Mailing List
Enter your e-mail address below to sign up for the latest news and updates from LastTackle.com
Tutorial
This section is targeted at people new to the game of rugby league and will hopefully provide an in depth education to the rules and the sport in general.
Section 3: Ball Handling
Rugby League differs to football. In football, you make progress by kicking the ball with your foot/feet. You are not allowed to hold or pass the ball with your hands in football, unless you are a goalkeeper. However, the goalkeeper is restricted to an area of the field, where he can use his hands to pass or hold the ball.
In Rugby League, you can kick, but most of the time, you will see the players holding and/or passing the ball with their hands.
Holding the ball
When holding the ball, it is important to find a grip which suits you. There are several ways of holding the ball, but you have to find a way which you are comfortable with. When holding the ball, make sure you have a good hold of it and that you will not lose it when running with it.
One way of holding the ball when running, is to hold it (with one or both hands) into your chest. Look at the picture beneath to see how this can be done.
The player holding the ball has a firm grip on the ball. He is holding it with one hand but still is holding it comfortably. Note: It looks like this player is going to be tackled. Most players bend their backs a little when they are going to get tackled. This is done for several reasons.
- They protect themselves more this way than if they ran upright.
- It can make it difficult for tacklers to tackle you, because you are putting your weight forward and it gives the tacklers a more difficult task.
Being able to hold the ball in rugby league is essential to all players. All players must have good ball handling skills.
When holding the ball, always have it tucked into your chest. Think of it as a valuable possession you do not want to lose. Some players try to be fancy and not hold the ball into their chest, but they can easily lose the ball if they get tackled. If you have the ball tucked into your chest when you get tackled, you should still be in possession of it.
Passing the ball
Passing skills can not be stressed enough in Rugby League. Good passing can win your team matches. When passing the ball, make sure that the ball goes BACKWARDS. You are not allowed to throw the ball FORWARDS at any time. Doing so will result in a “FORWARD PASS” and your team will have to hand the ball over to the other side. When you have possession of the ball, treat the ball as the Holy Grail. Make sure it goes BACKWARDS.
When passing the ball, it is important to have a good grip of the ball. Good passes can result in your team scoring a try, bad passes can result in your team losing possession of the ball, especially if the ball goes to ground and the opposition picks it up.
First of all, it is important to know who you are going to pass the ball to. Do not pass just for the sake of it. If you don’t need to pass, don’t. It is important to look at the person you are going to pass to. Eye contact and communication are important factors here. Also, make sure the player you are passing to is not a long way away from you. If you are new to the game, get a player to stand behind you (diagonally) and try passing the ball.
Many players try to throw long passes. They can work, but it is very risky. Secondly, it is important to have a good grip. The whole idea is based around passing FOR the player, rather than AT the player. Hold the ball in two hands with your fingers spread across the seam, with your chest facing forward. Keep your elbows slightly bent at the start of the pass, looking at the receiver to help you deliver an accurate pass. Swing your hands through an arc, keeping your elbows close to your body. Release the ball with a flick of the wrists and fingers. Follow through with your fingers pointing to the target - chest high in front of the receiver.
This pass was good, but it is important to pass the ball at the player’s chest. As you see, the player catching the ball had to reach over his head to catch it. Try to avoid this. Passing at chest height will make it easier for the catcher to gain control of it.
Holding the ball
When holding the ball, it is important to find a grip which suits you. There are several ways of holding the ball, but you have to find a way which you are comfortable with. When holding the ball, make sure you have a good hold of it and that you will not lose it when running with it.
One way of holding the ball when running, is to hold it (with one or both hands) into your chest. Look at the picture beneath to see how this can be done.
The player holding the ball has a firm grip on the ball. He is holding it with one hand but still is holding it comfortably. Note: It looks like this player is going to be tackled. Most players bend their backs a little when they are going to get tackled. This is done for several reasons.
- They protect themselves more this way than if they ran upright.
- It can make it difficult for tacklers to tackle you, because you are putting your weight forward and it gives the tacklers a more difficult task.
Being able to hold the ball in rugby league is essential to all players. All players must have good ball handling skills.
When holding the ball, always have it tucked into your chest. Think of it as a valuable possession you do not want to lose. Some players try to be fancy and not hold the ball into their chest, but they can easily lose the ball if they get tackled. If you have the ball tucked into your chest when you get tackled, you should still be in possession of it.
Passing the ball
Passing skills can not be stressed enough in Rugby League. Good passing can win your team matches. When passing the ball, make sure that the ball goes BACKWARDS. You are not allowed to throw the ball FORWARDS at any time. Doing so will result in a “FORWARD PASS” and your team will have to hand the ball over to the other side. When you have possession of the ball, treat the ball as the Holy Grail. Make sure it goes BACKWARDS.
When passing the ball, it is important to have a good grip of the ball. Good passes can result in your team scoring a try, bad passes can result in your team losing possession of the ball, especially if the ball goes to ground and the opposition picks it up.
First of all, it is important to know who you are going to pass the ball to. Do not pass just for the sake of it. If you don’t need to pass, don’t. It is important to look at the person you are going to pass to. Eye contact and communication are important factors here. Also, make sure the player you are passing to is not a long way away from you. If you are new to the game, get a player to stand behind you (diagonally) and try passing the ball.
Many players try to throw long passes. They can work, but it is very risky. Secondly, it is important to have a good grip. The whole idea is based around passing FOR the player, rather than AT the player. Hold the ball in two hands with your fingers spread across the seam, with your chest facing forward. Keep your elbows slightly bent at the start of the pass, looking at the receiver to help you deliver an accurate pass. Swing your hands through an arc, keeping your elbows close to your body. Release the ball with a flick of the wrists and fingers. Follow through with your fingers pointing to the target - chest high in front of the receiver.
This pass was good, but it is important to pass the ball at the player’s chest. As you see, the player catching the ball had to reach over his head to catch it. Try to avoid this. Passing at chest height will make it easier for the catcher to gain control of it.
