Rugby: 7's Fitness Handling

Tell your players the following.....

1. This game is about support and ensuring that support is close to the ball carrier.
2. This is a non contact game.
3. When the ball carrier is touch, they must stop and set the ball down.
4. Two attacking player must touch the ball carrier within 3 second.
5. If they make their target - any of the two supporting players can move the ball to continue the attack.
6. If the ball carrier is not touch by two other attacking players within 3 seconds - then the ball is turned over.
7. There is no set number of touches.
8. The ball will be turned over when the attacking team makes a mistake or do not meet their support target.
9. The defence must act within the laws of the game.

Tell your players the following......

1. Whichever group of 2 is given the ball becomes the attack, and should attack upon receiving the ball.
2. The opposite group of 2 becomes the defence, and should defend right away.
3. The object of the exercise is for the defence to turn the ball, and for the attack to score a try by cross the defences line and touching the ball down.
4. Dropped balls, knocked on, forward passes etc. are illegal and will be consider a point for the defence.
5. Illegal actions by the defence will be consider a point for the attack.
6. Each group of two should keep their own score.
7. When the attack is over, the ball should be returned to the coach for the next phase.

• Have more than one training area in order to keep your players as active as possible.

• Divide your players into groups of five, with one player acting as a running. Each grid will need a runner. The runner starts on the runners cone.
• You might wish to have two groups of five at each grid, and to have a quick demo before sending all the players to their own grids.
• Keep your player briefing, brief!
• The first five passers attack the runners line, passing the pass down the line as they go.
• The runner sets off as soon as the first ball carrier starts to move.
• The aim of attack is to score a try in the corner, beating the runner - so quick hands.
• Each player should realign following their pass, there will be two attacks for each group before they move the ball onto the next group.
• After the first attack the runner goes to their cones on the opposite side of the grid ready for the next attack. The attack begins when the first players picks the ball off the ground.
• Don't forget to change the runners.
• Move the runner cones in to progress the exercise and to put the attack under more pressure.

Tell your players the following......

1. Players will standing at the midway point of the playing area, about 25 meters in.
2. Tell each team which direction they are playing.
3. Set the ball on the ground in front of the players.
4. If you call 1 then team one is in attack and they should pick the ball up, if you should 2 then team 2 is in attack and they should pick the ball up.
5. The non attacking team is in defence.
6. Normal rules of sevens apply.
7. However, before each team can start their attack/defence, they must all run to their own try line and back.
8. When the attack is over, all players return to the midway point to start again.
9. That's it, lets play!

Make sure that you give both teams a chance to attack and defend.