It’s worth coaching rugby kicking skills as early as possible, even if your young players are not allowed to kick during games yet. By the time kicking is introduced into the game, the youngsters will have a well-developed set of core skills and a basic tactical understanding of when to kick. Use the following rugby coaching tips and drills to help. And, of course, any catching drills are going to be worthwhile as they’ll soon be faced with some up and unders too!
Stuart Alred from the School of Kicking shows us the ideal position to start the running drop punt to make sure we engage the most powerful leg muscles. MORE
This simple session helps players discover ways to return kicks with good angles, passing and communication. It’s very open and allows players the chance to experiment as well as build up a repertoire of plays. MORE
Stop the high ball “bombs” destroying the confidence of your players by creating training sessions that challenge the players to think under pressure.
One reason why players drop “high balls” is because they have so much time to think about them. They tense up at the prospect of dropping the catch. Experts seem at ease in comparison. And that probably explains why they seem to catch the most difficult kicks more often. MORE
This session works on developing running and passing skills against different defences. Players should run angles at a defensive overload and straight lines if they have an overlap. MORE
All players may need to catch a high ball - forwards from kick-offs, backs from open play. The principles of “fielding” include being aware of your support players and thinking about what to do next. This session builds on those principles. MORE
Good drop kick restarts allow your team to put pressure on the opposition. This simple exercise helps develop more players who can use this skill.
Not enough time is spent on this simple skill. Especailly for younger players, they need to work their way through the set up and technique to complete a drop kick restart. MORE
Work on your kicker’s specific out-of-hand technique so they can develop that natural ability into a repeatable, accurate skill under pressure.
Ideal to use a session the players can then go and use themselves, before or outside training time. MORE
Improve your kicking with a game of aerial noughts and crosses. Teams take it in turns to kick the ball and aim to drop it in a square which marks their nought or cross.
Aerial noughts and crosses gives your players a chance to make accurate kicks with additional tactical pressures as you build the game. MORE
