Quick hands, straight runs

Running straight while passing the ball quickly is a basic but not straightforward skill. This is a session that you can run all season, teaching players how to preserve space and exploit overlaps.

Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7

What to think about

Though the exercise is simple, combining catching and passing with running is surprisingly difficult. It will expose the range of handling abilities within your team. You might want to split your team according to ability to challenge each group in a different way. However, mixing up abilities can help weaker players develop quicker and make stronger players adapt to the circumstances – remember they all have to play together as a team anyway.

set-up

1. Hands towards the pass.
2. Keep your hips towards the opposition try line.
3. Keep the ball above hip height and follow through to the target.

What you get your players to do

Mark out the cones as in the top picture. Three players run around from the side of the box. Each enters the box through the coned gate marked A. The first player receives a pass from a feeder at the side of the box. He passes to the next player, who in turn passes to the next. All passes must be completed before players reach the end of the box and no one can drift outside their column. Initially they have some leeway to go sideways. Adjust the length of the box to challenge the speed of hands.