EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
08/10/2020 | Return to play
There was a collective cheer from the coaching community on Saturday as the RFU announced a move to Stage C on the Return to Play Roadmap, this means coaches are now able to increase the capacity of coaching sessions and adopt a touch rugby format. MORE
08/4/2020 | Return to play
Use this passing, defence and decision-making game to challenge players to improve their accuracy, communication under game-like pressure. There are incentives for both the attackers and defenders to "win" their side of the game. MORE
07/31/2020 | Return to play
Use this pass and block game to develop passing, evasion, communication and decision-making. Teams of three try to maximise their points by using a variety of passes and quick movement, while defenders aim to anticipate and frustrate the play. MORE
07/28/2020 | Mini tag
Get your ball carriers used to running forward to score tries. This session can be run as a warm-up or as a proper tackling session as well. Often players fail to run forwards even when they know the try line is that way. This session should encourage them to attack a space in front them and go for it. MORE
12/7/2019 | Rugby coaching
Your side will have its fair share of stars, good players and not-so-good. Keep all the players involved and happy, and make each one feel they are a world-beater. MORE
11/24/2019 | Rugby drills
"There’s not much incentive to be a third receiver. The Law of the Jungle suggests that if you want to touch the ball, you get close to it." MORE
08/11/2020 | Return to play
Use this handling game as an ideal warm-up to enhance handling, as well as challenge the players to innovate. MORE
08/9/2020 | Return to play
Make your touch rugby more game realistic with these three variations on the game. They aim to create scenarios for both attackers and defenders that replicate match-like situations. MORE
07/17/2020 | Rucking & Mauling
First time for rucks, or even the second season of rucking? Then use this session to get your players thinking and then playing contact in the right way. MORE
08/6/2020 | Rugby drills
08/2/2020 | Return to play
08/1/2020 | Rugby drills
07/27/2020 | Return to play
07/24/2020 | Rugby drills
07/21/2020 | Rugby drills
This session builds up a simple skill: Landing on two feet and stepping away from contact is a pre-sidestep motion It is a good technique for all players. When moving at speed and with a potential tackler in pursuit, they can jump, land and step, either to beat the defender or offload. MORE
The grubber kick can unlock tight defences, but only if it is executed well and used at the right time. Developing the technical skills needed can be done in a closed training environment. But developing the understanding of when to use the kick is best learned through playing kicking games in training. MORE
A 2 v 1 is the ideal attacking scenario. How crucial is it for players to understand how to exploit these situations? “2 v 1 score” will develop your players’ ability to benefit from these opportunities. MORE
07/26/2020 | Rugby drills
Use this fun warm-up game to test the players’ passing, evasion and decision-making skills. The defenders use rolled-up socks as cannonballs, though they could equally use rolled up bibs. Thanks to Ray Smith who coaches with the Old Reigatians Girls for the inspiration for this activity. Set up the pitch, with a safe zone to... MORE
07/12/2020 | Warm Ups
Use this second box passing game to develop pass, catch and movement skills as well as defensive movement. The players can quickly develop their own adaptions. A great warm-up game for in-season training. MORE
07/7/2020 | Warm Ups
Use this box passing game to develop pass, catch and movement skills as well as defensive movement. The players can quickly develop their own adaptions. A great warm-up game for in-season training. MORE
08/12/2020 | Podcast
Dan Cottrell speaks to Jess Bunyard, Andy Stevens and Jamie Green about their approaches to Return to Play. Jess is director of women and girls rugby and RDO at Huddersfield YMCA RFC. Andy is chair of mini and juniors at Ellingham and Ringwood RFC. Jamie is director of rugby at Royston RFC. They all coach across a wide range of age groups. MORE
08/9/2020 | Podcast
Host Phil Llewellyn with guests Giselle Mather and Jo Yapp review some of the many great podcasts, books, articles and webinars from the last week. The team pick out the key takeaways from each episode and how to use it on the pitch, at all the levels of the game. This week: The Sports Psych... MORE
08/8/2020 | Rugby coaching
A book review of Ulitmate Crush: Waseda University Rugby, Leadership and Building the Strongest Winning Team in Japan Katsuyuki Kiyomiya translated by Ian Ruxton. The Japanese love slogans. Ultimate Crush, which was coined for the Waseda University rugby team, translates differently according to the dialect used*, but the core meaning of “overwhelming victory” is clear. MORE
08/5/2020 | The Deep Dive with Si Nainsby
Si Nainby delivers a two-part podcast with Mark Williams. He is interim Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for Basketball England, a Lecturer in Sports Science and former Head of S&C for GB Basketball & Southend United FC. MORE
08/11/2020
Action stations! With the RFU approving Stage C for amateur rugby teams, English teams have more options to work with. We expect the other UK countries to have similar arrangements in place very soon. While there is no contact yet, teams can play up to 10-a-side touch rugby in training and use upskilling activities with significantly larger groups. MORE
07/28/2020
As we start to get back to training, we need a range of games and activities which will suit the latest regulations. However, they also have to be purposeful. That means they can be used throughout the season. MORE
07/7/2020
You want your training to be purposeful. That means players feel they've gained something from the session. Here's a mix of handling, fitness and kicking games to help populate your training sessions for the return to play. It looks a lot like pre-season of course. You will see the fundamentals of skills, teamwork and movement, but little or no focus on tactics or contact. MORE
“The boys have really enjoyed the drills from Rugby Coach Weekly. It's been great having them at my fingertips and every training session this season we tried new things, which I believe helped keep the boys interested and enthusiastic.”
Phil Hopkins, Perigueux, France
72 of the Game's Tactical Concepts in Simple, Plain Language MORE
With so much to cover when coaching young players, it can be a daunting task to know the basics... now there's help MORE
