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
This session thrives on the odd directions a rugby ball takes when it rolls along the ground and how the players react to it. It will improve footwork, vision, communication and reactions skills, as well as making for an alternative method of training. MORE
Though you want to avoid defenders, sometimes you will have to take contact. Develop ways to retain possession at the ruck and after by keeping the ball carrier active in the tackle. Defences will aim to force turnovers if the ball carrier can’t release a pass. If the ball carrier works hard to twist, turn and spin during the tackle, they will become less of a target. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Help players make good decisions at the breakdown on whether to pass, run or ruck depending on how many defenders are threatening the tackle ball. You want enough players to win quick ball without compromising your chances to launch effective attacks. MORE
Use superhero memes to help your players understand their roles to create better ruck ball. MORE
in Contact, Core skills
There are eight key factors for the ruck (attack breakdown) but if you had to concentrate on just one, here’s which would make the most difference to your players. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
The players need to “thunder” into the ruck – powerful and quick – when they identify that is their role. Any delay can mean slow ball or a turnover. Reduce the thinking time for players so they can execute rucking under pressure. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Make players more aware of how and when to counter ruck. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
A simple session to start with, but very intense, “pressure contact” works on reacting quickly to different contact situations and making good contacts. The players need to be secure in their body positions in contact, so it works well after a technical session on body profiling in contact. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Use this session to build players’ understanding of how to keep going forward in the tackle. Collapsing in the tackle gives the defence more opportunity to steal or slow down the ball because it is more difficult for support players to get in behind the ball carrier. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Improve the players’ mauling skills so that can keep going forward in contact and still retain the ball if they are held by a defender. In contact, the ball carrier needs to stay on their feet because they will have to give up the ball if they go to ground. They also need to drive forward to make it easier for supporting players to drive in and support them. MORE
