EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Use this mix of games and wrestle contests to develop your team’s contact skills. You will become more clinical at the breakdown and create quicker ruck ball.
The role of the first and second player at the tackle area often determines your speed of ball. Win the race and be technically good.
When touched the tackled player goes to ground and delivers the ball correctly. This focuses on good ball presentation skills. A poor presentation will lead to an automatic turnover.
The ball carrier looks to get to ground and deliver the ball correctly whilst the other player tries to prevent this. So, two players wrestle for control of the ball and the winner presents the ball back.
In the following touch game, after the touch, the ball carrier presents on the ground, and a player from each team competes over the ball.
A development of the first game. On a touch, a player from either side contests over the ball. Call who wins that contest before the ball is passed away.
Two players wrestle for the ball, and a second player from each pair lies on their chest behind. They come forward to compete for the ball when it is on ground. 8 v 8 contact area game Bringing these skills together we play a competitive, full-on tackling game.
in Attack, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Improve your players’ understanding of their roles to make sure you can retrieve kicks and attack space when in possession. Play with your Terms and Conditions, not the kicking teams’. When a team kicks into space, the defending team needs to communicate and fan out so it can run back at spaces. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Make sure your long passer engages the defence and delivers the pass in front of the receiver. Develop the receivers’ timing so you can create more space using these plays. Make long pass plays crisp to stop defenders drifting with the pass. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Rugby drills
I've just watched a brilliant, energetic colts sessions. The players loved their own company and the coaches acted as their safety net. They made sure they had the right breaks and sanitised. Of course, everyone wants to be back playing matches, but this is the next best thing. Here are some ideas to give your training sessions some different ideas so there is variety, learning and a sense of purpose. It is particularly important to retain that direction because it helps bind the players and coaches together. It doesn't have to be too formal. However, motivation comes from learning so some sense of progression is important. MORE
in Return to play, Small-sided games
Rugby is missing real competition. Whilst we can see how competition can sometimes hinder development, especially when coaches only prioritise work in sessions to achieve this goal, it must be said that without it lurking in the background, sessions feel a bit detached. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills, Warm Ups
Evasion is a fundamental movement skill. Players use in pretty much all their activities, without necessarily focusing on the specific skills they need. Without becoming too bogged down in the technical requirements, you want to improve your players starting and stopping, balance, change of direction and acceleration. With that comes an awareness of space, time, teammates, the opposition and the ball. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills
The classic 2 v 1 exercise doesn’t work well with young players. Don’t give up on it though. Try out these ideas to work on this crucial decision-making area of the game. A 2 v 1 exercise has the ball carrier fixing the defender before passing to a support player. However, for young players, this doesn’t work well. MORE
