Fitter teams win more games – it’s as simple as that. Of course, we know that most clubs will not have a fitness trainer or a well-equipped gym. But there is a lot you can do yourself. The fitness and conditioning drills in this section look at how you can help your players to get fit, stay fit, avoid injury and recover more quickly. How many times have you seen a close game decided in the last 10 minutes because one team is fit and the other is running out of energy?
in Fitness & Conditioning, Small-sided games
This game enables you to examine how your players react when fatigue is creeping up on them. Are they able to maintain their physical and mental speed, and does their technique hold up as their energy declines? MORE
By Colin Ireland, Physical Education teacher with sixteen years’ experience working for the Scottish Rugby Union Fluid play and keeping the ball alive needs the attacking players to be balanced and in position to offload the ball. The players should become comfortable with carrying the ball in both hands, work on this with this session.... MORE
From Rugby Coach Weekly All players can run faster and you can help them by steering as far as possible away from these three myths. 1. Knees up Sprinting is about power generated when the foot drives off the ground. That does not come from “high” knees. In fact, making players get their knees up... MORE
It is said that a good "big un" will always beat a good "small un". The same is true of a good fast "un," so it's worth spending time on rugby drills and games that will boost your rugby players' speed and acceleration skills.
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The following tips and drills follow on from Core skills and fitness drills, and focus on vertical jumps, moving from an upright position to a lying down one, tackling and sprinting around agility poles. MORE
It is important to introduce rugby skills training into your training drills as soon as possible, and preferably during the pre-season programme. MORE
Work on these key factors to improve your rugby players’ sprinting skills. MORE
Here are four rugby training drills to increase leg power and build up players' fitness for areas such as scrummaging, jumping and tackling. MORE
Skipping is a highly versatile basic rugby drill which can benefit rugby players in a variety of ways. It can be used to develop coordination skills, flexibility, agility, speed and both vertical and horizontal power. MORE
All players need to develop an aerobic fitness level before they can train and play effectively. Young players can be encouraged in this by playing games and concentrating on a variety of rugby training drills. MORE
72 of rugby’s tactical concepts in simple, plain language, perfect for anyone who’s ever been stumped by jargon. MORE
A comprehensive guide to rugby coaching for beginner coaches. Designed to help you build your players' techniques, skills and understanding of the whole game from ages 8 to 16. This is a thorough guide that will help you coach with confidence, even if you’re just starting out. MORE
Ready-made, age-appropriate, safe training activities, to provide a complete rugby coaching curriculum for players from ages 11 - 16. MORE
