EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
in Attack, Rugby drills
Coaching 2 v 1s to young players can be a tough task. Why not try to coach them these skills through games only? How many 2 v 1s happen in a senior rugby match, let alone young players’ rugby? In the purest sense of just two attackers facing one defender, not many times in senior... MORE
in Return to play, Rugby coaching, Rugby drills
In Return to play needs more winning and competition, we discussed that competition plays an integral part in developing players whether we approve of it or not. In our current RTP environments, it might be missing. We gave the example of using intrasquad/interclub tournaments as a way of encouraging some competition in our sessions. In this article, we are going to discuss another way of creating competition, a Sports Day with our players as competitors. A 'Sports Day' gives us the perfect opportunity: To create a competitive environment within our sessions. Provide us with a chance to carry out some covert physical testing of players which can be used to guide future session design. To analyse how our players perform, and if extra fitness work is needed, adapt our sessions to provide more physical stimulus. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Though the session is called “simple hands”, there is nothing easy about passing and catching under pressure. Your players will improve with focused practice in matchlike situations. The variety of angles and approaches they make forces players to concentrate on their technique under pressure. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills
Create a rhythm of pass, support and probing for space where your attackers keep shifting the defence until they spot a gap to attack. Ideal attack training for sevens too. The ball carrier has to work hard to do three things in sevens: 1: Fix the defence by keeping straight. 2: Running in support after the pass. 3: Maintaining depth in attack. MORE
in Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Here are two versions of the same game. In each one, it is a basic 2 v 1, but the angles of attack and defence keep changing depending on the target. It really challenges the role of the support player to put themselves in a good position to give the ball carrier options. MORE
in Girls/Womens, Podcast, Rugby drills
In episode 3, Dr Anna Stodter and Dr Ed Hall give Jess Bunyard and listeners a tutorial in all things coach development and learning. The group tackle: what effective reflection as a coach looks like, diversity within coach education what the future holds for coach education. Whether you want to discover what it takes to research coach education or how to make your coach learning better for you, this is the pod for you. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Passing & Handling
If you can spot gaps, you need to get the ball there quickly. That's the best space. What happens is the best space on the edges of the defence? That might need some quick but long passes. Work on your players' technique and put it under pressure with these exercises. MORE
Create the desire to win the ball in the air, for kick-offs, high balls and lineouts. This session creates jumping and catching challenges for different situations. Let the players discover what works for them and try out lots of scenarios. GAME 1 Stand 5m away from two players who are side by side in a... MORE
in Attack, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
The natural reaction of a good player must be that once he passes the ball, he follows the ball. If he can then get outside the player who he passed to, he creates an extra man in attack. Otherwise he is in a good position to support if the receiver goes into contact. This session looks at using the loop to create this extra support player. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Improve your players’ understanding of their roles to make sure you can retrieve kicks and attack space when in possession. Play with your Terms and Conditions, not the kicking teams’. When a team kicks into space, the defending team needs to communicate and fan out so it can run back at spaces. MORE
