EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
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, Practice plans
The grubber kick can unlock tight defences, but only if it is executed well and used at the right time. Developing the technical skills needed can be done in a closed training environment. But developing the understanding of when to use the kick is best learned through playing kicking games in training. MORE
in Attack, Kicking & Catching, Return to play
Playing to the corners is part of a territorial game. Tactically it applies pressure on the opposition, can force turnovers or gain field position as the defence struggles to clear. How does this work and how can we put this into a training session. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Practice plans
Any player may need to catch the high ball. Usually forwards from the kick off, backs from open play. The principles of “fielding” the catch include being aware of your support players and thinking what to do next. This session builds on those principles. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Return to play, Small-sided games
Use this kicking game to improve kicking, catching and tactical awareness, as well introduce some fatigue elements into training. Tactically, using a variety of kicks, the aim is to find spaces where the defenders are not covering. MORE
Build up the skill to kick accurately and then kick to where the defence are not. Often kicks in open field are aimless. In this session, challenge the players first to kick to where they intend to, and then to kick to where the defence are not. In other words, look before kicking. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
The quality of the chase can define the quality of the kick. Work on “killing” the options available to the receiving team, thus pressurising them into mistakes or poor returns. MORE
By changing the angle of the ball and the foot position your kickers will be able to punt the ball further. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Small-sided games
As kicking is introduced into the game, players need to be ready to catch or gather a kick and then play away from the kick. This session develops those skills. MORE
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
Use this session work on your players’ ability to catch a kick and play away from the catch quickly. It’s a good all-round warm-up session as part of your unit skills. MORE
School of Kicking coach, Stuart Alred, explains why and how changing the shape of the kick from a C to a J gives you a more accurate, longer kick. MORE
