EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
in Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Here are two versions of the same game. In each one, it is a basic 2 v 1, but the angles of attack and defence keep changing depending on the target. It really challenges the role of the support player to put themselves in a good position to give the ball carrier options. MORE
in Attack, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
Improve your players’ understanding of their roles to make sure you can retrieve kicks and attack space when in possession. Play with your Terms and Conditions, not the kicking teams’. When a team kicks into space, the defending team needs to communicate and fan out so it can run back at spaces. MORE
in Return to play, Small-sided games
Rugby is missing real competition. Whilst we can see how competition can sometimes hinder development, especially when coaches only prioritise work in sessions to achieve this goal, it must be said that without it lurking in the background, sessions feel a bit detached. MORE
in Return to play, Small-sided games
Use these questions to support planning and reflection in your players as they are playing Ready 4 Rugby matches/training. Below each question, I add some of the possible answers and follow up questions. Of course, the players may come up with even better thoughts. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Small-sided games
Use this quick to set-up warm-up evasion game to challenge the players to avoid contact and, as defenders, work as a team. The defenders will have to think about where to put their strength, the attackers on how to overload the defenders. There could be some interesting solutions. MORE
in Rugby coaching, Small-sided games
I challenged Twitter with this: If a 'game' within rugby training doesn't offer the ability to transition immediately from attack to defence and vice versa, it isn't a game, rather a conditioned drill. Here are my reflections based on the responses I received and my own research. It might just make you think again about your practice design. MORE
in Return to play, Small-sided games
Challenge players to react to the chance to have an extra player in attack and how to defend against it. It’s a quick game, so decisions will need sharp action. No match has unequal numbers unless there’s a yellow card. But sometimes the attack has an overload as a tackler is temporarily indisposed. Replicate that with this game. The “changer” will be doing most of the thinking. MORE
in Contact, Kicking & Catching, Rugby drills, Small-sided games
This session thrives on the odd directions a rugby ball takes when it rolls along the ground and how the players react to it. It will improve footwork and reaction skills. The players are reacting to a bobbling ball that might shoot out of the side of a ruck or be knocked back from a lineout, or be because of a dropped pass. MORE
in Return to play, Small-sided games
Let's discuss the different ways on how to plan and structure a coaching session using games and other practices based on your session or longer-term intentions. MORE
in Email Newsletters, Small-sided games
Games in training are fun. They can also be extremely productive in helping players develop their skills and game understanding. London Irish Academy coach Rhys Davies has taken four well-known adaptive games and looked in detail on how you and your team can gain a load more. He does this by looking at alternative rules, developing more constraints, asking pertinent questions to both attack and defence. Each activity comes with possible answers, plus a pocket-friendly PDF handout rules and question reminder. There are also skill zone ideas to help you fit this into a full session. MORE
