The Sweeper/Backdoor: 33 sweep

The sweeper play is a popular expansive attacking play with several variations. It’s probably the attacking play that gives the strike runner the longest run-up, so is especially effective with a fast strike runner.

🐐 Pete Walters and Manu Wakely explain the sweeper play:What’s the move?📽️ A video of how it works (this is actually a “Helmet”, a sweeper with a lazy switch first, to get the middle in the strike-running link position)Options from this move:If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner), this creates a 3 on 2 on the short-side, and the following short-side options might be on:If the touching defender retreats towards his corner, this creates a 4 on 3 on the open-side, and the following open-side options might be on:✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a Sweeper:📽️ Touch Screen breaks down the sweeper play ❓When is a sweeper play effective?🪖 The “Helmet” vs the Sweeper:📽️ Further Viewing: Touch Screen video on the difference between a good vs a great sweeper play:

🐐 Pete Walters and Manu Wakely explain the sweeper play:

What’s the move?

One of the links will sweep around the middles. This needs to be communicated between middles and link before the play is executed.

The attacking middles “check” the ball between each other to manipulate the defenders and get both middles up.

The middle furthest from the sweeping link takes a 33 dump, dragging his middle into the 33 channel. The other middle plays half.

The sweeping link is the strike runner. He runs a “sweeper” line, starting deep, running behind both middles to wrap around and straighten up to attack the offside middle who made the touch. He should receive the ball from the dummy half right as he straightens up.

The strike runner can attack the offside defender in his 32 channel on the shortside, or step back openside into the 33 channel. The middle who initiated the touch continues his momentum and is now a link. The half is still in the middle, attacking the openside 32 channel.

📽️ A video of how it works (this is actually a “Helmet”, a sweeper with a lazy switch first, to get the middle in the strike-running link position)

Options from this move:

If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner), this creates a 3 on 2 on the short-side, and the following short-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps his defender to score on the short side (0:20 in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link saves, strike runner passes to the link running an “out” line in the 21 channel. (0:34 in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link saves, and the defending wing saves: the strike runner passes the ball over the top to the attacking winger to score in the corner. (0:44 through the hands, and 0:51 long ball in the top video)

Strike runner steps to the short side, then steps back to dive and score between both middles (0:55 in the top video)

If the touching defender retreats towards his corner, this creates a 4 on 3 on the open-side, and the following open-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting, then passes off to the middle who was dummy half, who scores. (1:03)

Strike runner steps to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting. The link is also shutting in on the middle who was dummy half, so pass off to the middle who dumped the ball, who is running a “chop” line in the link channel, to score. (1:08 through the hands, 1:13 miss pass)

Strike runner steps to the open-side, all the open-side defenders are shutting, so the long ball over the top to the attacking open-side winger is on. If you can pull this pass off, its an easy score in the corner (1:22 through the hands, 1:28 long ball)

✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a Sweeper:

For the middle who dumps the ball:

make sure you drag the defending middle away from their corner towards the 33 channel, ideally turning their hips “in”.

Initiate the touch, and place the ball down cleanly.

Make sure you make the touch on your opposite middle and not the other middle.

After you dump the ball, you’ve now swapped positions with your other middle, and you’re about to cross him as he becomes half. Continue your momentum, then hit the 21 channel as a link.

For the middle who is dummy half:

Anticipate where the roll-ball will be, and get in position early.

Instead of facing forward, stand almost side on, and pop the ball to the strike runner.

After popping the ball, pause, then straighten up and hit the 32 channel on the open-side.

For the strike running link who sweeps:

Run a “sweeper” line. Start deep, run around both middles, and straighten up close to the roll ball.

When you receive the pop pass, you should be running straight at the defensive line, almost at full speed.

Run at the retreating defender, and watch which way he retreats. Step into the space he leaves.

For the hole runners:

The short-side winger should stay wide and expect a long ball.

The short-side link should run an “out” line to draw his defender away from the sweeping link.

The open-side winger should stay wide and expect a long ball.

📽️ Touch Screen breaks down the sweeper play

❓When is a sweeper play effective?

It’s especially effective when you have a fast link running against a slower middle, or a middle with poor body position. You can often score short-side tries with a sweeper play if you set it up well.

If the team corners poorly a sweeper play can be especially effective.

🪖 The “Helmet” vs the Sweeper:

A “Helmet” is a sweeper play initiated by a lazy switch.

The middle will lazy switch with the link, who now goes into the middle.

This middle then passes off to the other middle who commits his defender with a 33 dump.

The original middle who switched the ball sweeps from the link position. The link who went into the middle is half.

A Helmet can be especially effective in a mixed team, because you can have the female link playing half, and the male middle sweeping to the side with his male link. This creates a mismatch.