Lockdown planning: Quick ruck ball sessions

If you are able to train, then you will be aiming to improve your players’ skills and tactical appreciation around specific areas of the game.

If you are in lockdown, it’s a chance to hone your session planning in readiness for your return.

To enhance learning, you are better off focusing on an “arc” of learning for a specific area. This means spreading out the training over a number of weeks, rather than dedicating one session to this.

Here’s a four-week plan for quick ball rucks, but you can split this up into more sections if you want.

Objective: Apply pressure on the defence by recycling the ball from the ruck as quickly as possible.

Week one: Ball placement

Week two: Body positions into the ruck (height)

Week three: Body positions into the ruck (drive)

Week four: Speed to the ruck

Let’s say you dedicate 15 minutes each week to the activities and assuming you have warmed up before the start of contact, you could use a mix of games and drills.

Each session may include all of the skills from all of the weeks. However, each week focuses on the specific skill, the reasons why it is important and how the players could improve their own contributions.

The mix depends on the skills of your players. Here are four ideas to help.

• Introduction to “rucks” session
• Coaching decision making at the ruck, the Razor way
• Rucking at your right height
• Base ruck

Introduction to “rucks” session

in Rucking & Mauling, Small-sided games

First time for rucks, or even the second season of rucking? Then use this session to get your players thinking and then playing contact in the right way. MORE

Coaching decision making at the ruck, the Razor way

in Rucking & Mauling, Rugby coaching, Small-sided games

Making quick, accurate decisions at the ruck will help create quick ball. The role of the first supporter at the ruck is based almost entirely on the threat of the nearest defender. Here is how I define the different options and ways to coach those options more effectively. MORE

Rucking at your right height

in Contact, Rucking & Mauling, Rugby drills

Not all rucks are made the same and neither are the players. Especially in the forwards, the difference in height can mean they need to explore varied techniques. Here’s how… MORE

Base ruck

in Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling

Simple to set up, these activities work on improving individual rucking and rucking as a group. There are no bags, just bodies to drive out from the tackle contest. It challenges players to find rucking solution but with a low body position. MORE