Counter attack is becoming a more common aspect of the game as teams refuse to kick for touch, but instead kicked for territory. This simple session helps the players discover ways to counter attack. It should be a standard session for every season.
Warm up time: 7-10 Session time: 10-15 Development time: 10-15 Game time: 10-15 Warm down time: 7-10
What to think about
Are the players calling and moving to catch the ball?With players who are unused to fielding kicks, practice with you, as the coach, kicking or throwing a ball for them to catch. Once this is achieved make them move to catch the ball. Finally add a shout from the player telling the others it’s his ball.
Is the catcher summing up the situation after fielding the ball and making the right decision?Put the catcher in a number of scenarios – catching with plenty of time and catching under a lot of pressure, ensuring support players also read the situation. They must help him make the right decision by moving and talking to him before he catches the ball.
Set-up
Call for the ball early and move quickly to catch it before it hits the ground.
If not involved in the catch, move into a position to collect any dropped balls or to take a pass from the fielding player.
Once the ball is caught sum up the situation, then react – run, pass or do both.
As support players, take the initial pass on the run and go forward.
What you get your players to do
Split your players into groups of three defenders and three counter attackers. A clearing passer makes the first pass to a player who kicks the ball to one of the three opponents facing him. Meanwhile the kicker’s two team mates chase the kick. The three counter attackers have to field the ball then attack back against the two defenders chasing the kick.
A variety of individual and collective techniques and skills can be used to beat the two chasing defenders.
One player kicks and two players chase.
Development
Ask the kicker to use a variety of kicks – a punt, long grubber, up and under – so the ball lands on top of the catchers, in front or behind them.
Allow the counter attackers to use a kick in their tactics for attacking back.
The fielding player runs back at an angle towards the source of the kick, switches with a team mate who links up with the third support player.
Game situation
Begin by playing 6 v 6, with a double layer of three players in each team. The front three are the kickers and chasers, the back three are the fielders and counter attackers. The game starts with one team kicking to the back three of the opposition and chasing the kick.
The back three field it and counter attack with the support of their front three, who drop back making it a 6 v 3. When they counter attack back to the half way line they must kick to their opponent’s back three and so the game continues.
The front three players chase a kick. The receiving team attack to the half way line, with the front players running back to offer support.
Develop your players’ ability to jump to catch a high ball under pressure. This session aims to give your players more confidence. A jump to catch a high ball is not just a vertical jump. The player has to be moving into the space in front of them to dominate the situation. MORE
Avoid aimless kicking from your kickers. Give them targets and then, as they develop, make them look to kick to space and adjust to before they kick. Help players develop their understanding of how to receive a pass so they can be in a good position to kick to where they want. MORE
Develop the skills and tactics to return the ball from kicks to the sides of the pitch, between the 15m and 5m lines. A cross kick can isolate the defending winger. He needs to use kicking and running skills to avoid being caught away from his support. MORE
This small-sided game is ideal to work on players kick chase and keeping the ball alive in attack. You can use this as a standalone skills game or have it as a platform to launch a bigger game of touch and pass from. Thanks to Simon Parsons, Women and Girls Director of Rugby for Tunbridge Wells RFC and Kent U15s Girls Head Coach for this activity. MORE