EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Test the passing, visual and communication skills of players by having two balls being passed at the same time in opposite directions from one end of a grid to the other in order to score a goal.
A 10m square for every four players: Teams of two in each. Stack the squares and have one player from each team at both ends of the grid (picture 1). One end player holds a ball.
The balls are passed in to a team mate and passed from square to square until they reach the other end.
Whoever takes the final pass scores a goal for the team (picture 2).
Opponents can intercept any ball they wish and use it to score, but they can’t leave their own square. Both balls are scoring balls. Picture 3 shows how passes can be varied from square to square.
After every goal, grids shuffle along one to allow everyone a chance to play in the middle where most of the action happens.
The winning team is the one with the most goals at the end of the allotted time.
“Listen and react to a call from a team mate.”
“Look for the best person to pass to under pressure.”
“Move a defender to make a pass.”
This is a pressure passing game that makes a player not only try to evade a defender but also look for another person to pass to very quickly.
in Passing & Handling, Rugby drills
Use this power pass exercise to work on both passing and passing out of the contact. The variability of how the attacker is held back increases the learning outcomes as players face new passing challenges. MORE
in Contact, Passing & Handling
Don’t teach falling over. Teach the players to bounce themselves and therefore the ball off the ground and back into the game. It reduces the fear of falling by making the players embrace the ground as part of a skill for continuity. MORE
“The supporting player starts in front of the ball carrier, while the defender has his back to the attack. When you shout play, with the supporting player walking forward and the defender out of position, the players will have to think quickly to come up with winning solutions.” MORE
Change your try lines so they extend up the edges of the pitch to create a new sort of challenge for the players. The initial outcomes may seem strange, yet you may find the longer-term benefits help your team’s go forward. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Small-sided games
A ball carrier races into the channel and then turns to beat a chasing defender to the end of the channel MORE
in Passing & Handling, Small-sided games
Lines of three players pass the ball quickly to the end player who races to a line in front of them to be the winner of the groups. MORE
