EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
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.
There will be plenty of time for that before the season really starts. In the meantime, keep sessions short, sharp and safe.
The Return to play: Social distancing line game comes from Nuneaton head coach, Geraint Davies. Watch how the players develop their own games within the game.
Lions Academy has plenty of experience in creating activities to keep players engaged. Their Return to play: Social distance crazy kick game is fun, purposeful and has some hidden fitness elements. A good game for all the players, and one you can set up for early arrivers at training.
Heads up technical passing drill is a good breakout activity to focus on skills. Ideal for social distancing, it will test better players to handle more accurately. You can run a much slower version for developing players.
And if you are going to do some conditioning, then Test your team’s running fitness gives you a base to measure their progress. Easy to set up and run with a large number of players, it has always been one of my go-to tests.
in Email Newsletters, Lesson Plans, Rugby drills
In Lockdown planning: Quick ruck ball sessions, we focused on applying pressure on the defence. Now, let's plan for the other side of the ball. France's defence coach, Shaun Edwards says that it is his main metric for success: slowing down ruck possession. 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. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Rucking & Mauling
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. MORE
Here’s a headline that’s not going to get your players back to training quickly: Tackling and Fitness Training. However, as we focus on safety and reducing the exposure to a concussion, all the most recent data suggests we need to have better-prepared players. In particular, the fitter the player, the stronger they are, and more... MORE
With lots of teams thinking about tackling again, here are four activity ideas to build up tackle confidence and defensive awareness. They can also be combined into one session: Technical warm up: Tackling memory jogger Skills development: Tackle balance Skills game: 2 v 4 contact box Game awareness: Bounce out tacklers MORE
Challenge your players to think harder about how they play and prepare to play, even if they may not be playing a match at the weekend. First, play games with a purpose. Of course, retain the elements of fun, but be clear on what potential outcomes each game might have. Second, play a variety of games and game situations. Mixing up the games will force players into changing mindsets and figuring out different problems. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Another lockdown...another chance for a parent and child to connect through sport. It's been exciting to see a bunch of parents and their children out in the parks, rugby ball in hand, running (well the kids mostly), kicking and passing. Here are my four top tips to help support you and your child get the most from your time together. MORE
