EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Giving an accurate clearing pass should be a basic skill that all your players develop, just like running, passing and tackling. This session, “Clear it”, allows you to improve your players’ passing technique, while developing the decision making skills needed to fill in at 9. MORE
Being aggressive in the tackle and presenting the ball well will create quicker ball at the ruck. This session focuses on how your players take contact if they can’t avoid it. Winning the contest at the breakdown is a fundamental piece of your core unit skills. MORE
in Fitness & Conditioning, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
If your team are struggling for fitness, then running them up and down the pitch is one way of improving their conditioning. A better way is to use a ball. This session uses some simple exercises to improve skills as well as lung capacity. MORE
in Contact, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
This session concentrates on attacking the space behind the defence. The players will work on bursting through the gaps and then popping off to the supporting players. It shouldn’t just be seen as an attacking session though, because you can improve tackling and defensive skills at the same time. MORE
in Attack, Footwork and evasion, Practice plans
Scoring tries is too often a given skill. This session makes a virtue of good body positions. It creates a hard session which the players will enjoy because of the obvious potential outcomes, scoring tries. Your team will also learn how to protect the ball close to line and how to coordinate a last ditch defence. MORE
in Attack, Practice plans
Any player who loops around another or peels round from a lineout, is running around a corner. That corner is defended by just one player. Attacking around the corner creates an extra attacker. If the corner is taken sharply, without much loss of pace, then there is good chance for a break. This session develops those skills. MORE
in Attack, Practice plans
Turnover ball can be as important an attacking weapon as clean setpiece ball. Quick use of the turnover ball can make it even more potent. This session builds on the tactic of clearing the ball from the danger area with two passes. The final game adds in the key factor of not knowing exactly when the turnover is going to occur. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Work on core passing skills and decision making in quick succession. Make sure players continue to develop their basics and tactical awareness. An ideal session to rebuild confidence or even for pre-season. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
This session concentrates on players kicking a ball ahead on the ground. They have to control it, gather it and score, as they might when pouncing on a loose pass from the defence for instance. They might have to dribble the ball, or pick up and pass it. Any player may be in this situation and it will be a good source of tries over the season. MORE
in Attack, Practice plans
The use of pods, that is small pre-defined groups of players, used to be the preserve of the top teams. However you can utilise these groups to help your players gain more structure and, crucially, know where they have to run and who they have to support. MORE
