Run the gates

by Eamonn Hogan in Fun rugby games, Small-sided games

Evasion skills are essential but there aren’t always big spaces to move into. This game works on getting players to avoid contact in enclosed areas while maintaining possession.

Set-up

Play on a 25x20m area with two tackle tube gates (or ruck pads) separated by a single tube on one side (picture 1). Five attackers (A) opposite five defenders (D).

The rules

The first attacker and first defender enter their gates. On reaching the tube barrier, the attacker has one second to decide which way to run and beat the defender (picture 2).

Defence is two-handed touch tackling. Keep going until all have attacked and defended and keep a count on the tries scored per team. Then swap attack and defence and play again to find the winning team.

To progress, send in two attackers but only one goes through the gate. This gives the ball carrier 2v1 options.

Scoring

A try is scored if a player beats a two-handed touch. When it’s a 2v1, the player in possession has to avoid being touched.

Tell them

“Low centre of gravity, stay on your toes not heels and don’t overstep – this slows you down.”

“Look at the defender and change direction accordingly.”

Coaching tips

Presents a match-like scenario and challenges players to evade contact while keeping the ball.

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About Eamonn Hogan

Eamonn has been a coach since 1991 and spent his years in the RAF honing his skills working in England, Scotland and Germany. Upon leaving the military, Eamonn has volunteered his time with the Leicester Tigers Academy, coaching at club level, Constituent Body and regional levels in the Midlands along with multiple experiences at many State and Independent schools. Here he has worked as an educator in Sport and PE and as part of Special Education Needs Department which has added further to his skill set as a modern coach. Since 2005, he has travelled many times to the USA and has seen their growth as a rugby nation up close and has been fortunate to meet and work alongside many of their higher level coaches and some of their overseas guests from the Southern Hemisphere. In 2016, Eamonn was the only overseas coach to be invited to work in USA's first professional rugby competition where he worked with the Ohio Aviators. With a professional attitude and greatly influenced from his many voluntary experiences, Eamonn has significant empathy with modern coaches and the demands that can be placed on their time as he has lived through many of those experiences himself. Eamonn has written for Rugby Coach Weekly since 2012, authoring two of our books specifically designed for coaches who work with youth players

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