Retrieving kicks can mean a chance to counter attack, but it carries risks. Your ball carrier is likely to be behind his team mates and therefore needs to find support so he does not become isolated. This session is about players’ options when running with the ball.
Retrieving kicks can mean a chance to counter attack, but it carries risks. Your ball carrier is likely to be behind his team mates and therefore needs to find support so he does not become isolated. This session is about players’ options when running with the ball.
Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7
What to think about
If teams can kick, they will try to put the opposition under territorial pressure. This will isolate the full back and wingers.
These back three players will have to run forward to help their supporters get onside or run slightly sideways and away from the defenders to buy themselves more time.
If they cannot link with a support player, they have to be strong in the tackle, fighting to stay on their feet until they can receive protection from their team mates.
set-up
Run forwards to help put your supporters onside.
The first ball carrier is the focus of the defence. Move the ball away as soon as possible to change the focus.
What you get your players to do
Put the first receiver at the back of the box, in the middle. Place another support player on a far corner and a ball carrier half way along one of the sides. The ball carrier throws to the first receiver. He catches the ball and runs forward to link with the other supporters.
Work with the players on calls, running lines and options for different groups (say 13, 14 and 15, or 8, 11, 12).
The player at the side throws a high pass to the player at the back. He runs forward and links with the other two players.
Development
In the same box (or a larger one), set up the attackers in the same way, but add a defender at the far end.
The defender kicks the ball to the back of the box and then follow his kick. Play touch rugby.
If the ball carrier is touched in possession, then he must go to ground, and the defender is allowed to compete for the ball on the ground.
Related Files
core-220-support-seekers.pdfPDF, 168 KB
The defender chases his kick, while the support players move to the catcher. If touched, the ball carrier has to go to ground.
Game situation
Set up the defenders and attackers as in the bottom picture (you can add in another attacker at the side if you want).
The defence kicks the ball to the attack, and play grab tackling. If the attacker is grabbed for more than two seconds he has to go to ground. Both teams can then compete for the ball on the ground.
If the ball carrier is held for more than two seconds he has to go to ground. The players can compete for the ball on the ground.
What to call out
“Force the defence off line with your run to buy yourself time”
“Run into position to take a pass – you know what the ball carrier is capable of!”
“Call to tell the ball carrier where you are, or are going to be”
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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