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.
U8 MINI-TAG | HANDLING 5 ACTIVITY: Pick up and pass race 1. Split your players into pairs. Make one from each pair A, the other B. Put all the balls in the middle of the circle (you can spread them out or keep them bunched). 2. Have the players run around the outside of the circle. The […]
U8 MINI-TAG | HANDLING 4 ACTIVITY: Running crossovers 1. Split up your players so there are at least two standing by each cone. Give a ball to one player at each cone. 2. Have the ball carrier at each cone run across the area and give the ball to the player at the cone on the opposite […]
U8 MINI-TAG | HANDLING 3 ACTIVITY: Run onto a pass 1. Divide your players into “runners” and “feeders”. Line your runners up behind the two starting cones and put your feeders on either side between the second and third cones. 2. When you shout “go” the runners race forward. Just as they pass the second cone, they […]
U8 MINI-TAG | HANDLING 2 ACTIVITY: Rugby netball 1. Split the players into two teams and put one player from each team inside a scoring zone. Throw the ball to one team. Their aim is to get the ball to their team mate in the scoring zone – but only by passing, they cannot run with […]
“Cat-flapping” is an exciting way to build core handling skills for close contact. It enables players to offload on the move out of the back of their hand and maintain continuity. Why use it By using the four points of contact and then two (as taught on page 8), players can pass the ball out […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly The miss passer has to engage his defender before passing and then follow his line through to get into the defence. Here’s how to teach this skill from the very beginning. Why use it Works on the core skills of making the pass and then the running line of the miss passer […]
By Colin Ireland, Physical Education teacher with sixteen years’ experience working for the Scottish Rugby Union Overview Minis are so enthusiastic about supporting each other they often find themselves overtaking the ball carrier or end up taking the pass standing still. Players will begin to realise that being in the right support position means they […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly A simple activity to get your players completing lots of passing and realigning. It also builds up good technique which increases passing confidence. Why use it Improves handling skills under match-like pressure and also forces players to play with their heads up. Set up A coned-off 5m square, seven players and […]
Improve your players’ ability to take and give a pass under pressure and at pace, allowing them to set up space for an overlapping runner. 1. Set up a 15m x 9m area. Split the area into three 3m channels and number the channels 1, 2 and 3. 2. Play 3v2 – put attackers in […]
From Rugby Coach Weekly 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. […]
