Use this exercise to work on proper passing technique, while keeping the hips square which engages the defenders.
Before setting up the drill, check the players’ understanding of how to hold the ball. The ball is held at about six o’clock if you imagine the ball is on a clock face, with the elbows out. The fingers are down the ball, aiming for 10 points of contact (don’t let the palm touch the ball).
DRILL
Put the players on their knees, one facing up the pitch, and the other down the pitch, about 5m apart. They will be offset, so when they pass, they are passing backwards. Ensure that the inside knee is a little ahead of the outside knee (the knee furthest from the other player).
Have the players pass the ball between each other.
Focus on technique, with each player commenting on how they are doing in terms of matching the technique template.
Keep rotating the position so the players they are passing left-to-right and right-to-left.
DEVELOPMENT
Have the players walking in a line, doing the same, focusing heavily on moving forward straight.
For more Tosh Askew passing exercises, look at these:
Use these two warm-up catching skills activities to develop excellent hand-catch habits. Tosh Askew, a very experienced coach who's worked with elite squads, shows us how to work the basics. MORE
Put your slow ball ruck plays into more game-like situations. This wrap play exercise is a good starting point, and you can then use it to develop other tactics.
A wrap play turns slow ball into quick ball and allows your 9 to recycle it at pace. MORE
“An attacker and defender run unusual running lines, which map out an R, to create a dynamic 1 v 1 which gives a chance for the attacker to attempt to step inside or outflank the defender” MORE
Expect higher standards from your players, no matter what level they are. Do this by creating one focus for the session, a principle of play they must keep to all the time. MORE
Improve your training sessions with behaviour ideas from top teachers. Jade Pearce, author of What Every Teacher Needs to Know and Dan Cottrell show you how in a rugby context. Doug Lemov, writing in Teach Like a Champion 3.0, says: “The purpose of [preventative and positive classroom behaviour management] techniques is not so much to... MORE
Use great footwork and leg drive to break through defences while ensuring support players are on hand to take a quick pass beyond the initial contact.
Get the ball carrier to run the right angles to attack the gap between defenders, smash through the tackle and then offload to their support players. The support players will learn the best lines to receive the offload. MORE
Before setting up the drill, check the players’ understanding of how to hold the ball. The ball is held at about six o’clock if you imagine the ball is on a clock face, with the elbows out. The fingers are down the ball, aiming for 10 points of contact (don’t let the palm touch the ball).
