Rugby | Decision making Drills

Groups of 6+  Ball 3 Attackers line up opposite 2 defenders.  The ball carrier takes the ball hard up to the line.  A trialer runner stays hidden behind ball carrier. The 2nd Reciver does an out to in line of running (acting as the short crash ball)  The trialer runner runs an arking line out the back (acting as a out wide option)  The Defence make a decion whether to bite on the short runner or wide runner. The ball carrier tries to make the right option of what ball to give. 

Put four cones out to make a rectangle and square 10-15 metres apart. Put two players on each cone along with two players standing in between the cones to make a line of four. On the go the player with the ball runs forward and then its quick hands down the line. When the end player gets the ball they pop to the player on the cone at other end, this player runs forward. The two players in the middle have to turn and go again, working back and forth for ten lengths.

One ball and 6 cones. 15m x 15m. Setup the practice as shown. The first two players run up to the half way line of the grid and place the ball down before continuing their run to the end of the grid before turning around to defend. The remaining 3 players (attackers) can go as soon as the ball is placed down and then they play a 3 v 2.

Players should pass in a line on the whistle. The 2 players closest to the ball go out to the line and as soon as they turn the 3 remaining players then attack with the intention of scoring.

Defenders and attackers line up outside the coned area in lines of five. The coach will call out two numbers, the first refers to how many attackers should enter the area and the second refers to the defenders. So 2-1 would see two attackers reacting and running around the cones and lining up against one defender. The coach can call any variation from 1-1 to 5-5.

Three attacker start on their fronts with three defenders lying opposite them. On go the attackers backtrack and realign into an attacking line. Two defenders come up to defender with one handing back. The attackers try and beat the first two defenders and then try to beat the final defender at the back.

The realignment and depth hands drill is a quick drill to focus the players in sharpening their alignment and depth before a session. You can spend as long or as short on this drill as you need. The aim of the drill is to develop the speed at which players realign themselves, to support their early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player. Set a 5 cones 1.5 meter apart in straight line. This will mark where the players will start the drill from Set 4 cones at a diagonal in line with the starting cones from one edge. This will be the cones that the defending players need to retreat to before coming up to pressure the attacking players. The first attacking player needs to step back 1 meter and will receive the ball from the first defending player who has also stepped back 1 meter to his designated cone Divide the group into 4 attacking player and 5 defending players, there should be a free attacking player The ball starts with the defending player On the coaches call, all defending players need to work back to their designated cone and then come forward in a straight line to their opposite attacking player The attacking players set their own depth to ensure they have time to catch and pass effectively On the coaches call, the first defending player will move back to their cone, once they get to the cone they pass the ball to the first attacking player, and then the first defending player tries to put pressure on the first attacking player The attacking players try to get the ball to the 5th player without being ‘touched’ by a defending player

The scrum half starts with the ball. They pass to the first red player who then passes to the second red player who then passes to red player three into the free space To start with red defenders must only defend against red 1 and 2.

Groups of ten work with one ball per group Defenders scattered around the grid, static and can only operate sideways If touched, the ball carrier must pass the ball immediately.

Groups of ten with one ball per group Defenders start bunched sat on the floor Start attackers spread out (width) On the word GO! the the defenders get up and and defend. The attackers try to score. The coach varies the start point of the ball. It touched, the ball carrier must pass the ball immediately.

Set up a large square with a cone in each corner. Three attacking players start along one side of the square with two defenders in the middle. You can increase the number of attackers or defenders as you wish. Attacker always try to attack across the square. Once the attackers reach the other side of the square they pop the ball to the attackers on the side of the square and not in front of them.

Drill to practice decision making. Set up a grid 10m wide and 35m long with cones at the start (yellow), 5m (orange), 15m (blue), 30m (red) and 35m (green). Have 2 defenders with pads at 5m, one defender at 15m, one defender at 30m and one 'full back' defender behind the try line. 3 attackers start with the ball at the start line (yellow). The ball carrier attempts to break through the two padmen at 5m (orange) who can only move laterally. The ball carrier should try and offload once through the padmen. Once the attack beat the padmen D1 (blue) can cover across to defend, but he can only move laterally between the cones. The attack pass the ball to a support player to beat the defender. Once D1 is beaten D2 may cover across to defend, but can only move laterally between the red cones. The attack pass the ball to a support player to beat the defender. Once D2 is beaten D3 can come forward to defend and pressure the attack to try to stop the attack from scoring. D3 cannot leave his line until the attack have made a pass to beat D2. Defensive players sprint outside the grid to the try line once they have been beaten. The defender should commit to tackle one attacker.   PROGRESSION: Start with defenders making a two-handed touch and then progress to D1, D2, and D3 making a full tackle D3 tries to stop the attack scoring a try by "holding up" the ball carrier

The aim of the drill is to develop players understanding of support lines  Players work in groups of 4 in attack Set up 5 defenders with pads, in a 2-2-1 formation Attackers focus on beating the defence by drawing the opposition or breaking through the pad and offloading to supporting players