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First time coaching U9 and U10s - anyone got any backline coaching tips?
Hi im a first time coach and is still getting the hang of how the technical details of the game works the back line is my department and whould like any help i can get to know what drills to do and anything helpfull in the backline im currently coaching for the under 9 and 10
the most important thing, elizabeth, is to have fun and encourage your kids to enjoy themselves in matches and at practices.
the key objectives in the backline are to create space(with a very specific hole in their defence\unstable defender in mind that you want to take advantage of) as well as to be able to move the ball from player to player until it gets to your player who is running into the area that you are targeting.
If someone in your club (if in the UK) has done a UKCC Level 1 ask to borrow their folder as it has drills in it that will help.
Also at that age we should be attempting to develop basic motor skills, passing, running etc. So you can use drills from other sports and try and add a bit of rugby to it. e.g. chicken run. a square and in each corner a basket (a square of 4 cones) and a nest in the middle (all the rugby balls) team on each corner. Only one person from each team can go at once and they run pick up a ball and score a try in their nest. They also have the option to steal from another nest.
So you cover picking up a loose/dropped ball, grounding the ball (try) and desicion making combined with scanning.
Also their are loads of books you can get on amazon for cheap
101 rugby training drills
rugby skills, tactics and drills
rugby steps to success
rfu guide for coaches
rugby coaching the NZ way
For under 9's and 10's backline training, it is important to concentrate on passing, handling and direction of running. These are core skills to the backs (along with tackling obviously) and if your team can become confident in these 3 skills, then playing rugby will become a lot easier and they'll enjoy it more. Eventually catching and passing should become second nature to a player.
I encourage my players to play other sports, I grew up in New Zealand and we played everything and the skills you pick up from other sports contribute hugely to rugby. Be it Basketball, Netball, Cricket, Volleyball, Soccer etc... they all help develop good co-ordination, handling and footwork.
If you're after any drills, I can send you some I put together, let me know.
Hi Tama,
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The Sportplan Team
Hi Elizabeth,
I coach an under 10's club team in Dubai. These are all good points that people have made above but I think you may be looking for a particular drill? I have used the grid training drill right up to our under 13's as it introduces, tests and reinforces back line basics, which I believe are: two hands on the ball when running in order to commit the defender; run straight (always so difficult for young players); making sure the supporting player puts themselves in a good position to receive the ball, take the ball on the run. Once the grid drill is introduced, you can add to it week on week and take them from passing down a line, to passing inside and out, to bringing in the forwards to ruck and maul and so on. It is an invaluable tool because it gives all the backs a visual of exactly where they should be during the play. I can send you the lesson plans I use if you'd like?
Regards David Dubois from the Arabian Knights
Under 9 and Under 10? Forget the 'back line'! Encourage the children to play what they see, and not to have specific roles, otherwise you'll start to categorize too soon, and big wide players will be props, tall lanky will become 2nd rows, little nippy will become wings etc. Teach everybody everything, and let the positional stuff sort itself out eventually.
I'd also add that 'drills' are what happens on the square in a military situation. Practices may be a better environment, in which the players can make mistakes; learn from them by your (and their) careful questioning, and are not conditioned into performing the coaches 'dance patterns'.
I am a big fan of conditioned games as part of the whole-part-whole approach. It makes coaching easy as the players want to play and win, so just give them the technique and then condition a game that rewards good practise.
Example: Common problem at break down is that players want to pick up ball rather than ruck to secure ball. I would suggest get them playing a game in a narrow (lots of tackles) pitch. Leave them to play, do they even need a ref? After 5-10 minutes do a small exercise on rucking technique for 5 minutes. Then restart the game but add the condition "at a ruck if the attack do not get 2 players beyond the ball by the time I count to three it is a turnover".
Ask them questions:
Q How does the attack get the ball back after a tackle? A Ruck (use their language)
Q Who should ruck? A Nearest player
Q How many should ruck? A Enough to secure the ball
Q Defense, how can you win the ball? A Stop attack getting beyond the ball.
When I did this with our U9s recently the defense were quick to realise that if they coudl hold over the ball for 3 seconds then they won the ball. The ruck and counter ruck was the most fierce I have ever seen!
Try to identify a specific element to focus on, find an exercise to teach technique and then think of a condition that rewards good practise.
Element: Ball carrier protect the ball Practise: low, two, hands turn body etc. Condition: if the defense get two hands on the ball it is turnover.
Passing into space - handling practise - two passes after every tackle
Defensive line - practise moving as a line - if defense holds a flat defesive line for three phases they win turnover
Defense push up - practise calling "go" when ball is played - if defense calls "go" for three phases they win ball
etc, etc, etc.
Positions is always tricky. It can help structure but can also stifle play e.g. scrum half standing off ruck while oppo counter ruck. We describe positions as primary responsibilites e.g. forward primarily looks to ruck, center primarily looks to recieve ball from ruck, but both skills needed and the players need to know what is required in a given situation. Use training to move players around.
4 years old but a discussion close to my heart. how do you convince coaches with lots of rugby experience that drills aren;t the way and conditioned games is the best way for the kids to learn and have fun?
want them to pass along the line? award 3 points for three continuous passes.
want them to switch pass? 10 points for a switch pass.
want them to improve their rucking/tackling? three points for good body position and/or driving the opponent back.
if they aren;t demonstrating good technique then break out for a quick 30sec demo and 5 min drill than throw them back in.
the days of boys lining up in queue's to pass in a pre-ordained order should be a thing
of the past.
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