Get players to attack defenders in close or wide situations. They will have to see where to run and change angle sharply at pace to adjust.
Players need the confidence to change angles, especially those players who are not used to sprinting and conditioning.
ACTIVITY
Put four columns of players about 2m apart.
Have the first player run towards a gate about 5m in front of the middle of the columns. As he reaches the gate, indicate which coloured cones he has to run to after that.
Once the first player has reached the gate, the next player from the next column goes and so on. After each run, the player returns to a different column.
DEVELOPMENT
Push the coloured cones further back and sometimes change the colour indicated after the gate, so the player has to change direction twice.
Have the player receive a pass on the way to the gate.
GAME SITUATION
Put four defenders opposite four attackers as in the bottom picture. Each attacker has a ball.
Call out an attacker and then, a few moments later release a defender. The attacker has to get across the try line without being two-handed touched on the shorts.
The defender and attacker join the other team.
TECHNIQUE
Run hard at the first gap, then change direction late.
Look up and run upright to see where the gaps are.
How often do you despair that your players can’t score when there’s an overlap? Why is it players drift out in attack and play into the hands of the drift defence? Here are my simple solutions. MORE
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. MORE
"With the return to rugby, I’m really worried that my team (U13s) will have forgotten lots of things about rugby. In particular, I’m trying to work out when and how to introduce contact and tackling."
This question came from a coach in Gloucester and is typical of lots of concerns around this area of the game.
It is true that the players will have "forgotten" lots of skills.
Here's how I would approach this situation. On the next page are two tackling exercises to support training.
MORE
Improve your players’ awareness of how to move together as a defensive line.
A defensive line needs to know who’s covering who and then double up if they can to make a tackle. MORE
Make sure your players use the right footwork to power through the contact area and then manipulate the ball so they can offload or present the ball cleanly.
Though power and aggression are important in the contact area, the ball carrier also needs to be technically accurate to ensure good continuity. MORE
Work on good setups and movement, jumping and organisation in your lineout pods with this dynamic activity. It should mix up roles of your players.
Let players try out different roles, even if it’s not perfect. That allows players to realise what works for all those involved in the lineout lift and jump. MORE