Need to build or rebuild your scrum? Need to keep your forwards engaged in training with new and interesting ways to improve their scrummaging?
Here are four different ideas to help out.
First, we’ve got a Three-step guide to coaching first scrums. This is designed for players who are new to scrummaging, but its back-to-basics approach can be used at all levels of the game – sometimes you have to restart the whole process to check the players are comfortable with what they know.
For slightly more advanced players, you can introduce the idea of Scrumming together. This full session develops the players’ core strength and scrummaging position, and is lots of fun too.
For a more technical full session, try out Firm feet in the scrum. The connection with the ground is a key aspect of effective scrummaging and hence the focus of this activity and developments.
Finally, Build a scrum and win it is a tried-and-tested activity that integrates the scrum within a game context. This is good for all the players, not just the forwards. For coaches who are working with younger players, this activity is an opportunity to try out players in different scenarios.
This simple session develops players’ core strength and scrummaging position by making them control their body shape as they move. Scrummagers work together, so it makes it a co-operative session and not a competitive one. Good for all scrummaging positions. MORE
A lot of time is spent on foot positioning before the scrum engages, but once engaged there are lots of situations for the forwards to react to. The instability of the scrum means feet might need to go forwards, backwards or sideways. This will help set a stronger platform. MORE
Host Phil Llewellyn with guests Paul Shepherd, Alex Field and Russ Bolton review some of the many great podcasts and webinars from the last week. The team pick out the key takeaways from each episode and how to use it on the pitch, at all the levels of the game. Richard Cheetham on embedding learning... MORE
Encourage all the best attributes in a good defensive line with this game of slide and hammer. It will improve your teams’ line speed and cohesiveness. MORE
Organisation and line speed are the foundations of an offensive defence. This activity develops the lines of running, communication and speed to put pressure on the attack. MORE
Ball carriers have a better chance of beating tacklers if they are going forward and changing their angles. Encourage players to do this, even if they are facing two or more defenders. MORE
