Better passing technique

by Dan Cottrell in Passing & Handling, Return to play, Rugby drills

Hone a better passing technique for your players with this coach-fed exercise which starts with a focus on one player at a time and their handling ability.

Develop good habits for your players by encouraging them to turn their shoulders and hips to deliver short passes to team mates running onto the ball.

EXERCISE

Put the passer about 1m away from you. Put a line of players about 2m away in a line, ready to come forward onto a pass from the original passer.
Pop the ball to the passer. The first player in the line comes forward and the passer turns and passes the ball to them.
Either pass another ball to the passer or wait for the receiver to give the ball back to you. It’s worth having two balls in case one gets dropped.
The receiver runs to the other side, while the next pass takes place.
Repeat until the line one side is empty and then start on the next line, so the passer is passing off the other hand.

DEVELOPMENT 1

Add in another line of players, so there are two passes.

DEVELOPMENT 2

Have two lines of players with a pad holder in front of the first line.
Pop the ball to the first player who then passes before they reach the ruck pad (who remains stationary).
Change the distances to suit your players.

TECHNIQUE

Face up the pitch but then turn the hips and shoulders to pass.
Follow through with the hands towards the target.

Share this: Share

Natural sidesteppers

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

Samba crackers

in Attack, Defence, Rugby drills

Develop players’ balance and reaction in attack and defence. The session has lots of chances for good communication and teamwork. The movement disruption will mean players have to adjust their depth in attack or reconnect to the line in defence. MORE

Handling basics into handling decisions

in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills

Players work on their passing accuracy and then straight into a 2 v 1. The quick change should focus the players on working hard at executing their skills well. To improve passing, develop technique and then put it under pressure. This activity does both in a very short space of time. MORE

Two hands are better than one

in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills

Without forcing the issue, use this race to illustrate to your players the need to run with two hands on the ball, so they can pass quickly and in both directions. Two hands on the ball means players are able to pass in any direction immediately, which is important to maintain continuity. MORE

Four ways to unbalance a defender

in Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills

If your players can create a one versus one opportunity, it is a chance to breach the gain line. If they can unbalance their opposite defender, then they should succeed. Players need to understand that there are a number of ways to unsettle the defender both with and without the ball. It helps for the attacker to know what the defender is trying to achieve and reverse the psychology. Here are four of them. MORE

Positive social distancing sessions – let’s keep going

in Email Newsletters, Return to play

Many of our sporting friends are facing tough times with lockdown rules reducing opportunities to play. However, if you can get out onto the pitch, but are perhaps limited to what you can do within your bubble, here are some ideas for sessions. MORE