Passing & Handling
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
Help players understand how they can create space by running “offline” and then passing back inside. Support players can now judge their runs and go through the gaps. MORE
in Passing & Handling
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. MORE
in Passing & Handling
Make sure your decoy runner is actually a credible threat coming onto the ball while keeping himself legal in the process of “taking out” defenders. MORE
in Passing & Handling
With defences working hard to get into the attacking line and intercept passes, develop more effective ways to beat the interceptions by passing over the defenders. MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Develop the players’ understanding of when they can pass without looking at the receiver, using this simple exercise to embed the skills and communication needed. ACTIVITY A ball carrier sprints up the narrow channel, aiming to get to the middle cones before passing A supporting player runs behind the first ball carrier A defender races... MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Pass the ball down the line quickly while attacking the ball at pace. Instead of the players stretching for the ball, the catcher spreads the fingers of his farthest hand like a spider. The players will catch better, move faster and pass quicker. ACTIVITY Four attackers run backwards before lining up to take a pass... MORE
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Picking up the ball at pace from the ground with one hand not only looks impressive, it can lead to turnovers, counter attacks and tries. It’s all done in one motion without breaking stride. ACTIVITY You roll the ball to a point 5m from where a runner has to pick it up with one hand... MORE
in Attack, Footwork and evasion, Passing & Handling, Rugby drills, U12+
Develop a chain of passes with players running different angles and coming from different depths to challenge defences. By Dan Cottrell ACTIVITY Call which colour cone to run around Three attackers run into the box A feeder waits by the side of the pitch The attackers run around the coloured cone and then readjust to... MORE
in Attack, Defence, Mini tag, Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Encourage a good free pass and acceleration of the ball carrier, with the free passing looking to support a possible return pass. By Dan Cottrell Two attackers start with a free pass when you call a colour The defender runs to the coloured cone you called The free passer aims to be support the ball... MORE
in Passing & Handling
Create a “flow” in your passing exercises that generates energy to keep passers working hard and accurately. Why use it? Instil a natural flow of passing in your players with this activity that starts slow and increases in tempo and rhythm. Set up A 15m x 10m box, two balls. How to... MORE
