Attacking with communication
Clear, concise and accurate communication is a vital element in support play, whether in attack or defence. This session helps your players establish some of the language they should be using in games.
Clear, concise and accurate communication is a vital element in support play, whether in attack or defence. This session helps your players establish some of the language they should be using in games.
Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7
What to think about
Support play
As players improve, they should start to identify the language that will help their team mates know where they are and when they want the ball. The language acts as a trigger to tell players when to move, pass or present.
In the game situation, you can penalise players who are not using good communication or, you can identify times when good communication has benefited the players.
set-up
- If you are better placed than the ball carrier to carry the ball – tell him.
- Be clear when you want the ball and where.
What you get your players to do
Allocate one ball to every other player. Get the players to run around and tell the ball carrier to roll the ball along the ground when you shout “down”. Give the whole group three seconds to pick up the balls cleanly.
Any contact trying to pick up the ball or failure to pick up a ball loses the group a life. Give them five lives and one minute to survive. Develop by telling the ball carrier go to ground and present the ball, before it is picked up.
Powerful word: “Pick” - The players in the box have three seconds to pick up the ball cleanly and without bumping into another player (change dimensions of box to change pressure)
Development
Set up one ruck pad holder in front of one box as in the middle picture and the another between the other two boxes.
Get a ball carrier to run into the side box and pass the ball before the ruck pad holder makes contact with him.
Get the other ruck pad holder to run into one of the other two boxes. The support player has to run to the space and shout when and where he wants the ball “wide” or “short”). Develop by setting up the ruck pad holders as in the bottom picture. Now the support players have to shout left or right.
Powerful words: “Wide”, “short” or “long” - The support player runs into the box that the ruck pad holder does not run into to receive a wide, long or short pass.
Game situation
Split into teams of five. Put two teams in the box, and play touch rugby. If the ball carrier is touched, he has to put the ball on the ground and the next attacker has to call for the ball before he picks it up. The tackler has to drop to one knee before returning to the game.
A pass can only be made by someone who calls for the ball. Swap teams every minute.
Powerful words: “Right” or “left” - The support players have to tell the ball carrier whether to pass the ball left or right
What to call out
- “Shout if you want the ball”
- “Look ahead before you shout – make sure you are in a better position to receive the ball”