Developing catching skills needs to be converted into a game context as soon as possible. This session will help the players take tough and unusual passes, and then turn them into good possession. It is a fresh way to mix up your handling training.
Developing catching skills needs to be converted into a game context as soon as possible. This session will help the players take tough and unusual passes, and then turn them into good possession. It is a fresh way to mix up your handling training.
Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7
What to think about
You are going to have to decide whether the difficult passes cause the players to become downhearted too quickly. Set a low target for success, with a celebration for completion. Do not spend too long on each part of the exercise, but use them throughout the season.
Mix forwards and backs as the first receiver. Also, think about where the second receiver should be depending on the passing skills of the first. That pass might have to be short if the handling skills of the receiver are weak. The second receiver may need to hold back on their run, if it takes time to gather and pass.
set-up
Always have your hands towards where the ball is coming from.
Bend at the knees a little with the head up to receive the pass.
Don’t force the second pass.
What you get your players to do
Spread out three players ready to take a pass. Either kick, throw or pass various types of balls to the first player who has to gather and pass the ball along the line.
Try blindfolding the first receiver, who has to walk forward, with you giving the ball to him before he passes.
Kick, pass or throw the ball to the receiver who adjusts and passes on. Think about blindfolding the first receiver and handing him the ball.
Development
Put a defender about 5m in front of the first receiver. He pressurises the first receiver only, moving forward when the ball is passed. Develop the drill further by making this defender go for either the first or second receiver.
Start the attacker and defencer closer together at a distance of, say, 3m apart. Inexperienced players can have a longer distance between them but no more than 5m.
Related Files
Core-194-cool-hands-no-fluke.pdfPDF, 256 KB
Defenders pressurise the first and/or second receiver.
Game situation
Play touch rugby with 5-man teams. Put two teams inside the playing area about 10m apart.
Throw a ball to one of them. The player in possession has only three seconds before he has to pass (adjust this time according to the skills of the players). If he is touched in possession, he has one second to pass the ball. If the ball is on the ground, continue play, but a knock on or forward pass means a turnover. Once a try is scored replace the losing team.
Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is the assistant coach with University of Bristol Women's team and is a coach mentor for Broad Plain RFC mini and juniors section.
He was Head Coach of Swansea Schools U15 and has previously held coaching roles with the Young Ospreys Academy and as Assistant Coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup. He was director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. P...
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