Kick off timing

LOGIN

Subscribe today to access over 2000+ drills, 350+ ready made practice plans, and more.

Winning the restart after you have scored gives you a great psychological advantage. The technical part of leaping to receive the ball and then delivering it requires specific training outside the normal team run through. This session works on the first stages of timing the jump and support.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 10-15
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

How are you going to organise your support players for the catcher? In most cases, one support player stands behind the catcher in line with the kicker and the catcher. Depending on whether you are expecting him to lift the catcher or protect him when he receives the ball, he will follow the catcher’s movement. A front support player initially will face the kicker, before turning to follow the ball towards the catcher. He should either support the catcher in the air, or run slightly in front of the catcher before turning to support him. He must not block opposition players, but should get close to the catcher. A third support player should be almost directly behind the catcher to pick up loose balls, take the offload or drive in on him in the event of contact.

set-up

Call early for the ball and jump to take it.
Support players: get in behind the receiver.

What you get your players to do

Make one player hold a tackle pad. Get him to advance onto a receiver, who is attempting to take a high ball from a kick off receipt. One player can throw or kick the ball towards the receiver and the tackle pad holder. Ensure the catcher turns his body side on to the attack as he receives the ball.

The receiver needs to get his hands above his head and be in the air to catch the ball.

Development

Place one player with a ball at the corner of a square, with three players to chase a throw or kick into the receiving group. Put a receiver and two supporters about ten metres in from the opposite corner, with another player behind. The ball is thrown towards the receiver, who catches and offloads it to either a close supporter or the back player coming round. The thrower’s team run forward to compete for the ball. Adjust the distances to create different sorts of pressure.

Related Files

Advanced-183-kick-off-timing.pdfPDF, 118 KB

The receiver needs to get in position to leap and catch the ball.

Game situation

Set up a kick off situation with four forwards, plus a winger and scrum half on each team. In addition the kick off team has a kicker at the centre spot. Use a normal kick off, but it must land within a designated 20 metre square area, 5 metres in from the side of the pitch. The receiving team get two points for a clean catch, and two points for getting across the 10m line. The chasing team get two points for a clean catch and two points for getting over the 22m line.

The supporting players need to get into position to protect and move the ball away from contact.

What to call out

“Get off the ground to take the ball”
“Get your hands above your head”
“Sight the incoming ball through your hands”

Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

Editor's Picks

Saracens Academy: Behind the scenes with the Wolfpack

Inside the plan for an international match

My best tackle drill

Contact attack and defence, with “ultras”

Planning four week "bites": rucking

Practice Plans

Go forward from the lineout

The session looks at running and support lines from the back of the lineout. There is a run up of around 10-15m for the ball carrier before ...

Long pass plays

Develop long passing for specific plays. This session works on running lines and timing as well as improving accuracy of passing in match-...

Four-man contact pods

This session works on players taking the ball into contact in groups of four. This is most likely in a game when you know the opposition is ...

Increase your options for 10

The fly half (10) has a controlling position to launch his team away from the opposition and into open spaces. He needs to be comfortable ...

Newsletter Sign Up

Join over 75k coaches that are saving time searching for fresh coaching ideas with our free email newsletter: ✔ New drills ✔ New games ✔ New warm-ups. Delivered direct to your email inbox

3v3 chop and turnover

Use this game to develop good defensive line speed, with the aim of getting the ball carrier to ground quickly and regaining the ball.

Lineout bumps

Use this activity as a warm-up before more physical lifting exercises. It works on speed, footwork and efficiency for lineout-pod players.

Backwards set piece

This session looks at simple set-piece recovery strategies, mainly involving one player retaining the ball and staying strong, and team-...

Fix a defender and pass

Holding defenders to open space for receivers to move into is a key skill. Colin Ireland and Dan Cottrell present key points to help ...

Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

Be a more effective, more successful rugby coach

In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.

SUBSCRIBE

Get Weekly Inspiration

All the latest techniques and approaches

Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.

We've been at the cutting edge of rugby coaching since we launched in 2005, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.