Sometimes players will arrive to support an attack at different times. This game delays support by making players perform tasks, pick up a loose ball then use arriving team mates to beat defenders.
Set up
A 25x10m box with a try line at one end. A line of cones 5m from the try line with two defenders in the end zone.
A ball near the cones and four attackers waiting at the other end of the box. Four obstacles placed close to the players (picture 1):
Crossed poles to run through.
An agility ladder.
A tackle shield to be passed round the body three times.
A tackle tube to be flipped forward then back. Set up as many of these as equipment/players permit.
The rules
Number attackers 1 to 4 to correspond with an obstacle. On your call of “Go!” they deal with their obstacle (picture 2). The first player to the ball picks it up and looks for support. Defenders cannot cross the coned line (picture 3).
Scoring
First team to score a try wins.
Time teams to find the fastest scorers.
Tell them
“Look left and right for support at all times.”
“Call for support on what you see in front of the ball carrier.”
Coaching tips
This works on retention skills and game vision in a realistic, dynamic, full contact environment.
“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
