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How to train core skills and make it interesting
Basics, like catch/pass, tackle and the contact area, need constant attention. But how do we keep players engaged when we revisit them?
The modern game has developed dramatically since the birth of professionalism, in 1995.
The biggest change has been the increase in ball-in-play time, from an average of 26 minutes, to 38 minutes. This has been down to an increase in the number of passes, tackles, collisions and kicks-in-play.
These skills are now executed under increasing pressure, with less time to make decisions. It is vital, therefore, that basic skills are coached and trained regularly and consistently throughout a training program.
Training the same skills over the course of a season can be seen as boring. But, if you explain, consistently, why those skills are so important, you can get buy-in.
Varying your practices will keep players engaged through the skill-development phase. Using several different teaching practices will enhance the speed at which a skill is learned, but will also give players a fresh approach to learn and test the skill under different scenarios.
Training options
Blocked practice: Practising the same skill under the same conditions. This will lead to more rapid gains in performance, but limited transfer when variability is introduced.
Variable practice: Practising the skill under changing conditions, where there is a lot of interaction and decision-making involved in the skill execution. This will lead to longer-term retention of the skill, under a variety of conditions.
Game-based practice: The use of games to enhance the learning through playing the game and promoting critical thinking and problem-solving.
New to established core skills
When coaching a new skill – for example, scrum-half pass from a lineout – I would utilise a 50/30/20 rule, utilising the practices above.
Focus 50% of the training on blocked practices, getting the player used to catching the ball off the top in the same position and firing the pass to a static target.
Use variable practice for 30% of the training time, looking at the pass from different catching positions in the lineout, different types of delivery and different targets to pass towards.
Then, use the remaining 20% of the training time to challenge the skill in a game-based practice, where a competitive element is added.
This could range from a target competition against another player, or using a lineout delivery focus during a practise game, where each ’touch’ could see the attacker deliver the ball to the scrum-half from an off-the-top focus.
Once the skill has been developed, I would change the balance of training towards more variable and game-based training – so 20% blocked practice, 50% variable practice and 30% game-based practice.
This type of training activity can be used to coach all different skills and will keep your players actively pursuing development in their game.
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