The Scoop

The scoop is one of the simplest and most common attacking moves. It’s not exactly an attacking move itself—rather it’s a variation on pretty much every other attacking platform.

All other attacking moves are aimed at getting the ball into the hands of a strike runner—a player that can score—as quickly as possible.

With a scoop, instead of passing the ball, the dummy half picks it up and takes off, trying to beat the defenders himself, before passing off to a teammate who can score.

33 Scoop 32 Scoop ⚡ Scooping off a short-side quickie 🧹 Scooping off a sweeper play ✅ Tips for running a Scoop When is a Scoop effective?

33 Scoop

How it works:

Dumping middle drags his defending player into the 33 channel, aiming to turn his hips “in”.

The other middle accelerates and scoops the ball from half, running into the large 32 channel created by the 33 dump.

If the defending middle corners, the scooper can step back into the 33 channel.

The scooper needs to find a free teammate to pass to in order to score.

32 Scoop

How it works:

Dumping middle drags his defending player away from the middle into the 32 channel, aiming to turn his hips “out”.

The link accelerates and scoops the ball from half, running into the large 33 channel created by the 32 dump. The dumping middle is now in the link position.

The scooper needs to find a free teammate to pass to in order to score.

⚡ Scooping off a short-side quickie

How it works:

Set up for a short-side
⚡
The Quickie. Middle goes down in the 33 channel and steps back, expecting to receive the ball.

The half stands side-on ready to pop the ball, but instead of popping it to the middle, he takes off, running into the 33 channel and attacking the open-side “against the grain”.

The scooper needs to find a free teammate to pass to in order to score.

🧹 Scooping off a sweeper play

How it works:

Set up for a
🧹
The Sweeper/Backdoor: 33 sweep play. The middle furthest from the sweeping link makes a 33 dump, the other middle is half, and the link sweeps.

Instead of passing the ball to the sweeping link, the half takes off, running at the openside 32 channel.

The sweeping link has the option to run an “in” /
🔜
Ninja/trail options line into the 33 channel, where he is open for a “trail” pass.

The scooper needs to find a free teammate to pass to in order to score.

✅ Tips for running a Scoop

For the scooper:

Anticipate where the dump will be made.

Start from deep and accelerate well before you get to the ball.

If you can, scoop under the ball with one hand. It’s faster.

Run 100% for your first 3 steps after you scoop the ball, then watch the defenders movements and either step back, or continue to take the space.

Look up for a pass early! You need to get the ball away to score.

For the half:

Even more than usual, you need to dominate the ruck, so the scooper can anticipate where the touch will be made, and place the ball cleanly, so they can scoop it quickly.

Drag your defender hard. Keep running in the direction of your momentum for several steps after you dump the ball.

When is a Scoop effective?

A scoop is especially effective when you have a fast scooper and the defence is not ready to shut. This is often the case on touch 4 or 5 of a midfield driving set.

It can also be effective if the defence is programmed to expect another move, like a quickie, and you run against the grain.