Up and plunder

WHY USE IT

Pressure high balls are a great way to go forward, turn the defence and ask questions of an opposition back three. They are even more effective in poor weather, or accompanied by a proper chase, with your best high-ball catcher challenging and other support players covering for the dropped or tapped ball.

set up

Split players into groups of 10: A back three defence, plus one other, and six attackers. Cones are used for starting positions, target areas and to mark set pieces, like rucks or mauls.

HOW TO PLAY

Activity: Start with a feeder passing to a kicker, who is aiming for a target zone to gain their range (see top illustration). Then, with all 10 players, start the back three on cones in a defensive position, waiting for the kick. From a coned, simulated set piece, the attack sets up with a clearing passer, a kicker and four chasers. The extra defender puts pressure on the kicker. The ball is passed to the kicker, who sends up a high ball, pursued by their chasers, who challenge the back three (see middle illustration).

coaching points

• The majority of kicks will be end-over-end, keeping the ball in the air longer, with back spin. A more effective kick can be the high spiral, where the ball goes up point first, but, more importantly, comes down point first. This is much quicker and sometimes moves in the air (see bottom illustration).

1. Start the session by giving the kicker target practice and range finding. Always use a feeder

2. Mark out targets that are far enough away (say 20m) so that runners might get under a high ball
   
   

1. Put a back three in typical positions in defence

2. Mark out a ruck and put a defender in to pressurise the kicker. A feeder passes to the kicker

3. Four chasers put pressure on the catcher
   
   

1. An end-over-end kick (striking it on the point) tends to be easy to execute and flies rotating backwards towards the catcher
2. More difficult to catch (and execute), the spiral kick tends to come towards the catcher point down. It also swerves more in the air, making it harder to judge the catch