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Tap Pass and Swerve U7

Activities for Tap & Pass / Swerve

TAP & PASS
The tap kick followed by a pass is used to restart the game at kick offs and penalties. At this age the ball should be placed on the ground and moved slightly forward using the side of the foot. The player should then pick the ball up in two hands and make an accurate pass.

Techniques
When picking the ball up to make the pass:

  • place the furthest foot to the far point of the ball
  • make sure the knees are bent and reach down with two hands over that foot
  • pick the ball in two hands and step towards the receiver as the pass is made
  • follow through with the arms as the ball is released and point towards the receiver.

Activities

  • Have as many balls as possible grouped together with one player acting as the restart man
  • Place several of the team mates in a circle around the balls about 3m from the passer
  • Call a player’s name and the passer has to tap and make an accurate pass to that player
  • Continue with this until the balls are exhausted and change to another player in the middle
  • Have two groups going if sufficient players
  • Speed it up and make longer passes as the players become more competent
  • Coach technique on the ‘go’.
  • Place several balls in a 20 metre grid and pair up the players
  • Have a little competition
  • On ‘go’ each pair has to run to a ball, make a tap and a pass; place the ball down and move on to another ball. The pair who make the most successful passes and catches (count only those which are caught) are the winners.

THE SWERVE
The swerve is an extension of running with the ball. When coaching this don’t worry too much if the player does a side-step or a goose-step or anything at all that evades a tackler just so long as they demonstrate a change of angle and/or pace and try to beat a defender and not just run straight,

Techniques

  • Carry the ball in two hands
  • Run directly towards the defender (not away from him)
  • When a few metres from the defender who is hopefully standing square because the attacker is running straight at him, change direction and accelerate away
  • Change direction by stepping across the outside leg with the inside leg. Swivel the hip around with the inside leg and accelerate. (This is the conventional method which can be tried out. Just make sure that the player changes direction and pace.)
  • Keep the ball in two hands ready for a pass. (When they are older they can shift the ball to the far arm and get ready for the fend with the close arm)

Activities

  • Jog through the technical detail in a 1 v 1 situation in a 10 x 10 grid. Speed it up as they understand what is required.
  • In a 10 x 10 grid divide the team so that there are even numbers of attackers and defenders at each end. Start in the middle so that there is 5m on each side of the defender. Run straight and then swerve either direction to beat the defender. Have the rippa belts on so that the winner is clear. Coach on the ‘go’.
  • Have a similar activity with the start being a tap and pass from the corner of the attacking side.
  • Have a 40m long grid and 10 m wide with four defenders placed at even spaces down the grid. The attacker has to straighten and run directly at each defender before changing direction and accelerating. This will be a real test with lots of changes of pace and direction.