Rugby | Decision making Drills

Attackers (red players) work down the channel in 4s, working the runners left and right to create space. Defenders are only allowed to defend along their line, marked out with 2 cones. Attackers run in a diamond shape, onto the ball at pace. It's key the support do not get too flat and shoud all be involved. Focus on pass target.

Groups of ten One ball per group Defenders equidistant, can only move forwards and backwards Attackers bunched to start Once at the end turn straight around and repeat

Set a cone 2 meters from the defensive line. This will mark where the ball will passed from (feed) preferably from a scrum half. Set a cone 0.5 meters each side from the mid point of the passing cone to simulate the sides of the ruck. Set a cone a cone 5 meters from the ruck on the defensive line.  4 players start as attackers 3 defenders start on their stomaches on the other side of the defensive cone (ruck) and 1 player on the defensive cone 5 metres from the ruck The player on the 5 meter cone (defence) starts the drill by shouting ‘FOLD’ (or whatever call your team may use). Defenders on their stomachs get up and fold around the ruck to take up a defence position. Players fold wide first, and ensure that 2 players are close to the ruck (Guard and Body Guard). The player on the defensive cone bounces out (takes space in the defence line), the first player who folds takes up a position on the 5 meter defence cone (or inside the first attacking player) Once the defence line is set the scrum half can pass the ball. The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back

The drill starts with two teams of equal players playing a standard game of touch. Whenever a touch is made, the defender immediately joins the attacking side and acts as scrum half. This creates an attacking overload. Players must try to score a try by exploiting the overload in the least amount of touches. The drill resets after a try is scored.

Set up: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half. Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone. The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball. The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender. The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the ‘outside’ post or just in behind the BANG player. The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball. Progression: Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips. The cones will represent the ‘hips’ of the 2nd defender. The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing. If the 1st receivers sees the ‘inside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner. If the 1st receivers sees the ‘outside’ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

Player A (Blue) starts with the ball, and Player B (Red) defends. Both players start at the corner of the 15 meter grid with their backs to each other. At the same time both players head out around opposite cones. Player A has to try and beat the defender and score over the try line. Player A can either grubber, chip, or dummy to score.

Groups of 6 1 ball per group 4 attackers v 2 defenders holding a tag belt and working laterally.

Groups 5  Balls  Cones  Sausages. 1. Chanel Fix  Attack sausages lined up one behind eachother.  they must use footwork to step to a side of the sausage and then give a pass before running into/past it. Attack inside shoulder of the bag to fix defender. 

Drill to practice attacking from different positions. Set up a grid roughly 20m wide and 15m long with three defenders (yellow) and four attackers (blue). Within the grid place a number of different coloured cones. The attack start with the ball and the coach will shout the colour of a cone, the attack must touch the ball on that cone before they can attack. Once the attack have touched the ball on the cone the defence can start to defend. PROGRESSION: To start with the defence can only move laterally along the try line, then are allowed to move off the try line.

Set up a grid roughly 5m x 5m with two lines of attackers on one side (blue), and two defenders on the other (red). The aim of the drill is for attackers to execute 2 vs 1 situations and score.  The attackers start with the ball and run towards the try line (red cones). The ball carrier draws the defender and passes to his support player who scores.  Once he scores he passes the ball to the next set of attackers who attack against the next defender. The previous attackers and defender get in position for the next repetition. The attack can start from any of the players, it does not have to start at the same side each time.

Set up a grid roughly 7m x 5m with three lines of attackers on one side (blue), and two defenders on the other (red). The aim of the drill is for attackers to execute 3 vs 2 situations and score. The defenders can only move side to side between the red cones. The attackers start with the ball and run towards the try line (red cones). The ball carrier has two options of who to pass to, the near support player or the wide support player. The ball carrier must draw the first defender and then react to the movement of the second defender to decide who to pass to. He passes to his support player who scores.  Once the attacker scores he passes the ball to the next set of attackers who attack against the same defenders. The previous attackers get in position for the next repetition. The attack can start from any of the players, it does not have to start at the same side each time.

Player X kicks to receivers A, B & C, while players Y & Z chase the kick followed by X. Players A, B & C counter attack, first beating players Y & Z and finally X. Rotate attackers and defenders and repeat.

The players stood behind the line work the ball up through the channel in groups of 5. As they progress up the area they work the ball left and right. Defenders are placed on cones which have been given a number. As the group work their way up the channel the coach could call 1 . At this point one player from cone 1 runs out to defend. If a call of 1 , 2 is made then one player from cone 1 and 2 come out to defend. A call of 2 , 2 means two players from cone 2 come out to defend and so on... The diagram shows a call of 4, 1.

Mark an area 15m wide and 20m long. 3 Attackers vs 2 Defence vs 2 Defence Have the 2 lines of 2 Defenders 5-7m apart   The 3 Attackers beat the first 2 defenders and then attack and beat the 2nd line. If an Attacker is touched by a Defender then they have to pass the ball.   Stop every 2-3 runs to do stretches for a minute.   To reset the play: The last 2 Attacking players to touch the ball become the second line of defense. The 2 Defenders from the original first defensive line move forward and with the other leftover Attacker they become the new Attackers. Make sure every player has a few rotations in Attack and Defence. Get the Attackers not to start in the same position every time.

Groups 10+  Balls  Cones  Sausages. 1. Chanel Fix  Groups of 5.  Attack sausages lined up one behind eachother.  They must use footwork to step to a side of the sausage and then give a pass before running into/past it. 2. Passing Grid - Static Defenders  Normal 3 man passing grid, however with sausages placed in the middle. Players run forward use footwork to beat the bag and give the pass back inside. (pass before the sausage). 3. Passing Grid - Moving defenders.  Same as above but instead of sausages, use moving defenders with bags. 4. Passing Grid - Starting on corners. Groups of 4 start on each corner with 2 defenders in the middle.  The attacking line must get around the corner and square up to beat the 2 defenders.  At other end give to next group and start again.  Continuous.  5. Final Game  Groups of 3 on all sides of the grid, with 2 defenders in the middle. Continuous drill to score as many tries as possibel in 1 min.  Focus on all skills above. 

A drill to practice decision making and finding space between defenders. Set up a line of three defenders with tackle shields (roughly 2m apart), with one defender 2/3m behind the middle defender (blue - see diagram). Roughly 5m opposite the defenders set up three attackers, one opposite the middle defender with the ball and one either side of the ball carrier (red - see diagram). When the ball carrier starts running towards the defenders the defender behind moves in to fill one of the defensive gaps. The attackers must successfully select the space and pass the ball to the player to run through the gap and score.   PROGRESSION: Defenders put more pressure on attackers. All players must touch the ball. The third attacker must get through their space as a support player. The ball starts on one side instead of in the middle and players have to call whether the space is the first gap or the second gap, in which case the ball carrier should through a miss-pass.

One player kicks the ball to the 1 player left at the end of the grid as soon as the kick goes in the air the rest of the kicking team run to support the catcher to play a 5 v 4 against  the defence. The defence can not start until the ball is caught.

4 Cones and 1 Ball inside a 10m x 10m Grid. Number the players. The coach shouts out a number and that player is the defender, who has to run to the end line. The other two players are attackers, who run to the opposite end to collect a ball before having a 2 v 1 with the defender.

There are 4 cones in a rectangle , 2 red and 2 blue. The 2 defenders stand within the square, and on the coach's call, they must go and touch the called colour cone. As the coach calls it the attackers can go.The ball starts with the attacker in the middle. His aim is to attack the space in between the two players, and execute the first opportunity that presents itself. either one of the players will move in on him, therefore opening up space for the support runner on that side, or both will commit to him, or none in which case he is through!

Groups of three 1 ball per group Defender can choose any line as a start point. On the word GO, 2 attackers attempt to score a try (1 point) by handling and evasion skills