driving with short, controlled steps to a safe “cheek to cheek” finish without lifting or dropping the opponent.
• Progress tackling from stationary to walking to jogging speed by matching the attacker’s line, closing space decisively without over-committing, and completing legal-height shoulder contact with the head to the side or behind, a firm two-arm wrap, and a controlled drive to a safe finish without lifting or dropping the opponent.
• Set up an uncontested breakdown or ball-presentation drill without a defender by having the ball carrier go to ground, release, and present the ball long and back; the first supporter approaches from their own goal-line side through the gate and steps over the ball to stabilise; the next supporter arrives onside and binds to support a stable base.
• Execute a contested ruck at controlled speed by entering from the player’s own goal-line side through the gate, making a full-arm bind onto a player in the ruck, staying on the feet, stepping beyond the ball to remove contest pressure, and maintaining a strong base without charging, collapsing the ruck, or contacting the head or neck.
• Apply ruck and tackle rules in conditioned games by releasing and presenting the ball when tackled or touched, releasing the ball carrier and moving away immediately after making a tackle, regaining the feet, joining rucks only from the player’s own goal-line side through the gate with a full-arm bind, remaining behind the ruck offside line until joining, not handling the ball in a formed ruck, and keeping contact intensity controlled as instructed.