Get your attackers making decisions about how many players are needed to exploit an attacking situation.
Mark out a 15m x 10m area and divide it into three 5m channels. Number the channels 1, 2 and 3.
Put five defenders on the line facing channel 2 and five attackers with a ball on the opposite line facing channel 1.
You call out how many defenders are needed, in this case “two”, and that number run into channel 1.
Attackers then need to communicate with each other and decide how many players they need to score a try at the far end of the channel. That many attackers then enter the channel and attempt to score. Defenders use full tackling to defend their line.
After five seconds, shout “change” and the attackers run to the start of channel 2 – you then shout a new number of defenders needed and they enter channel 2 and the drill repeats.
You will need
A 15m x 10m area split into three 10m x 5m channels
1 ball
Cones
Bibs
Got more players?
Set up another 15m x 10m area and run another game alongside
What to tell your players
“Use passing and offloads if there are low numbers of defenders.
“In contact, look to clear out the threats”
Develop your players’ skills around the tackle area so they can retain possession if there’s no chance to offload the ball. It requires accurate execution and you have a chance to observe whether your players can achieve this.
Players react quickly to a tackle to protect the tackled player against the first threat. It focuses on the first support player being the player who last passed the ball. MORE
The battle that takes place after the tackle is one of the most underappreciated areas of the game. The 5 F’s give you some ideas as to what to develop in players to gain an attacking advantage in these scenarios.
In many instances, we see the attacker as a passive participant in the tackle until they get to the ground. However, in a number of games, it’s frequently the actions of the attacker in these scenarios that can make a difference to the result. MORE
Use this simple ball carrying trick to help your players retain more ball in contact. The session works on developing your players’ ability to rip down the ball just before contact whilst, unusually, targeting a defende MORE
I coach boys ages 14-18, they have the skills and ability...but so often they play like scared kittens. How can I build fire and desire in my players? MORE
Develop better handling skills by forcing the players to manipulate the ball with one hand in and around the contact area. This session picks out some one hand contact situations for players to find solutions. MORE
We’ve five key elements to our club coaching philosophy, one of which is “Protect”. This refers to each other and also to protect the ball. Here’s our ball protection policy. MORE