Rugby: Continuous Passing Square 1

Players line up at least 2 or 3 behind a cone.

1. The ball starts at one end with the player running up to the cone in front of him and passing to the next player waiting on the cone.
2. As a player has passed he must quickly run around the grid and fall back into position.

The Ball is constantly within the grid moving from right to left.

Set up a square of cones, and get the players to form equal lines behind each cone.

The ball starts in the hands of a player behind cone 1, who runs (black running line) towards cone 2, passes the ball to the player behind cone 2 who passes the ball back to the first player. The first player then runs towards cone 3 and passes the ball to the player standing behind cone 3.

The player who passed the ball from behind cone 2 runs (blue running line) following the run of the first player and receives a pass from the player behind cone 3 before running towards cone 4 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 4.

The player who passed the ball from behind cone 3 runs (yellow running line) following the run of the second player and receives a pass from the player behind cone 4 before running towards cone 1 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 1.

The player who passed the ball from behind cone 4 runs (red running line) following the run and receives a pass from the player behind cone 1 before running towards cone 2 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 2. The player who passed the ball from behind cone 1 runs (black running line) following the run and receives a pass from the player behind cone 2 before running towards cone 3 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 3, and the drill continues.

Change the direction which the ball is going.

Progressions:

Get the players to change direction on your command (shout/whistle etc)

Multiple balls

As a group must complete 10 successful passes before the session can move on, every time a ball is dropped the whole group does an exercise (e.g. 10 press ups).

Set up a rectangle of cones (10x5) with two gates of cones of a different colour 2m in front of cones on opposite sides of the rectangle (See diagram).

Get the players to line up in equal numbers behind the 4 cones of the rectangle (1, 2, 3, 4).

The ball starts on the floor between one of the gates of cones, a player approaches from behind a cone (1) and passes the ball off the floor to a player running onto the ball from behind a cone (2). The player who passed the ball continues his run and joins the back of the queue infront of him (4). The receiver catches the ball and continues his run, putting the ball on the ground between the cones in front of him, before joining the back of the queue (3). The player at the front of the queue (3) runs forward, and passes the ball off the floor to a player running onto the ball from behind a cone (4). The player who passed the ball continues his run and joins the back of the queue infront of him (2). The receiver catches the ball and continues his run, putting the ball on the ground between the cones in front of him, before joining the back of the queue (1). The player at the front of the queue (1) runs forwards, and passes the ball off the floor to a player running onto the ball from behind a cone (2), and the drill continues...

Change the direction by moving the gates of cones forward to be in front of the opposite cones (4 and 2, instead of 1 and 3)

Progressions:

Instead of putting the ball on the ground, have to go to ground, present the ball, then get up and out of the way.

As a group must complete 10 successful passes before the session can move on, every time a ball is dropped the whole group does an exercise (e.g. 10 press ups).

Set up a square with cones, making one side of the square with two gates of cones. 

Get the players to line up evenly behind the two individual cones (See diagram - 1 and 2)

The player with the ball runs out and puts the ball down between the green cones, once he has put the ball down he runs and joins the back of his line. The player behind him in the queue follows him and passes the ball off the floor to a player running onto the ball from the next line (2), once he passes the ball he runs and joins the back of his line. The receiver of the pass also has a partner running behind him so when he puts the ball down between the green cones his partner can pass it to the next person in the opposite line. Both run and join the back of their line and the drill continues...

After a period of time swap over the lines so players practice passing in both directions

Progressions:

Instead of placing the ball on the floor, go to ground and present it

Instead of working in partners, work in threes - the ball carrier goes to ground, the second player gets in a position to clear our any defenders, and the third person passes the ball off the floor. Add in a defender with a hit shield or a live defender to make a tackle but then be passive in the ruck.