EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
If you are able to train, then you will be aiming to improve your players’ skills and tactical appreciation around specific areas of the game.
If you are in lockdown, it’s a chance to hone your session planning in readiness for your return.
In Lockdown planning: Exploiting a narrow defence we focused on ways to attack when you might have more attackers than defenders, in other words, an overlap. In this series of planning, we look at the other side, so that’s defending when you are outnumbered.
To enhance learning, you are better off focusing on an “arc” of learning for a specific area. This means spreading out the training over a number of weeks, rather than dedicating one session to this.
Here’s a four-week plan for defending an overlap, but you can split this up into more sections if you want.
Objective: Develop awareness of who to cover, when to go forward in defence and when to slide across.
Week one: Keeping connected in defence
Week two: Manipulating the attack when outnumbered
Week three: Defensive organisation to cover the threats
Week four: Reacting as a defence (using an attacking based session)
Let’s say you dedicate 15 minutes each week to the activities and assuming you have warmed up before the start of contact, you could use a mix of games and drills.
Each session may include all of the skills or tactic from all of the weeks. However, each week focuses on the specific skill/tactic, the reasons why there are important and how the players could improve their own contributions.
The mix depends on the skills of your players. Here are four ideas to help.
Note the last session has an attacking focus. However, it is just as good as a defensive session too because the defenders have to organise themselves appropriately.
in Defence, Rugby drills, Tackling
This session works on players reading the situation and not being afraid to give up ground as long as the tackle is made. Sometimes the tackler needs to accept that he cannot “win” the contact, but still needs to bring the ball carrier to ground effectively. MORE
in Defence, Rugby drills
Work on defensive line speed and communication with the “weakest kink”. Defenders have to adjust their running lines to make sure they are not exposed. Instead of “drilling” the defensive lines, the defenders will have to work out the solutions for themselves. A good session as well for attackers to scan where the space is. MORE
in Attack, Email Newsletters, Rugby drills
If our players communicated more effectively, then the ball carrier would know when to pass or when to take contact. Create more opportunities for this to happen by making it matter. The best exercises provide chances for players to see the value in calling for the ball. Here are four good activities to use. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Rugby coaching
Did Warren Gatland pick the right players for the British and Irish Lions summer tour to South Africa? His team of selectors will have been looking at balance and the style that they want to play. They might not pick the best players but more likely combinations that will complement each other. MORE
in Defence, Rugby drills
Defence is all about teamwork and trust. An effective defence is a simple defence and nothing could be simpler and more effective than “magic threes”. Work on communication and looking ahead, while being aware of who’s next to who. MORE
in Attack, Defence, Rugby drills
Challenge attackers and defenders to play from a dynamic situation to score or prevent a try. Keep your players thinking about which skills to use to be successful. In this case, good evaion, closing down the space, using the support player, running in support. MORE
