playing scrum half

Question
hi,
I'm 17 years old and play for my high school. I have been playing wing all last season and my coach is moving me to scrum half, I need to know what i need to know to play the scrum half position. I know it's an important position and i don't want to screw things up.
Thank you,
Andrew

Answer
Hi Andrew

A half back has a core duty: to distribute the balls from the forward phases of play to the backs.

You are a pivot in the team linking the efforts of the forwards to the potential of the backs.

Though you may not be named as one you are effectively a captain. Your key skill on game day will be communication.

A half back who is the fastest, strongest, most skilled will lose every time against a slower less skilled half back if there is not the skill of communication.

You have to be ridiculously vocal in a game. Always telling the forwards what to do and prepping the backs to expect your next move.

In mauls and rucks you may have to grab players from one side of the maul and re-insert them into another side where they can be more effective.

Off the back of the scrum you will need to be able to see ahead of the moment and look for weaknesses in the opposition to exploit. You have 3 basic options of the scrum:

1. Run the ball  / kick to yourself
2. Give the ball to a forward (usually the #8) to run
3. Give it to the backs (either by passing or kicking ahead)

Each of these options can be done via a set call or practice play that you and your team train at practice or as a instinctive move.

Lets say you see the opposition back line coming up on defense really flat you will get with a center or winger and organize to kick the ball over the opposition back line with your center running through to catch the kick and make ground.

Lets take the same situation but on a different tactic. You get the ball off the scrum against an opposition that have had strong defense all day but you notice a 1-time mistake on their side - a hole or a player out of place. You can either run through that hole or set up a team mate to un into that hole.

You need to be inventive and willing to live with the odd mistake until you learn your tactics

I suggest picking a top professional half back and getting as much game footage as possible.

If you are affiliated with a senior team ask to be mentored by the half back.

Do a lot of work on your pass, your kick and get a reputation for being a loud , talky guy on the field.

Study the game:

Tackling:

This link to You Tube is VERY good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJ39bbq2uU

Use You Tube to search for videos on Scrum Half technique and drills

More links:

My favourite:  http://www.coachingrugby.com/rugby/coaching/unitskills/scrum/buildingthescrum.ht...

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/scrum.pdf

http://www.texasyouthrugby.com/download/748/docs/Building_the_scrum.pdf

All technique: Scrum, Running up the Ball, Tackling

http://www.rugbysmart.co.nz/plan/technique.html

http://www.rugbytactics.com/

http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/

Skills and Technique, video:

http://www.joberrugby.com/

Fitness:

http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/ in particular speed and power: http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/plyometric.html