Kicking & Catching
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!
in Kicking & Catching
Create another option in attack by developing a short chip and chase. The variability of the bounce will dictate what happens next, so your players can experiment with their option taking. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
This session works through the main kicks needed in a match: Grubber, punt, box and high ball. The players will also be able to work on catching.
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in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
The attacking box kick is a much-used tactic at the top level so grassroots coaches should be looking to use it as a means of exerting pressure and gaining territory. By Mark Calverley The kick should go around 20 to 30m – mark out a 10m square to aim for The 9 aims for 3... MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
Your back three need to be competent playing on the wing or as full back and they all need to be able to catch the ball and clear it from any position in the back field. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
Put players into realistic kick-chase situations where there’s a healthy competition for the ball and then trying to score or make ground after the ball has been retrieved. ACTIVITY Two chasers aim to retrieve the ball from a kick that has travelled at least 10m The defender is a “nuisance” to the chasers before turning... MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills, U12+
Every time the catcher has to jump to take the ball, he risks losing it. Use this simple exercise and extension to put pressure on the catcher and any challenger as well. By Dan Cottrell ACTIVITY One player throws the ball over two ruck pad holders are advancing The catcher comes forward The catcher jumps... MORE
in Kicking & Catching
Catching is a crucial skill. Minis must work on catching the ball in their hands away from the body and not with their arms close to the chest. Use the following three activities to sharpen up catching in a competitive yet fun environment. Start by emphasising that the best position for catching a pass... MORE
in Kicking & Catching
Use this adaptive game to develop kicking and catching skills, emphasising movement to find space to kick, and then finding the space to take the ball. This should develop cross kicking and chip kicking skills to score tries. MORE
in Kicking & Catching
The drop kick – when kicking off – has the potential to make or break your match plan. If done well it can place the opposition under extreme pressure. If done poorly, it can hand them free possession, from which they can launch an attack. It is a skill that needs to be practised regularly... MORE
in Kicking & Catching
The kick off catcher has to move around to receive a kick off and will be under pressure. If you make him jump for the ball this will make sure he is not tackled in the act of catching. Set-up A 10m box and ball. What you get your players to do Put a catcher... MORE
