Develop your players’ 1 v 1 rucking skills in a low impact environment. This is one of my favourite challenges as a “breakaway” to work on my footwork through the contact.
Speed to the tackle area is crucial, but once there, you need to stay on your feet and be effective. This dynamic exercise keeps the players thinking because the situations are very variable.
Put a ball carrier on his front between two other players also on the ground.
They can be facing towards, away or even on their backs, to keep the situations varied.
The ball carrier rolls and places the ball towards one of the players.
Immediately, the other players get to their feet to compete for the ball. Keep swapping the players around and between groups.
TECHNIQUE
Drive the feet through the contact to generate momentum from a standing start.
Stay on the feet through the contact.
If the attacking player gets their first, he should take the space over the ball, not stop at the ball.
Start by helping the players to understand what it means to attack the inside shoulder. The exercise then develops this so players run the right line, pass the ball and then follow their pass to give support to the next ball carrier. MORE
Mismatches happen quickly and players need to judge when to go for it and when not to. There’s no better way to create lots of these scenarios than through a game. MORE
Use this easy to replicate play for under 15 level players and above with forwards and backs combining, to allow momentum for better attacking plays. MORE
Quick clearing passes, the pass away from the tackle or ruck, are an essential skill which will keep your game functioning at high speed. Encourage all your players to be able to pass away. MORE
