Getting ready for training needs players to get their bodies and minds in tune. Play lots of games to motivate and engage the players. Then break out into skills zones where your players can start to concentrate on the details.
Here are four warm-up skills activities which can be mixed into your training routines, all from our growing video archive.
Prepare for full-on tackling practice with this low impact, no-pads warm up. The players develop their footwork, their head position and grip in a dynamic environment. Plus, they get in lots of repetitions.
Get your ruck defenders into the right position then create an awareness of the ball and the attacking threats in this simple ruck warm-up exercise. MORE
Prepare for full-on tackling practice with this low impact, no-pads warm up. The players develop their footwork, their head position and grip in a dynamic environment. Plus, they get in lots of repetitions. MORE
Players respond well to routines at training. It gives them a safe environment where they feel comfortable to express themselves. That's one of many reasons to plan your session. That doesn't mean you don't have some flexibility and are prepared to adjust. But do that from a plan. Here's a potential plan which gives you and your players a good mix of the familiar and the new. You can stretch them in an activity they've done before, adding wrinkles as the players progress. You can introduce different techniques, tactics and skills in that part of the session or a new one. MORE
It's exciting that in England at the very least, contact training is back. However, with only 15 minutes allowed for contact training, you won't be wanting to waste any precious time. So, why not get the players warmed up for contact, without contact! How does that work? MORE
Here are some activities to support your stage D ruck training. Using small groups (no more than four), they look at rebuilding ruck skills in a low impact environment and developing a game-related understanding at the same time. MORE
Games in training are fun. They can also be extremely productive in helping players develop their skills and game understanding. London Irish Academy coach Rhys Davies has taken four well-known adaptive games and looked in detail on how you and your team can gain a load more. He does this by looking at alternative rules, developing more constraints, asking pertinent questions to both attack and defence. Each activity comes with possible answers, plus a pocket-friendly PDF handout rules and question reminder. There are also skill zone ideas to help you fit this into a full session. MORE
Action stations! With the RFU approving Stage C for amateur rugby teams, English teams have more options to work with. We expect the other UK countries to have similar arrangements in place very soon. While there is no contact yet, teams can play up to 10-a-side touch rugby in training and use upskilling activities with significantly larger groups. MORE
