Warm up with rondos, the grid game, prison break and blockers

Here are four great warm-up games to energise your players while working on skills and decision-making.

Notice that I’m keen to showcase player-led activities for warm-up games. This is a good chance to build more cohesion amongst the players, while you are still providing a certain amount of control on the direction of the session.

Set up and run the game over several weeks before giving over the reins to the players. However, don’t be afraid to step in sometimes to reiterate rules or the reasons for the exercise if you feel the standards are not matching your expectations.

Developed by Harlequins DPP coach, George Ross, Warm-up Rondos are quick to set up and can be player-led if you want. With six variations, they will be a good heart-rate raiser for the session as well as a good breakout exercise.

The grid game from Tom Sheridan can also be used as a breakout exercise. A more developed version of rugby netball, it has challenging ways to increase the pressure on the players.

Prison break can also be player-led and explores footwork skills. Good for younger players who aren’t yet confident with their ball handling.

Blockers: Super-quick footwork and handling warm-up is one of my favourite super-quick set up games. It will create lots of energy as players look for spaces while others try to take that space away.

Warm-up Rondos

in Rugby drills, Small-sided games, Warm Ups

Originating in football, the Rondo is a small sided game that encourages many touches of the ball and can be easily constrained to impact the desired outcomes. Use them as a starter activity, getting players to self-organise into these simple games to work on their catch/pass skills under pressure. MORE

The grid game

in Small-sided games, Warm Ups

Use this game to raise the heart rate, develop finding space, footwork and practise applying skills under increasing degrees of difficulty. MORE

Prison break

in Footwork and evasion, Small-sided games, Warm Ups

A fun game to help work on defensive footwork as well as evasion skills from attackers. Develops evasion skills, plus defensive footwork and communication. MORE

Blockers: A super-quick footwork and handling warm-up

in Warm Ups

Set your players up for the session with this competitive warm-up game which helps them use footwork, communication and in the development, passing skills. MORE