EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
It’s not always easy to get young players to embrace contact which is why we’ve spent so much time devising and testing contact drills that will help your players grow in confidence. Use them alongside our tackling drills to develop a team of players that are comfortable making and taking contact.
in Contact, Rugby coaching, Rugby drills
Here is a new contact activity, and how I would introduce it to players who've not seen it before. It works on good techniques in the ruck area and decision making around the tackle. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Keep your team on the front foot in the breakdown area by making sure the players use good techniques and make the right choices on which threats to deal with. MORE
With sometimes 150 or so tackles made in a game a tackled player’s actions can make the difference between winning and losing. Trying to offload in the wrong situation is extremely risky, but then, so is holding or placing the ball. Groundwork will develop the crucial decision making skills for tackled players and their supporters. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Be the lowest player at the ruck to secure the ball or turnover. No one does it better than Aussie flanker, David Pocock. Here’s how to coach your players to be more effective at the contact collision. MORE
in Contact, Defence, Rugby coaching, Tackling, Team Management
Some players find it hard to control their emotions, in training and in matches. Here are ways to build a calmer player without reducing their enthusiasm and drive to succeed. MORE
You will never beat “live” practice but how you get there is also important. Good use of training aids will develop the detail that allows your team to progress and keep them fit and reduce injuries, says Richie Gray, former contact skills coach for Springboks. MORE
in Attack, Contact, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Here’s an outline of a session I ran for a young team who needed to work on their support work at the breakdown. I used a whole-part-whole approach to keep the skills in context, focusing on game sense. MORE
in Contact, Passing & Handling, Rugby coaching videos, Rugby drills
Get your players to work on their fending skills to maintain ball security and still be able to manipulate the ball in contact. They will have to hand-off fast and offload the ball quickly in this activity. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
The RFU U11 rules of play only allow three players from each team into the ruck area (ball carrier/tackler plus two). All teams can learn to use these skills to win this contact collision contest. MORE
in Attack, Contact, Rugby coaching videos, Rugby drills
Sometimes, a play from a ruck finishes behind the original ruck. Help your players understand their roles and reactions to reset and attack again with this scenario activity. MORE
