EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Rugby netball is a good game for warm-ups. Here’s how I add in my progressions and why.
Use a pitch with a try scoring zone at each end.
Equipment is different size rugby balls, tennis balls, football, frisbee even.
Attacker cannot run with ball in hand and passes to attackers who can, once you receive a pass you stop to pass again. It is multidirectional.
Defenders can intercept the ball then attack.
Attackers cannot stand in the try scoring zone waiting for ball to score. To score a try, the attackers have to pass to player moving into the try scoring zone.
Want attackers to be finding the space. Working hard off the ball.
I normally progress quickly.
If ball is dropped turnover but add in a different ball to a new attacker.
Tennis balls can only be caught one-handed.
Add in two balls to the attacking team, turnover if a player receives a ball when already holding one.
Ball cannot be passed above shoulder height (really encourages attackers to move to space – getting in front of the defenders).
Ball must be passed within 2/3 seconds of catching it. Defenders must be a 1m away from player with ball.
Introduce kicks too.
Use all the progressions as before but attacker with ball can now also run, if touched by a defender then player must pass or kick – still multidirectional. Defender who makes touch must take a knee and rejoin game once ball is passed/kicked.
Turnovers if the ball lands on the ground.
At boss level, it’s interesting to watch them play as they naturally build attacks, and ball tends to go backwards rather forwards. All of this without them realising that they are then starting to play it as rugby.
Ask them what are they seeing? How is the game now being played? What can be improved?
Move this game on to ball can only go backwards but with one player who can stand in the offside (ahead of the play) position and can receive a kick to score.
More examples of rugby netball on the site:
in Footwork and evasion, Passing & Handling, Small-sided games
A player races out to pick up a ball cleanly and then win the race to the far line. MORE
"An attacker tries to get the ball onto a cone before they are touched by a defender. Defenders can only run around the perimeter of the shape.” MORE
in Attack, Defence, Small-sided games
Attackers aim to use feints, footwork and handling to score over one of two try lines. MORE
“The defender keeps themselves light on their feet, head up and marking a potential break, coming forward to close down an attacker when they move forward” MORE
Players must win the race to the best space when attacking. In defence, players must work early, scan early and look to close space to force errors. Attackers seek space, defenders take it away. This is also true over the ball. Run this game over a series of sessions to gain the most benefit as the players develop their understanding of the tactical implications. MORE
Here’s a series of super-quick activities to set up and use to mix up your training to keep all your players occupied. Ideal to hand out to your co-coaches and aimed at a range of core skills in game-like contexts. Here. is a series of what I’ve called Quick Coach. They are mini-activities aimed at four to six players. The aim is to provide you with a bank of breakout exercises you can run during your session. They should only last around five minutes, but the key is that they are very quick to set up and can be run by any coach in your group. They can even be run by one of the players if appropriate. MORE
