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Rugby: Passing in Traffic

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Eifion, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

Tell the players the following......

Runners move forward towards the cone opposite to their location.
There will be one ball carrier and one reciever in every set of runners, 3 sets of runners at any one time.
The ball carrier must make a legal pass to the player approaching, avoiding traffic.
That's it - lets get going.

COACHING POINTS

Don't feel that you have to focus on all of the following coaching points, you may have your own. Select the points that most closely match your overall training and session goals

The tempo of this exercise must be high.
Ball carriers work at a speed they are initially comfortable with, building more in more speed and faster decision making as they go - while retaining passing quality.
Passes must remain legal.
Players work hard to avoid traffic, staying up on the ball od their feet.
Passes/pops/flicks from the carrier and the reciever players are weighted correctly in terms of speed, distance, and accuracy. Spin passes are not used when they do not need to be.
The ball carrier uses effective, efficient, and encouraging communication to ensure that they receive the ball when they want it.
Players use good communication to encourage the runner - also helping with the timing and origin of the pass. Communication is vital to this exercise, there will be lots of traffic and lots going on in the center of the grid.
Players can use a variety of passes and can be creative in order to avoid contact, this includes timing their run.
Players can set the ball down, in order for it to be picked by the reciever - they can be creative and should use variety,
Mistakes happen, if we can help players by not having them over-think or get stressed - then we can cut the number of mistakes. Giving players the freedom to make mistakes can actually reduce the number of mistakes and gives players the freedom to enjoy their game and training - while being creative.
The pass is only complete when caught.
Receivers present targets and have their hands up, ready to catch.
Receivers could clap their hands to present a visual and audiable target.
Pop passes have enough air time and are not spinning.
Players react to what they see, they scan the playing area in front of them.
Players stay up on the balls of their feet in the center of the grid, sidestepping and spinning when needed.
Runners use changes in footspeed to avoid traffic and respond to ball presentation.

PROGRESSION

Have the players perform the same exercise with a tennis ball replacing the rugby ball, return to the rugby ball before finishing.

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Attacking Principal: Developing Passing and Support Play

Develop your team's attacking abilities with this session, working on their passing and support for their team-mates

OFTEN USED WITH...

Pop and Pass:

Tell the players the following....

The player on the cone passes the ball forward to the player just in front of the cone, the passer then become the runner.
The reciever pops the ball for the runner to run onto.
Runner takes the ball and makes a bawards pass to the player on the cone opposite them.Â
The runner can drift to increase the distance of the pass.
Players should side step to avoid one another in the middle of the grid.

The first reciever can change the way they present the ball: they could set the ball on the ground for the runner to pick, they could lob the ball into the air for the runner to reach for and catch, they could deliver a low pass aross the knees for the runner to catch etc.

Passing

Pressure Cooker:

4 players stand on the middle cones in the grid, avoiding the corner cones. The 2 players at the top and the bottom of the grid will have a ball. The players on the sides of the grid will have one ball between them.
The 5th player will be the ball carrier.
The ball carrier starts at the top of the grid facing the bottom. Moving forward they will take a pass off one of the middle players and pass the ball onto the other middle player. They will then collect a pass off the player in front of them, before popping the ball back to them. They will then turn and once again collect a pass off one of the middle players before moving it on to the other middle player. They then take a pass off the top player before popping it back and starting the exercise again.
They keep going until told to switch with another player.
The player in the middle can turn and flick the ball to the static players at the top and bottom of the grid, as well as popping the ball.

Passing

Break:

Keep your player briefing short.Â Tell your players the following....

Pass the ball left, clockwise for 2 passes.
Then right (anti-clockwise) for 1 passes.
Retain the ball and flick it to the player behind you.
Attack, at speed, across the grid. You will take a pass from the ball carrier on your left before finishing with a pop to the player in front of you.

The pattern of this exercise can be a little confusing at the start, but when your players get the pattern there will be no problem. Start off slow and build from there.

Passing

Simple Passing Exercise:

Tell your players the follow.....

The first two players at each coach will advance, attacking the cone to their left, in the middle of the training area.
The players should split as they run, increasing the distance between them.
When they get as far as the middle cone, they should then pass.
The reciever then passes to the first reciever on the cone they are approaching.

Passing

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