Scoring corners

by Dan Cottrell in Footwork and evasion, Rugby drills

Use this activity to improve players’ ability to scan what’s in front of them. It will allow the players to develop their footwork options before contact or in open play.

All the targets are in front of the ball carrier, so they will need to go forward but still avoid the defender.

ACTIVITY

Put a ball carrier about 3m behind a gate of cones. Put a defender in front of the gate, from 3-5m away. Stand behind the defender.
Have the ball carrier come forward, through the gate of cones and aim to run to either cone at the side – whichever you indicate.
The defender can only move side to side and no further than the cones either side of him.

GAME

Put a line of attackers about 3-5m away from one corner and a line of defenders around 3-5m from the edge of the box.
Have one attacker run through the gate in front of him and then aim to score at one of the corners. He gets 1 point for a score at the nearest two corners and 2 points for the far end.

In the meantime, the defender runs through the gate in the middle before aiming to two-hand touch the ball carrier or tackle him.
Give the ball carrier about 5 seconds to score before calling a halt. Release the next set of players quickly.

TECHNIQUE

Look up and so stay balanced. Drive off one foot to get to the target.
Attack one space hard and then change direction with conviction.

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