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Two support games
These will challenge all players’ skills, but the main focus is on the role of support. In one game, they’ll have no depth; in the other, they’ll have little time to realign.
CHALLENGE 1
Score tries when the support players have very little depth.
Set-up
A 7m long box (or perhaps longer for older players), 30m wide, with a 3m no-go zone.
HOW TO play
- One team stands just in front of their no-go zone with a ball, opposite the other team, who are also in front of their no-go zone. The no-go zone also acts an in-goal area.
- The game starts, and always restarts, with a free pass.
- Play full rugby, including kicking.
- Teams score a point for a try and a point if an opposition player runs into their no-go zone area. If they are defending, and a tackle pushes them into the zone, they aren’t penalised.
- Play first to five points.
How to challenge your players
- What are the best words to use to communicate?
- Outline your role, depending on where the ball carrier is.
- Which passes work best?
- How can you take more risks?
- How do the rewards balance out those risks?
- No player is allowed to go into the no-go zone behind them. If they do, it’s a point to the opposition (unless taken over the line in making a tackle)
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Always restart with a free pass, with all the players inside the playing area
- Play full contact
CHALLENGE 2
Score tries when the support player has very little time to realign.
SET-UP
A 15m by 30m pitch (adjust to age group).
HOW TO PLAY
- Split players into three equal teams, and then have a game of two teams v one – for example. 4v2, or 6v3
- The attacking team starts 5m from their own try line, with the defence 5m away.
- Play touch rugby. If touched, the ball carrier must go ground.
- They have two seconds to pop the ball up OR three seconds from once the ball is on the ground for another player to run over it and the next player to pass away. Failure to do either ends the attack.
- After five attacks, rotate the defending team with one of the attacking teams.
WAYS TO FEEDBACK/ NUDGE DURING THE GAME
- Have a 10 second tactical break. Count down from 10, and then restart the game.
- Make one player the “coach’s pet”. Make suggestions to that one player as the game progresses, but out of ear shot. They must communicate those ideas to the team. For example, “can the ball carrier make more yards before they go to ground?”
Related Files
- Two teams join together to play one team for five attempts. Play touch rugby
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An attempt is over after a try, an infringement by the attack or the attack fail to perform the post-tackle skill
- Touch rules: EITHER...A player has to pop the ball off the ground immediately OR...Place the ball, have a team-mate clear over, and the ball is passed away within three seconds
Dan Cottrell
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