EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES

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Return to play: Minis and juniors try chasers

by Dan Cottrell in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag, Return to play

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.

  1. Split the players into pairs with a ball.
  2. Put the pairs 1m apart facing towards the touchline in the middle of a 10m long box.
  3. When you shout “pass”, the ball carrier passes to his partner.

  1. When you shout “turn”, the ball carrier races to the try line and his partner tries to catch him.
  2. Keep swapping pairs around.
  3. Use touch, tag, grab or full tackling.

  1. Spread out the pairs, so there is at least 3m between each.
  2. This time, instead of shouting “turn”, shout “attack”, the players with the ball aims to run past his partner.

TECHNIQUE

  • Attack the line.
  • Carry the ball in two hands.
  • Score the try properly.
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