Use this activity to put more decision-making pressure on the ball carrier and supporters. Make it a high tempo session with lots of goes, and feedback on the run rather than halting the exercise.
Attacking players who can read body shapes of defenders stand a greater chance of making the correct decision in the contact zone. Knowing when to fix a defender (to draw and pass), to outpace a defender (flight) or to attack a weak shoulder (fight) depends on the defender’s body shape as he enters the tackle zone.
Spread out five attackers, with two at the front and three at the back.
Call out one or two defenders, and which colour gate for them to run through.
Have the 9 pass the ball to either one of the front attackers. The players behind that attacker on either side offer support.
Use grab or full tackling, with the ball carrier aiming to use one of three decisions based on the shape and positioning of the defenders.
TECHNIQUE
Fix a defender by running at one shoulder of the defender at pace.
Fight the defender by stepping inside if he oversteps as he covers across.
Beat the defender on the outside by swerving out late.
Get players to attack defenders in close or wide situations. They will have to see where to run and change angle sharply at pace to adjust. Players need the confidence to change angles, especially those players who are not used to sprinting and conditioning. MORE
Mix up forwards and backs in attacks from rucks by running a box formation. Have two players at the front and two at the back. The ball carrier has multiple options to pass to when he attacks the line. MORE
This small-sided game is ideal to work on players kick chase and keeping the ball alive in attack. You can use this as a standalone skills game or have it as a platform to launch a bigger game of touch and pass from. Thanks to Simon Parsons, Women and Girls Director of Rugby for Tunbridge Wells RFC and Kent U15s Girls Head Coach for this activity. MORE
Challenge your team’s go forward by seeing who can score a try the fastest. A full contact small-sided game which will add an additional pressure element to create a tactical edge. MORE
From a tight or close ruck, a one-pass play can create go forward outside the fly-half or first receiver. Use this session to open your players’ mind to different possibilities. One pass plays are low risk and so should be executed with greater confidence and pass at the tackle line. MORE
Make your ball carriers world beaters by providing them with the best support the team can provide. Support players make more decisions than ball carriers. They have to second guess the ball carrier and defence movement. MORE