When pad work makes sense

Some coaches will make a point of never using ruck pads or tackle tubes for training. They will point out that they don’t replicate the sort of contact you make when you make a tackle or try to drive a player away in a ruck.

They are, of course, completely right realism. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them in training. And here’s why.

1. BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING

For some players, the very thought of contact is quite scary. A few bumps up against a pad or driving into a tackle tube gives them a better feel.

With a tube, they are likely to fall to the ground, another scary prospect for some. With a ruck pad, they have to brace, use their feet and sense the resistance.

It is an introduction, not a substitution for contact. They won’t learn the full technique.

2. MORE CONTACT REPETITIONS

Some contact and tackle skills can be broken down in their component parts and practised on pads and tubes.

For example, footwork, body height, balance and grip can be repetitively practised without too many bumps for the players.

See Mark Calverley’s exercises on page 4. He uses the ruck pads to help players learn better techniques and allow them to get into lots of repetitions.

3. SOFT SCENARIO TARGETS

You can’t play full-on rugby throughout training. Some pad holders can provide targets if you are running some scenarios. While they won’t provide a real tackle, at least the players will have a chance to scan for spaces.

See Sean Holley’s activity on page 5 which uses ruck pads to start the scenario.

4.  MORE FUN

They are fun. Break up training with some pad work or get some players throwing themselves into the soft centres of tackle tubes.

In conclusion, as long as you don’t use them extensively for contact training, they give you more training options, adding variety to sessions and reducing impacts.