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 Attack, Passing & Handling, Practice plans
The loop pulls in defenders and creates space for your runners. The passer follows his pass and takes a return pass on the outside of the receiver, thus creating an extra player in attack. It can be used in isolation or as part of a set piece move. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Players work on their passing accuracy and then straight into a 2 v 1. The quick change should focus the players on working hard at executing their skills well. To improve passing, develop technique and then put it under pressure. This activity does both in a very short space of time. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Without forcing the issue, use this race to illustrate to your players the need to run with two hands on the ball, so they can pass quickly and in both directions. Two hands on the ball means players are able to pass in any direction immediately, which is important to maintain continuity. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Use this game-exercise-game activity to develop passing skills for all ages of players. You control the intensity to suit the skills of the players. They have to inject the energy. Use a game to motivate the players to improve their passing, then develop it in an exercise before returning to the game. MORE
Improve your players’ handling ability. Stop them reaching for long passes when they are on the run. Change your training setups to allow players to attack the ball properly. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Improve your players’ catch-pass techniques at speed so a player can take the ball at full speed. The players learn to adjust the pass to meet the receiver. If a receiver can take the ball at pace without breaking stride they have more chance of exploiting defensive weaknesses. 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 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
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 Passing & Handling, Return to play
Exploit the space on the outside for your wingers by using effective passing and fixing defenders. Give your speedsters enough room to run in that space. If you have a quick winger, then you need to hold up the midfield defence and allow that player time and space to attack. MORE
