Keep an activity ticking over

In a game of 5v5 touch rugby, you are working on lots of different skills, including evasion, passing, defensive footwork, communication and decision-making. Players generally prefer games to drills and therefore put a lot more energy into the game.

However, there are some downsides. 

A game can be dominated by one or two players. Even with 5v5, some players can rest or push themselves out onto the periphery. Though there may be plenty of “touches” on the ball, that tends to be for the more confident players.

To a certain extent, that’s always going to be the case. So, you need to give the players a skills booster. Many of you will be familiar with the whole-part-whole system and will use a break-out activity from the main game for this very purpose.

There is a potential problem that the energy from the game doesn’t translate into the activity. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t slow down a bit in the activity to concentrate on upskilling, but you don’t want the players standing around too long.

Here’s how to maintain the momentum.

1. Nothing new

The break-out activity should be something the players are familiar with. You shouldn’t need much time to explain it.

If you are going to use a new activity, trial it in the warm-up section of the session. That’s an ideal time to allow the players to work through the various starting and finishing points and gain an understanding of the techniques involved.

2. Lots of stations

Because the players are familiar with the exercise, you shouldn’t have to be babysitting each group. That means you can have a more than one station of players exercising at one time, even if you are the only coach.

Wander around the stations, reminding the players of the key points if necessary.

3. On the run feedback

Try not to stop the exercises too often. Instead pass in feedback as they are running around or waiting for their next turn. Immediate, individualised feedback like this should be more powerful than general feedback to the whole group.

The waiting game

In the exercise on page 4, you will see one group works, the other group waits. The waiting group has a chance to learn from the working group. They can also catch their breath, so they can concentrate on the skill. Well, to start with.

Rattle through the rounds, so that the wait isn’t long and the players do becoming partially fatigued. That’s your role too. Not only will you be feeding back on the run, you will be energizing the groups to speed up their turnarounds.

Then, after a couple of minutes, it’s back into the game.