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LOGINFootwork to steal yards
Put obstacles in front of your players to help them develop footwork before contact. They need to go forward and sideways as they aim to avoid or manage defenders.
WHY USE IT
It is important your players understand how to “power step” into the next stride to give them every chance to get away from the defender or fend them off.
Set up
Three cones, a tackle tube, two ruck pads, up to five players.
HOW TO DO IT
- Put a triangle of cones in front of an obstacle (a tackle tube). You feed a runner who takes the ball into the triangle then steps out and forward, fending off the tube.
DEVELOPMENT
- Then, put a ball carrier facing two ruck pad holders along a 5m line. The ball carrier fends off the first ruck pad with one hand then transfers the ball to the other hand to fend off the second ruck pad holder.
- They pass to the next player, who goes back the other way.
TECHNIQUE
- The ball carrier catches the ball square-on in two hands, weight forward with chest just in front of hips.
- On approach to the coned area, they shift their weight onto one leg and drives off at a 45-degree angle onto the other. At this point, the ball is in two hands as they drive off the opposite leg.
- They transfer the ball to one hand if they need to fend off a defender. In transferring the ball, they maintain it centrally on their chest to enable them to have the ability to change hands if necessary.
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Feed a player who is running towards an obstacle
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They should take the ball in two hands, transferring it to one hand to be able to fend off the obstacle, after running a 45-degree angle
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They take the pass and step to the side and forward past the obstacle
Related Files
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A ball carrier runs through the channel, starting with two hands on the ball
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They put the ball in to one hand to fend off the first ruck pad holder
- Then the ball carrier changes hands to fend off the second pad
- They pass to a team-mate who repeats the exercise in the opposite direction
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