EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Passing at pace is a real skill and a defence splitter. By teaching players how to do this at a young age you are arming them with an effective weapon they will use for the rest of their rugby lives.
A 50x15m channel with a line of cones 10m from either end. Four players wait at one end (picture 1).
You throw the ball to the nearest player and the four players advance.
The ball must be passed three times (handled by everyone) before the first 10m line of cones is reached. The final player sprints to the far set of cones with the other three in support. Once there, the ball is passed to everyone in the end zone as before and a try is scored (picture 2).
Progress by adding a defender to ensure ball carriers run at space – draw the defender and make a scoring pass (picture 3).
Race teams against each other to find a winner. Also race against the clock to find the quickest team.
“Arms across body when passing to a target given by the receiver, or to an area in front of them while running.”
“Tell the ball carrier where you are – call for the ball.”
Gets players catching and passing while under pressure and looking for support from team mates.
in Passing & Handling, Small-sided games
Ged Hall challenges players to be effective in finding space and passing, either on their feet or from the ground (the deck!). Good for fitness as well as decision-making. Deck hands is seemingly a very simple game to play, but beneath its simple exterior is a game that challenges players physically, mentally, tactically and technically. MORE
Twenty years of writing about coaching makes you reflective. I did use games 20 years ago. I invented some at the time, and still use variations of them. You would think by now I would have seen them all. MORE
in Attack, Passing & Handling, Small-sided games
Keep the players thinking about where to attack as the defence move around dynamically, adding in players as the attack becomes more successful. MORE
in Small-sided games, Warm Ups
Use this quick-to-set-up game, including an easy-to-adapt playground element, with rewards and forfeits thrown in. This is a game I will use at the start of sessions as a pulse raiser, sprint activation and to develop realistic evasion skills. It takes less than a minute to set up and can be played with three or more players. MORE
Use this game and its variation to create opportunities for players to make decisions on when to attack open or go back to the blindside. Create opportunities to stretch the defence and then attack where they are weakest. MORE
Here’s how I set up a game to work through some plays which had been designed to help a team run with either quick ball or slow ball from rucks. MORE
