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.
Set-up
A 50x15m channel with a line of cones 10m from either end. Four players wait at one end (picture 1).
The rules
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).
Scoring
Race teams against each other to find a winner. Also race against the clock to find the quickest team.
Tell them
“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.”
Coaching tips
Gets players catching and passing while under pressure and looking for support from team mates.
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.
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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
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