EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
In rugby, footwork and evasion skills are the “fine arts” – ways to run with the ball and beat players with skill, pace and panache. These articles include ways to coach players to have “rugby speed” not just pace, and evade contact with nifty “rugby footwork”. Try one of the footwork and evasion drills below at your next session and see how you get on.
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag, Return to play
Get your ball carriers used to running forward to score tries. This session can be run as a warm-up or as a proper tackling session as well. Often players fail to run forwards even when they know the try line is that way. This session should encourage them to attack a space in front them and go for it. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag, Return to play, Rugby drills
Develop your players’ go-forward skills with evasion in this competitive scenario. It’s easy to set up and you can add lots of variations. Even though some of the players will “cheat” by not exactly stepping to the side of the cones, their swerves and go-forward will help them replicate these skills in a match situation. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Passing & Handling, Return to play, Rugby drills
Here is another 20 minute session which can be run with five players and one coach, all keeping 2m distance apart. It has element of competition and pressure to put skills under pressure. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills
Spinning out of the tackle is skill that all players can work on. It can give the player the momentum to break the tackle and move beyond the defender. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills
Ball carriers have a better chance of beating tacklers if they are going forward and changing their angles. Encourage players to do this, even if they are facing two or more defenders. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Help your players discover the power of passing and evasion under pressure with this game. “Danish long ball” can be used to trigger lots of skills exercises, with players returning to the game afterwards. For instance you could work on long passing, sidestepping or communication in between bouts of play. MORE
in Core skills, Footwork and evasion
Develop the ball carrier’s ability to change direction at pace without breaking stride. They learn to lean to maintain their speed using this competitive session. Unlike a side step, a swerving player gently changes angle. Build up the skill with the players learning how to lean and run. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Passing & Handling, Rugby coaching videos
Develop a go-forward mentality with your ball carriers, and then ways to keep the ball alive with their supporting players. This is a more physical activity, but also rewards good footwork and creative ways to pass the ball out of the tackle. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Practice plans, Tackling
“Same shoulder, same foot” is one method of making a powerful tackle, because it maximises the power through the body and into the tackle. It requires good technique and good timing, both of which this session works on. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag
Use this activity to develop running forwards with the ball in two hands, and aiming to evade an oncoming defender. MORE
