Practice plans
Covering core and advanced skills, each Practice Plan provides the blueprint for an entire session for you to run with your team. A quick read through and you've got a ready-made session to take on to the pitch. Perfect for when you're running late and don't have time to hunt around for new ideas.
Practice Plans can be adapted by the coach to suit any age group from age 7 to 16, and are appropriate for adult teams. As a Rugby Coach Weekly subscriber you can access all 200 Practice Plans on the website covering the entire range of skills and tactics, in a format you can easily print and take to training.
in Contact, Practice plans
Not every set piece works out and this session looks at some simple recovery strategies. It mainly involves one player retaining the ball, staying strong and then his team mates backing him up. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Practice plans
Plenty of your players come to rugby with some kicking ability from sports like soccer and then, with practice, become efficient kickers of the rugby ball. Work on their specific technique so they can develop that natural ability into a repeatable, accurate skill under pressure. MORE
in Practice plans, Scrums & Lineouts
Forwards need to get their basic body shapes right before they are ready to move on to more competitive unit work. This session can be used to prepare for unit work and as a whole session for forwards. You can also mix forwards and backs together because the skills are easily transferable (ruck positions for example). MORE
in Defence, Footwork and evasion, Practice plans
Use boxing-style footwork and arm movements to improve your players’ tackling. The players stay light on their feet, keep their arms active before “punching” like a jab towards the ball carrier, arms going to the side, shoulder engaging and head going into the side. MORE
in Attack, Defence, Practice plans
There are many one-on-one races in a match. One is for the space around the ball carrier as he arrives at contact. Remove his options to pass and he has to go to ground. Win the race to get over the ball and then there is a chance of a turnover. This sessions looks at attack and defence options in support. MORE
in Attack, Practice plans
Most line breaks will occur in the tightest of spaces. The ball carrier goes between two defenders or one defender and the touchline. This session works on arcing to make a break and then getting back on line to beat the cover. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Develop better handling skills by forcing players to use the ball with one hand in and around the contact area. This session picks out some one-handed contact situations for players to look at solutions. A tougher session for players with smaller hands. MORE
in Contact, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Offloading in contact can be beyond, behind or away from the tackler. In other words, the ball carrier rides the tackle and bounces off to pass back to a team mate. He takes the tackle on his terms, possibly spinning out of it and releasing a pass to a player who has got better forward momentum. MORE
in Contact, Practice plans
Use this simple ball-carrying trick to help players retain more possession in contact. The session works on developing the ability to rip down the ball just before contact while, unusually, targeting a defender. He will find it easier to control the contact and win valuable time for his support. MORE
in Defence, Practice plans, Tackling
A simple session to help players work on the tackle that is something between front-on and side-on. It develops into a defensive system in which three defenders work together to prevent an overlap attack. MORE
