Box-to-box work and play

Training can easily isolate skills without forcing players to change mindsets quickly. This session concentrates on working players hard in one area and then pushing them into decision-making situations. It will improve fitness, communication and organisation.

Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7

What to think about

Though skills are the main focus of this session, all the activities will mentally test players. In my experience, the less motivated and more selfish players will cause problems. Here are two ways to deal with this. First, keep group numbers small, so there is no hiding place – split into two or three games or activities. Second, ask under performing players to sit out for 30 seconds. They will not want to be apart and will probably want to get back into the game.

set-up

1. Work hard at the first activity, do that well then work hard at the second.
2. When you are moving from one to the other, look up and ahead, listen, communicate and get in position to make a difference.

What you get your players to do

Set out four boxes as in the top picture, two “play” and two “work”. The sizes of the “play” boxes should be different but should have a try line. The work boxes can be 5m or slightly larger. Split your team into equal groups – say three to five. Put one group in each work box, with one group defined as the defenders, and one the attackers. In the work box, players run from end to end five times and then do five press-ups, and repeat. When you shout a play box letter, both groups run into that box, with the defenders coming in from behind the try line. Play touch or full contact rugby and stop after an infringement. Repeat for the next groups who have been keeping warm and preparing to enter the boxes.