New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Passing on the move

I can pass and receive at pace.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Passing on the move

I can pass and receive at pace.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

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

Keywords

  • 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)

  • Dummy - pretending to pass or kick to deceive the defenders

Common misconception

Pupils think that 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.


To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Passing on the move, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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.
Teacher tip

Equipment

30+ cones, 1 ball between 4, 20+ bibs

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Which is not a type of rugby pass?

Correct answer: chest
lateral
spin

Q2.
What is it called if a player doesn’t catch the ball and it goes forwards?

offside
Correct answer: knock-on
roll ball

Q3.
Which directions can you not pass in rugby?

flat/sideways
Correct answer: forwards
backwards

Q4.
What is the name of the player who picks up the ball from behind the ruck?

Correct answer: scrum half
prop
hooker

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
When would you use a spin pass?

close pass
pop pass
Correct answer: long pass

Q2.
Why is a lateral pass useful to a teammate at speed?

Correct answer: break defensive line
throw further
to knock-on

Q3.
If a runner runs too fast to receive the ball, which direction might the pass go to them?

Correct Answer: forwards, forward

Q4.
How can you engage your defender?

Correct answer: run straight
stay still
pass early