Draw defenders out of position and then use short passing for the support player to run onto. Use this activity to get the timing right and then put into a game situation.
Encourage the ball carrier to fix a defender by running at him and then stepping to the side to draw the defender away, with the support player run onto pass in the space left by the ball carrier.
Players start in groups of four in single file with the front player holding a ball.
The first player runs to the first cone and steps to one side.
The second player accelerates onto a pop pass running straight over the cone.
The first player then drops to the back of the line while player two runs to the next cone and repeats the step and pop pass to the running player three.
Continue in this way until everyone has run and popped a pass.
Move onto a 2v1v1 game to test the support player’s effectiveness .
The ball carrier runs at the first defender, drawing him to the side and passing to the support player.
The second defender can’t move until the support player has the ball in his hands.
The support player then has to try and evade or break the tackle of the second defender – or pop pass back to the initial ball carrier who should be in support.
TECHNIQUE
Support players track the ball carrier and stay close to him.
Sympathetic pop passes from the ball carrier to the support player.
Support players hold their run and accelerate onto the pass from a deep position.
In Hard and Fast with the Miss Pass, we set up a “miss pass” training session. The miss pass is a long pass which skips one player, with the missed player drawing a defender in the process. MORE
A hard and fast flat miss pass can cut out defenders before they have a chance to change their running angles. It can lead to clean breaks as your attackers exploit the gaps.
By scanning the line and hitting the ball at an angle towards a space, the ball carrier is going to be almost impossible to stop. MORE
Training games, like touch rugby or contact games, tend to be competitive.
They should have:
Context: the players should know, either before or after the game, the reason you are playing. Fun/enjoyment are a given. However, what are the potential rugby outcomes?
Points: the players will want to know what the score is, and what the points system is.
Now, let's spice this up MORE
Already leaked more tries than you expected this season. Here's some cures to shore up your defensive line, which concentrate on technique, skills and organisation. Remind your players of what they do well and then help them to address their weaknesses. MORE
If you are coaching adult rugby, then you are probably already beginning to put in some elements of contact into your preparation programme for next season. If you are coaching youth rugby, then you need to carefully consider the regulations about contact rugby. For example, in England for under 11s and below, you won't even start "contact" of any sort until the actual season starts. MORE
Use our two simple tactics to pull defences one way and then kick the other to surprise them and give your chasers a good chance of gathering the kick unopposed. MORE