EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag, Rugby drills
Create a competition to get to the line, with the attacker either using speed or evasive skills to beat a defender coming from a different angle. This easy to set up activity can be run as a breakout from games or as a large group in lots of boxes. Mix up the players so sometimes... MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag, Return to play, Rugby drills
Develop your players’ go-forward skills with evasion in this competitive scenario. It’s easy to set up and you can add lots of variations. Even though some of the players will “cheat” by not exactly stepping to the side of the cones, their swerves and go-forward will help them replicate these skills in a match situation. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag
Use this activity to develop running forwards with the ball in two hands, and aiming to evade an oncoming defender. MORE
in Mini tag, Podcast, Rugby Coach Weekly with Dan Cottrell, Rugby coaching
Wilbur Kraak, a senior lecturer and rugby researcher at Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, has recently published his findings on the effects of a skills specific coaching education programme on the skill level of mini-rugby players. Working with Jacques Basson, their conclusions shed further light on what good practice design looks like... MORE
in Mini tag, Rugby coaching videos, Rugby drills
Use this race to improve passing, the idea that players have to stop after a tag and pass and the role of the support player chasing after the ball carrier to receive a pass after a tag. MORE
in Mini tag, Rugby coaching, Tips
Know what children want and then change your way of coaching to keep them coming back for more. MORE
Young players tend to crowd around the ball, but this honeypot effect can mean your team doesn’t exploit space elsewhere. Embrace their enthusiasm and still develop some shape to your attack. MORE
Spend time on skills but see if you can develop them through games and competitive activities. MORE
in Mini tag
A manic game which tests agility, passing, speed and awareness. MORE
in Mini tag
Improve the evasive skills of attackers and defensive footwork of taggers in this “shooting” game. The ball carriers are the skeets, and the defenders are the shooters. MORE
