EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
When it comes to coaching fundamentals, you don’t get much more fundamental than passing. Players aren’t all blessed with lightning pace or accurate kicking skills, but every player should be able to pass. The passing drills and handling activities in this section provide countless ways to improve your players passing and handling skills.
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Pit forwards against the backs in this exercise to develop straight running and quick handling. It puts your players’ skills under pressure and the session can be adapted to suit groups of any size. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Switch passes - also known as “cuts” - should be a natural part of the passing armoury. This session uses a simple exercise that can be set up with lots of stations. Players will learn that timing and angles are as important as the pass itself. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Timing the run is a tricky skill that requires setting up lots of scenarios in training. Use this busy activity to mess up the running lines of support players before they readjust to take a pass at pace. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Develop your players’ ability to take the ball on the run, change direction immediately and then pass the ball either left or right quickly. This activity is all about carrying the ball in two hands. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
The ball spends more time on the ground in matches than we allocate time for in training. Dropped passes or aimless kicks are frequent so all your players need to be ready to drop on a ball on the ground, gather it and get back up. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Performing quick passes in a small space improves players’ continuity and support skills. This session forces players to attack from different angles while using sharp passing. Changing direction in attack and good communication are also essential. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Watch our drill to practise three core skills in one exercise – running with the ball, stepping wide of an opponent, and passing to a support runner. Once players have got the hang of it, have a race. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Developing catching skills needs to be converted into a game context as soon as possible. This session will help the players take tough and unusual passes, and then turn them into good possession. It is a fresh way to mix up your handling training. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Here are some fun ways to challenge your 9 or any player passes from the back of a ruck. Using pieces of equipment, you create unusual passing scenarios. It means that the passer has to find solutions, then adjust their feet to pass accurately. Also, the receiver has to time their run, based on the way the passer has adjusted themselves. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Practice plans
Get your players working on 2 v 1s in tight and wide situations. In all cases the ball carrier needs to attack the inside shoulder of the defender. However, the different widths of the channels make the style of pass different. A good session for both backs and forwards working together. MORE
