Need to inject some new ideas in your return-to-play training. Sometimes the old activities have run their course. Well, for the time being anyway.
Here are some fun games which are quick to set-up with few rules. Though they are primarily aimed at mini-tag, you can easily adapt them for older players. I think you find the energy generated quite uplifting.
Pass and win is a simple chase game which starts with some short passing between the players. You can match up players of similar speed and agility, and there are plenty of variations you can employ.
With an activity named after a post-match drinking game, Fizz, Buzz again starts with some passing before a chaotic challenge for both attackers and defenders to think differently.
Tiger trap works on evasive skills for the attacker and defensive support. Especially good for attackers who tend to run sideways, this activity encourages forward movement while trying to evade a defender in front.
Finally, Gangsta will see your players jumping up and down in anticipation of victory. Rival gangs aim to prevent their swag from being captured by the other side.
Develop passing techniques before unleashing an attacking and defence situation. A quick-fire game to challenge players to think about space and communication (it happens sometimes!) MORE
Develop your attackers go-forward and evasion skills in this tough footwork exercise. Quick to set up, you can have lots of groups going at the same time. MORE
Lineout training should be based around getting the basics right first. When Gary Gold was coaching the South African team with Victor Matfield and they were the best lineout in the world, he used to say: "They know where the ball is going, but Victor will always beat them into the air."
But a lineout is not just about the jump/lift. It's also about what happens afterwards. Here are four activities to develop different aspects of this set-piece situation. MORE
Use this blocked attack game (one team attacks for a period of time) to challenge players to apply the principles of play under pressure. The attacking team get extra “lives” for good support when they score tries. MORE
Scenarios offer a great way of engaging your players in games. By putting the players in a specific point of a well known match, they get the opportunity to develop their game management. For younger players, scenarios give them the opportunity to be their favourite players of their favourite teams. For older players, scenarios give them the opportunity to challenge their decision making with regards to the score-line and also how to deal with specific threats or weaknesses in future opposition. MORE
There are so many elements to passing, which ones do you concentrate on first and how do you train them?
Here are a bunch of the priority skills you need and then great ways to train them. MORE
Develop a fantastic training environment for your players to develop in. Here’s how I translate a positive learner-centre culture into my sessions. MORE
