KS4 · Physical education · Year 10

Passing and receiving

Non-examined assessment: rugby league practical

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Your learning goal

I can pass and receive at pace.

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Passing and receiving: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.

What you’ll learn

I can pass and receive at pace.

Key learning points

Move: when spin passing, the outside hand grips towards the back of the ball to produce spin by pulling up on the ball.
Move: running straight with the ball draws a defender, creating space for a teammate to attack.
Think: only long passes should utilise spin as it is faster to pass and easier to catch a short pass without spin.
Feel: self-awareness of the catching skills of others helps improve overall success rates.
Connect: making eye contact and signalling where you want the ball passed, helps reduce handling errors.

Words to know

lateral pass: a pass that goes perpendicular to the try line and hence is not forward but is very flat for a player to run on to
spin pass: applying rotation to the ball to help it travel faster and further mostly used by backline players (spiral or torpedo pass)
line runner: a player who runs a well-timed, deliberate run to receive a pass and break through the defensive line

Common mistakes

Spin passes are always better to use.

Short or soft pop passes can be more effective for quick, controlled distribution, especially in close quarters or wet conditions where accuracy and catchability matter more than speed.

For parents, carers and teachers

Notice any students struggling to spin pass accurately and break down the stages of the pass to simplify it. Emphasis that it is the outside hand that applies spin by pulling up the outside of the ball as it is released, so it spins into the jersey of the receiving player rather than rotating away.