Rugby: short pass

June 2026

If you watch the data, restart kicks happen more often than any other set-piece in a modern rugby match. A Six Nations game produces around twelve to sixteen restarts, more than the average lineout count and far more than scrums. Yet most teams - especially below elite level - still treat them as an afterthought. That is the gap top coaches are now closing.

The phrase "restart is the third set-piece" has become a coaching slogan in 2026 for good reason. The team that wins the restart battle controls field position, momentum and the opening sixty seconds of every passage of play. Conceding a try and then conceding the restart immediately afterwards is one of the most common ways to lose a match.

Why Restarts Are Suddenly Critical

Two things have changed. First, kickers have become more accurate. Restarts now land precisely on the 10-metre line and in the 15-metre channel, contested by tall, athletic chasers who jump for the ball. The days of a 22-metre dollop into the middle of the pitch are gone.

Second, the reward for retention has grown. With modern attacking shapes, a team that retains its own restart is straight into structured phase play in the opposition half. A team that loses the restart is defending in their own 22 with a disorganised line. The swing between those two outcomes is enormous.

Building a Reception Pod

Top teams now train a dedicated restart reception pod, exactly as they train a lineout pod. The pod typically has four roles, and every player must know which role they have before the kick is taken.

The catcher: Usually a lock or back-rower, chosen for height and timing. They call early - "mine" or the channel number - and commit to the catch.

The lifter: A prop or hooker who arrives at the catcher's side, hands ready, to give a lift on the contested ball. Lifting is legal at restarts and dramatically improves your win rate against good chasers.

The protector: A second forward who stands between the catcher and the chase, taking the contact if it comes and forming the first ruck cleanly.

The exit option: A back, usually the fly-half or full-back, in position to receive the next pass and either kick to touch or launch a counter.

How to Coach Restart Reception

Restart skills are perishable. Train them every week, even if only for ten minutes. Build the session in three blocks.

Block 1 - Catching under contest (5 minutes): One coach kicks high balls from the halfway line. Your designated catchers work in pairs - one catches, one acts as a chaser jumping to contest. Rotate every two reps. The focus is timing the jump, not winning every ball.

Block 2 - Receiving as a unit (10 minutes): Full pod of four sets up. Coach kicks restarts. Pod must catch, secure, ruck and recycle clean ball to a back. Add an opposition chase line of three after five reps.

Block 3 - Restart-to-exit scenarios (10 minutes): 12v12 or 10v10 game starting from a restart. After receiving, the team in possession has one rule: get out of their own half within three phases. This trains the link between reception and territorial exit.

Attacking Restarts - The Other Half

Receiving is half the picture. The other half is recovering your own restart. Modern restart kicks are aimed at one of three landing zones: short on the 10 (5-7 metres beyond the kick mark), mid-deep at the 15-metre line, or long into the far corner. Each option requires a different chase pattern.

The short restart is the highest-percentage recovery option but the hardest to execute accurately. Reserve it for moments when you genuinely need the ball back - after conceding a try, with time running out, or to disrupt a stronger opponent. Drill the kicker until they can land a restart in a one-metre window on demand.

Key Coaching Points

  • Restarts are the most frequent set-piece - train them weekly
  • Build a named reception pod with four clear roles: catcher, lifter, protector, exit
  • Lifting is legal at restarts - use it
  • The exit kick after a clean catch is as important as the catch itself
  • Reserve the short restart for moments when winning it really matters

Recommended Drills

VIEW ALL KICKING DRILLS

short pass DRILLS
View All

Bang & Bingo

Set up: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half. Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone. The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball. The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender. The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the ‘outside’ post or just in behind the BANG player. The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball. Progression: Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips. The cones will represent the ‘hips’ of the 2nd defender. The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing. If the 1st receivers sees the ‘inside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner. If the 1st receivers sees the ‘outside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

Decision making

Unfortunately there were no results for your search! Please try again
short pass ANSWERS
View All

Tips for teaching kids to pass?

Tips for teaching kids to pass? Under 7's%3A Posture, feet position, ball holding,action, short and long passes. Any guidance / links to websites please

Archived User Coach

looking for the best drills to help a flyhalf move?

looking for the best drills to help a flyhalf move to scrumhalf the lad has pass a good pass and a sharp brain just some fine tuning needed and ideas please

Archived User Coach

how do you side step properly

how do you side step properly

cj Coach, Northern Ireland

how do i coach the miss pass

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Expert how do i coach the miss pass

Archived User Coach

How can i teach 8 year old boys to spin pass

How can I teach 8 year old boys to spin pass

Mark Harris Coach, England

What are the key learning points of a miss pass?

What are the key learning points of a miss pass?

dave walker Coach, England

What are the main attributes of a good tighthead prop?

What are the main attributes of a good tighthead prop , also how do i coach correct tighthead technique

Archived User Coach

What are the main attributes of a good tighthead prop??

What are the main attributes of a good tighthead prop?

Paul Brooker Coach, England

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who?

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who is the flanker, hooker, fly half etc

Archived User Coach

key factors of a miss pass

plaese tell me the key factors of a miss pass

Archived User Coach

Do you have anu rugby league drills?

Do you have anu rugby league drills?

Archived User Coach

Tap penalty - Running onto the ball

When taking a tap penalty can a member of the kicking team be running onto the ball before the tap is taken?

Archived User Coach

Trouble gettng the ball to our winger from first phase ball

We have two very fast wingers but we cannot get them the ball . Teams are coming up fast and we are lucky to get the ball to the O. C. We have tried setting up further back but too many times we are getting caught behind the gain lines when we do that. Any ideas?

john mcmullen Coach, United States of America

FLY HALF

How can i improve my skills on the field as a flyhalf

zachree bergstedt Coach, South Africa

Drills and attack moves to counter a rushed defence.

I am looking for some drills and moves to coach a counter offensive against a rushed defence or a blitzing defence. I've had ideas of short kicks over the top.

tom burkett Coach, England

hitt training with ball for u10

do you have a who can support me with a hitt training with ball for u10?

maurits schotte Coach, Netherlands

Tips for teaching kids to pass...

Tips for teaching kids to pass? Under 7's%3A Posture, feet position, ball holding,action, short and long passes. Any guidance / links to websites please

Archived User Coach

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
  • create your own professional coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested plans

Sportplan App

Give it a try - it's better in the app

YOUR SESSION IS STARTING SOON... Join the growing community of rugby coaches plus 1100+ drills and pro tools to make coaching easy.
LET'S DO IT