EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
All players can be more effective in the tackle area, but what are the top players doing that your players can also copy and use in games. Here are two ideas to work on in training…
The pro-coaches have many benefits available to them and one of them is the opportunity to review footage of every game in detail. And this shows a level of detail that most other coaches can’t see.
We hope most of our players can make their tackles.
Even if that’s the case, you will still find that some players will not trust their team mate and try to help make the tackle as well.
This leads to two players making the tackle. Of course that has some advantages. We might be able to drive the player backwards, and at least one of the tacklers will be strongly placed to challenge for the ball as the opposition support players race back into position.
But too many times, the “other” tackler makes no difference, and falls over and out of the game. That’s a wasted player who’s unlikely to be back in the defensive line in time to make a significant difference in the next play.
In tackling practices, we encourage the tackler to complete the tackle by regaining their feet as quickly as possible and then challenging for the ball. This is good technique but we need to watch how the professional players have taken this one stage further.
Legally, if the tackler has gone to ground in the act of making the tackle, he now cannot enter the tackle from any angle. He must come through the tackle gate, which means he has to play the ball from directly behind the tackled player or tackler closest to their own goal line.
Often the best way for the tackler to cause the maximum disruption if they find themselves on the opposition’s side of the tackle (which is likely if they made a passive tackle), is to go back over the ball, with their backside to the opposition. However, they must clearly be seen to NOT touch the ball. It’s all about perception to the referee.
More and more top sides are encouraging their second defender not to try to win the ball but instead disrupt legally.
Here are some tackling exercises to work on these aspects of the game:
in Return to play, Rugby drills, Tackling
Here is a 15-minute mini contact session based on reintroducing players to the contact area. What’s important in this early stage is to revisit the basics of contact. Not only as players’ techniques may have slipped during lockdown, but also in an effort to make everyone’s contact area safer and better. The session focuses on technique in a safe but competitive environment, enabling the players to have fun with first getting the contact positions right and then working on their tackling. MORE
in Return to play, Rugby drills, Tackling
This session reintroduces players to the tackle, checking that players remember the basics of tackling safely and working on getting clear of the tackle area quickly once the tackle is completed. MORE
in Return to play, Rugby drills, Tackling
Here are some activities to support your stage D tackling training. Using small groups, they look at rebuilding tackling skills in a low impact environment and developing a game-related understanding at the same time. MORE
Kicking tactics have changed. With more players in the backfield covering kicks, you now need to savvier with your kicking game. A kicking game is still a key way to jumble up defences. However, defences are staying out of rucks and spreading across the field, thus allowing more players in the backfield. With more players behind the first line of defence, there is less space to kick to. These two factors have meant that kicking has to be more accurate. We cannot get away with kicking the ball long without an excellent chase. We have to think about where we are kicking. MORE
You need to be flexible in your approach to backline defence and suit the strengths of the team you coach. But there are principles you need to keep to be effective in the modern game. COACH THE TEAM, NOT THE SYSTEM I have coached a number of different teams and I think it is important... MORE
in Defence, Rugby drills, Tackling
Match-time tackling can be 1 v 1, but often it’s a team effort, especially for younger players. Use this simple activity to build confidence, communication and tackle technique. MORE
