A central pivot rocker spring assembly for connecting a base to a lower frame member in a reclining chair with a rocking feature so that the lower frame member pivots about a single axis of rotation. The spring assembly includes a first bracket mountable to the base, a second bracket mountable to the lower frame member and pivot pins securing the brackets together on the axis of rotation. A leaf spring biases the first and second brackets to selected relative positions. The leaf spring passes through and is fixed in position at its center on the axis of rotation. Thumbscrews coupling the leaf spring to the second bracket permit independent adjustment of the forward and backward rocking motions of the chair. The thumbscrews are movable to permit wide variations in biasing forces.