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 Attack, Contact, Practice plans
Players love simple targets. Not just simple targets to achieve, but simple targets to understand like moving the ball from one end of a box to another. That’s why they will enjoy “blast”. It works on the ball carrier and his support making progress up the field whilst a defender attempts to prevent their progress. This expands into a match situation where the “blast” might be used. MORE
in Contact, Rucking & Mauling, Rugby drills
The first support player at the ruck needs to decide whether to clear out a threat and, if so, which technique to use. Start by developing three key techniques, then put them into a game situation. MORE
in Contact, Email Newsletters, Rugby drills
I love using this exercise as part of the warm up. There's not much running, meaning lots of opportunities for plenty of low-level repetitions of the same "drill" but with different small outcomes. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
Encourage your players to arrive square and low, driving up and forward into the ruck area. This exercise helps players work on low hips and leg drive, with short powerful steps. The extra pad on the ground promotes a more balanced stance in the drive. MORE
in Contact, Rugby drills
When a ball carrier is close to the tackler, he needs his support players to give him information on what to do next. Work on this communication and contact skills with this rip-roaring session. MORE
in Contact, Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling
It is a recurring theme that players find themselves too high in the contact area and, therefore, are not effective. Here is a simple session which you might have used parts from before in which the coach uses a flag pole for the players to run under. MORE
in Contact, Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling
If all your players follow this session, you will win quicker ruck ball – I guarantee it. The idea behind the session is simple. The more players who arrive in the contact area at below the hip height of a standing player, the more effective your team’s rucking will be. MORE
Forget cargo nets or limbo flagpoles to keep your players in a strong, low position. This fun session is designed to keep players at the best height for contact and keep them on their feet. MORE
Taking the ball into contact is unique to rugby, as are the skills and mentality required to succeed at it. So introduce contact sessions early to your players to help them assimilate the concept over time. MORE
in Contact, Footwork and evasion, Practice plans
One of the simplest “weapons” in your attackers’ armoury is the “step and pass”. Here the ball carrier runs toward the defender and, at the last moment before making contact, steps to one side and passes the ball back into the space he has just run from. Meanwhile, a support player is running into the space to receive the ball. MORE
