| Skills |
| Types of pass: |
The final pass played to the ball-carrier who broke the defensive line |
| Short lateral pass |
Standard pass to the next player in the attacking line, within a 5m radius |
| Long lateral pass |
Standard pass to the next player in the attacking line, further than a 5m radius |
| Skip Pass |
Ball is transferred past the closest player to another further away |
| Flat Pass |
Ball is transferred horizontally, so that the receiving player runs onto the ball when catching it |
| Double-around |
Ball is passed to a player who moved from the inside of the passer to their outside channel |
| Inside ball |
Ball is passed to a player running on the inside channel of the passer |
| Lob Pass |
High looping pass |
| Pop Pass |
Short pass initiated from the wrists, rather than the arms, to a player in the immediate proximity of the ball-carrier |
| Quick-hands |
Ball is received and passed in one rapid movement |
| Switch Pass |
Ball is transferred in the opposite direction of the previous pass |
| Number of passes: |
Number of times the ball is transferred between attacking players in each phase (n) |
| Pick and go: |
Ball-carrier gathers the ball directly from the set-piece or break down |
| Running speed (Wheeler et al. 2010) |
| Slow |
Stationary or walking (no visible foot movement) |
| Moderate |
Jogging (low knee lift) |
| Fast |
Running or sprinting (high knee lift) |
| Running angle: |
Running line or direction of ball-carrier towards defence (Wheeler et al. 2010) |
| Straight |
Ball-carrier runs straight at defence |
| Arcing |
Ball-carrier runs in a wavy line at defence |
| Lateral |
Ball-carrier runs laterally, from touchline to touchline |
| Diagonal |
Ball-carrier runs in a straight angled line at defence |
| Change in speed |
| Acceleration |
Ball-carrier increases running speed |
| Deceleration |
Ball-carrier decreases running speed |
| Change in angle |
| Straighten |
Ball-carrier changes running angle from any angle to vertical (relative to touchline) |
| Turn |
Ball-carrier changes running angle from any angle to an angle that is not vertical |
| Evasion: |
Evasive agility step patterns of the ball-carrier (Wheeler et al. 2010). |
| Side-step |
Agility manoeuvre initiated from the outside leg |
| Crossover-step |
Agility manoeuvre initiated from the inside leg |
| Deception |
| Dummy pass |
A feigned pass |
| Dummy kick |
A feigned kick |
| Decoy runner |
Non ball-carrier runs passed the ball carrier at defensive line, feigning reception, and drawing a defensive player |
| Field Position |
| Zone 1 |
Between the attacking 22m line and attacking try line |
| Zone 2 |
Between the half way line and attacking 22m line |
| Zone 3 |
Between the defensive 22m line and half way line |
| Zone 4 |
Between the defensive try line and defensive 22m line |
| Right |
Between right hand touchline and the right 15m line |
| Centre |
Between the two 15m lines |
| Left |
Between left hand touchline and the left 15m line |
| Outcomes |
| Possession |
| Retained |
The attacking team maintained possession of the ball in the phase following the line break |
| Lost |
The attacking team were unable to maintain possession of the ball in the phase following the line break |
| Try |
The attacking team were able to score a try within two phases of the line break |
