If a player changes direction just before contact, he has a greater chance of breaking the tackle. Younger and less experienced players need to find out which methods of changing direction work best for them. “Footwork fireworks” develops the basics in realistic match-like situations.
If a player changes direction just before contact, he has a greater chance of breaking the tackle. Younger and less experienced players need to find out which methods of changing direction work best for them. “Footwork fireworks” develops the basics in realistic match-like situations.
Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 5-7
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7
What to think about
It is likely that the ball carrier will get bumped by the opposition. Therefore, avoiding contact should also be seen as avoiding a big contact. You can say to the players: “Use good footwork to reduce the impact of the collision”.
Good footwork keeps the ball carrier balanced so he does not fall when bumped. He also wants to be able to run on if he gets through.
Crucially, the ball carrier needs to keep going forward, because any loss of momentum will give the defender an advantage.
set-up
Aim for the gaps to pull defenders out of position.
Go forward with the ball at all times.
Drive through the contact area.
What you get your players to do
Set up one ball carrier and two ruck pad holders as in the middle picture. Have the ball carrier start near one corner of the box. He has to use footwork skills to get across the end line defended by two ruck pad holders. The ruck pad holders only move forward once the ball carrier has moved.
This is a likely scenario in a game where defenders are not always directly in front of the ball carrier.
Develop, if the players are ready, by removing the pads to encourage tackling.
The ball carrier must stay balanced and ready to change direction before contact.
Development
Put a defender in the middle of the box and a defender at a far corner. Put two attackers at the corner diagonally opposite.
Have the attackers aim to cross to the far side of the box. The ball carrier can only pass if he is tackled and not before. If he cannot pass, he must play the ball on the ground for his partner to pick up and continue.
Related Files
Core-180-footwork-fireworks.pdfPDF, 208 KB
The ball carrier has to get over the line defended by the ruck pad holders. The ruck pad holders move forward when the ball carrier moves.
Game situation
Put six attackers across the box. Have two defenders on each side of the box about 5m back from the attackers. The attackers must combine and use footwork to break tackles and cross the end line. Start play with the attackers and play full contact rugby.
Stop if there is a ruck or infringement.
The defensive set up should encourage the ball carrier to use good footwork. Support players must read the footwork to take offloads.
The ball carrier has to use good footwork to get past the defenders. No passing is allowed unless there is contact.
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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