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.
This session connects a lineout with what happens in the phase after the lineout. It is aimed at developing a relationship between the set piece and phase play, depending on whether the lineout works or not. MORE
A four-man lineout gives a great chance to win the ball and then attack with support into the opposition midfield. Here are the simple options to ensure clean ball to attack with. Set up a platform and space to attack with “spare” forwards. You have five forwards involved in the lineout, so three players can be in the backline. MORE
Not every lineout take is clean. Use this session to help your players learn how to recover the ball (or chase through onto opposition ball).
There are lots of complementary skills in this scenario type session: ground work, rucking, body positions, communication. MORE
Work on good setups and movement, jumping and organisation in your lineout pods with this dynamic activity. It should mix up roles of your players.
Let players try out different roles, even if it’s not perfect. That allows players to realise what works for all those involved in the lineout lift and jump. MORE
While most aspects of rugby coaching are becoming more game-led, unit sessions for forwards are still drill-based. Change that perception and make it about fun and movement. By Dan Hemingway, director of rugby, Lichfield RFC Most modern rugby coaches use games as the basis of training, yet this hasn’t filtered down into a lot of... MORE
With quicker resets for scrums, France 2011 World Cup forwards coach Didier Retiere reveals how you can boost the effectiveness of your tight head. MORE
Put your players into more realistic scenarios so they can test their skills in the same circumstances as they would in the game. It’s also a good test for the defenders too.
It creates great go forward and the two players on either side of the catcher prevent the ball from being grabbed by the opposition. MORE
Pressurise opposition lineouts by making their front ball a risky option. You need to combine speed, accuracy and anticipation to read their movements and beat them to the throw. Here’s how… MORE