EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Whether it’s in pre-season or you need a boost during the season, use this series of three sessions to ensure you have a strong scrum base. Here are the first two weeks.
Even amongst older players where individual scrummaging skills are pretty secure, a few short but highly focussed scrummaging sessions keeps your forwards tight and skilled without using much training time. All such live practices should be done with boots on a suitable grippable surface.
This session concentrates on each player having a good scrummaging body shape, which also benefits rucking and tackling in particular.
The focus now is actually on working as a unit as a scrummaging pack. If numbers permit by all means scrummage live with one pack against another although a scrummage sled may be useful anyway just to make sure everything is in place correctly.
Set up the scrum and look for “spines in line”.
Now work on driving forwards together. Primarily, players should drive with their inside legs – that is the leg closes to the scrummage midline drawn between the hooker and number eight’s heads.
in Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills
Your team needs to be able to score in a variety of ways using different methods, as sometimes phase play and handling will only take you so far against a quality defence, especially those that blitz. The chip and chase can be a very useful option. MORE
in Rugby drills, Tackling
The Welsh back rower, Dan Lydiate, is synonymous with the low tackle, which brings an attacker to ground quickly and forces him to release the ball. Get into the habit of “chopping” down the ball carrier with this drill. MORE
in Attack, Attack, Rugby drills, Tactics
The inside pass is an effective weapon against a sliding defence. The receiver hits a flat pass and a gap in the defensive line to break through. This activity finishes the break with a try. Initially work on an inside pass against a sliding defence, with three attackers and two defenders. The player taking the... MORE
in Rugby drills
Support play is one of the forgotten core skills in rugby, though it remains one of the core principles. A lot of it is around awareness. That is, awareness of the support player's proximity to the ball carrier, and what might happen next. The support player might need to be ready to take a short or long pass, win a contact situation or realign for the next pass. Use these activities to help players make better decisions when they know what's coming next, or anticipate what they may have to do. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills, Tactics
Using this simple movement of your blindside winger and full back, you either attack at the tackle line or behind it, depending on the movement of their defence. So, create a simple attack with two lines of runners. Either attack on the “tackle line” with the 12 passing in or out to the players coming from behind. Against a quick defence, 10 passes deep to the second line. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills
Double up in attack to draw in defenders or create space. This increases the ball carrying, offloading and technical skills of young players in a simple but effective way. Encouraging a player to run with the ball carrier to offer support not only puts an end to isolated attackers also but teaches that a support runner can benefit from being in the right place at the right time by scoring a try. MORE
Like other disciplines, rugby has a jargon of its own. Unless the meanings are explained they can be meaning-less. That's why I've explained them in plain, simple English and with large, clear illustrations in my manual Rugby Tactics Made Simple. But not only that, you'll learn how to coach the tactics with my tips. If you’re new to coaching or prefer a more simple style this is a great, straightforward introduction to rugby tactics. "It highlights the key fundamentals of all aspects of play & gives coaches a good understanding of terminology and techniques at the highest level" - Richard Whiffin, assistant coach at London Irish MORE
Anxious about coaching rugby to children? Maybe you're already coaching, but sometimes struggling to get your points across at training? Perhaps you sometimes simply run out of preparation time? Possibly you're feeling your sessions are getting dull? Do you want a few new skills to boost your player's skills now? Or to help your players develop the techniques for seasons ahead? Maybe even the core skills for their whole rugby playing career? Here's the answer... MORE
Ready-made, age-appropriate, safe training activities, to provide a complete rugby coaching curriculum for players from ages 11 - 16. MORE
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