Offloading in contact can be beyond, behind or away from the tackler. In other words, the ball carrier rides the tackle and bounces off to pass back to a team mate. He takes the tackle on his terms, possibly spinning out of it and releasing a pass to a player who has got better forward momentum.
Offloading in contact can be beyond, behind or away from the tackler. In other words, the ball carrier rides the tackle and bounces off to pass back to a team mate. He takes the tackle on his terms, possibly spinning out of it and releasing a pass to a player who has got better forward momentum.
Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7
What to think about
This is a “feel” skill because it depends on the relative strength, size and handling ability of the ball carrier. He has to feel how and when to pass the ball from contact. You are introducing him to ways to solve this problem. It might be something he uses in every match several times (especially if he is a forward) or a skill that he comes to later in his playing career.
It also provides an interesting dilemma: Do you need to coach the player to run through the contact (attacking the side of the defender), or to slow down, set and then pass? The first reduces the chance of losing the contact, the second is safer for retaining possession. Again, the players will learn to “feel” what works.
set-up
- Keeping the ball in two hands, attack the defender, turn (spin) and offload (pop).
- Tuck in the elbows before contact, release them in the pass.
- Communicate to the ball carrier when to pass.
What you get your players to do
Put several 1m lines of cones into the 5m x 3m channel. Split players into groups of three with a ball. The ball carrier runs at a line of cones, stops and turns, either spinning or just turning before offloading to a support player, who does the same to the next set of cones (see picture 1).
Add a ruck pad holder in front of each set of cones for more contact (see picture 2).
The ball carrier “attacking” the cones before turning/ spinning ahead of them and popping to a team mate who does the same at another set of cones (develop by using ruck pads instead of cones).
Development
Put an attacker and defender (optional for defender to hold a ruck pad) about 1m apart. The attacker drives into the defender, using him to bounce off. He then turns and passes to another support player who has started about 5m away.
Once the attacker has become comfortable with this, put him and the defender about 5m apart. The attacker aims to beat the defender who is only allowed to tackle at waist height or above. He offloads to his partner if he cannot beat the defender.
The ball carrier driving into a defender, bouncing back, turning to deliver the ball to a team mate.
Game situation
Play a game of 4v4 in a 15m square and use full contact.The ball can only be passed out of contact (see picture 3). Turn over the ball if players pass before contact or there is an infringement.
Where passes are only allowed out of contact.
What to call out
- “Fend with the arm to create more width”
- “Pass back into the pocket of space behind you”
- “Drive your hips round to spin out of the tackle and turn to face your supporting player”