Rules on hand offs

Simon JonesCoach, England

Stephen

It depends on the age group you are working with as the hand off is not allowed for youngsters.

If you are working with older players it is an effective defence but please coach the players to push against an opponents chest and not their face as this could be deemed dangerous play.

The hand off should always be a push rather than a hit and the main coaching point is that the attacking player uses the momentum of the defender

I hope this helps

Simon

Rugby CoachCoach

The Hand Off is illegal below the age of U13

Andrew JepsonCoach, Italy

Here in Italy youngsters can hand off or fend off at any age group, but must do so below the head/neck area; i.e. shoulder girdle etc. This unfortunately has also brought about a 'I'll solve it on my own' style of play, as to hand off / fend off means that the ball is in one hand, therefore the subsequent pass is 99% in the direction of the 'hand off' arm/hand i.e. I carry the ball under my left arm to be able to hand off with my right. I'm almost certainly going to pass to the right. Clever defenders will read this no-option and react accordingly. If you really must coach the hand off/fend off then remind the players to keep their handoff thumb in close to their first finger, and not use an open hand that could twang back the thumb and even break it. Often the opponent dips into his tackle and the handoff ends up on the top of his shoulder. With an open hand the thumb remains your side; the handoff fingers go the other, and twang. Use the momentum of the opponent as your pivot, and aim the hand off for his chest/inner shoulder. Alternatively if he's much smaller and less strong then a direct push can send him backwards. Personally I would ban the hand off altogether.