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.
Defence is all about teamwork and trust. An effective defence is a simple defence and nothing could be simpler and more effective than “magic threes”.
Work on communication and looking ahead, while being aware of who’s next to who. MORE
A simple session to start with, but very intense, “pressure contact” works on reacting quickly to different contact situations and making good contacts.
The players need to be secure in their body positions in contact, so it works well after a technical session on body profiling in contact. MORE
Use this session to build players’ understanding of how to keep going forward in the tackle.
Collapsing in the tackle gives the defence more opportunity to steal or slow down the ball because it is more difficult for support players to get in behind the ball carrier. MORE
Develop your tacklers‘ ability to twist the ball carrier and win back the ball. Then, work on playing the turnover ball away.
A twist tackle can expose the ball carrier to other defenders, increasing the chances of a turnover. MORE
Make sure your players focus on their roles. They need to know what they will do once the set piece has finished or a ruck has been won and lost.
Improve your team’s continuity of possession and defence by helping them to think ahead. MORE
