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Rugby: catch and pass

catch and pass DRILLS
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4v3 Passing Channel

This is a 4 v 3 overload drill in favour of the attackers The area is set out, with four attackers spread out across the back line, three defenders 5 yards in front them, and another row of three defenders 5 yards behind them On GO, the coach passes to the first attacking player, and the ball travels along the line to eventually reach the end player That player is then first to reach the next line of defenders, and the ball is passed back along the line and the original attacker should receive the ball in space to 'score a try'.

Passing

Catch and pass channel

8+ players  Ball  Players stand at equal distance away at differnt points along the grid. One working player runs in the middle of the channel.  The players on the outside pass the ball into the running player. The Working player must complete 2 sets of passing - 1 run off each hand. 

Catching

Dizzy

There will be one ball carrier at any one time. They will run around the circle, passing the ball. The ball must be handled by all players, so players work to identify themselves as needing the ball. The ball cannot be passed to the person beside the carrier, but backwards passes are allowed. The coach can change the direction of the players running and ask them to do things e.g. touch the ground with your right hand, touch the ground with your left hand, jump up and clap etc.

Passing

Fast Hands

Drill to practice fast, accurate passing. Set up a T shape with 3 cones roughly 5m away from the central cone (see diagram) One player stands on each cone, the player in the middle of the T is the player who works (yellow). The players on the outside (blue) take it in turns to pass to the working player (yellow), who must catch the ball and pass it to the free player on the edge (see video. PROGRESSIONS: Start slowly and increase the pace at which the players pass to the working player, giving them less time to catch and pass the ball Increase the distance that the working player must pass the ball.

Passing

Number Cruncher

Keep your player briefing, brief! If necessary you might considering having one group quickly demonstrate the exercise to the other players. Tell the players the following....... This exercise is nice and simple. They should stand at a cones in the circle, but their order in number should be random as in the diagram above. They have to pass to the next number up. So 1 passes to 2, who passes to 3 - and so on. That's get - lets get the ball moving!

Passing

Passing 1 Step

The aim of the drill is to develop players speed of pass.

Passing

Passing By Numbers

Keep your player briefing, brief! If necessary you might considering having one group quickly demonstrate the exercise to the other players. Tell the players the following....... This exercise is nice and simple, and fun. Each player will stand on a cone. The game starts with 1 pass right, then two passes left, then three right, then four left, then five right and so on until someone makes a mistake. The tempo of this game should be high. Close the circle as each player leaves. If you make a mistake, your out! A mistake includes: dropped balls and bad passes. The last two players standing, still play the game with two balls. If players can't agree who made a mistake - you resolve all disputes. Quick Hands! This should be fun! Don't forget to keep players that have been put out busy.

Passing

Positioning, passing and supporting during turnovers

5 players in a group line up within touching distance of one another, and stand facing the coach who has a ball in his hand. The coach then calls turnover and the Players quickly get width, but are not allowed to work backwards to get depth. Once the players get depth the coach lets the first man off the mark by popping the ball in the air, as it is popped he moves off the mark and accelerates onto the ball and forward.

Agility & Running Skills

Scramble Defence Drill

Groups of 6 Balls 2 attackers start with the ball the complete a simple 2v1 catch and pass. The first defender then has to scramble his way back to prevent the defenders scoring the 2nd 2v1 situation, from another defender a few meters behind.

Tackling

Simple Catch and Pass Drill

Easy drill to do with the players Split players up into groups of three, one ball per group Player 1 to Player 2 Player 2 to Player 3 Player 3 to Player 2 Player 2 to Player 1 Continue for a minute, before players switch positions P1 > P2. P2 > P3. P3 > P1.

Passing

Rugby: Catch and pass channel ...

8+ players  Ball  Players stand at equal distance away at differnt points along the grid. One working player runs in the middle of the channel.  The players on the outside pass the ball into the running player. The Working player must complete 2 sets of passing - 1 run off each hand. 

General

Rugby: Simple Catch and Pass D...

Easy drill to do with the playersSplit players up into groups of three, one ball per groupPlayer 1 to Player 2Player 2 to Player 3Player 3 to Player 2Player 2 to Player 1Continue for a minute, before players switch positionsP1 > P2. P2 > P3. P3 > P1.

General

Catch Confidence Passing - Rug...

Passing in partners.One player brings their hands up to in front of their face. The other player passes hard to their hands. This is to catch straight, hard passes at an upward angle. Continue passing like this.Passing in this way puts pressure on the catcher to focus on the catch to prevent the ball from hitting them in the face.

General

Fun Catching Reaction Game Pas...

This is a simple passing exercise that can be used as a warm up to improve players reaction time and catching skills6 players and 1 coach in a circle, and the coach holds a ball at all timesWith the other ball, the players throw to you and (using the ball you're holding) hit the ball back to a different player in the circleThe players will not know who the ball will come to and so must react quickly to catch and then throw back to you to hit to someone elseThe shape of the ball means that even if you aim at someone, it could deflect to another player.

General

Fast Hands Passing - Rugby Dri...

Drill to practice fast, accurate passing.Set up a T shape with 3 cones roughly 5m away from the central cone (see diagram)One player stands on each cone, the player in the middle of the T is the player who works (yellow).The players on the outside (blue) take it in turns to pass to the working player (yellow), who must catch the ball and pass it to the free player on the edge (see video.PROGRESSIONS:Start slowly and increase the pace at which the players pass to the working player, giving them less time to catch and pass the ballIncrease the distance that the working player must pass the ball.

General

Bat and Catch Challenge Passin...

Players make a semi circle around the coach, about 3meters away.The coach will have a ball in their hand at all times.One player will also start the drill with a ball in their hands.Player with the ball will pass to the coach who will use the ball in their hands to deflect it to one of the players in the circle.The receiving player will need to catch the ball and pass it back to the coach who will again deflect it to another player.If a ball is dropped by a player, they will have to go to the bottom of the semi-circle.The goal for players is to catch all balls that come their way and end up at the top of the semi-circle.

General

Lateral Passing Passing - Rugb...

Drill to practice passing laterally.Set up a diamond roughly 10m wide and 5m long (see diagram).Two players position themselves at either end and one player is in the middle.The player in the middle is running shuttles across the diamond, each time he runs a shuttle he must catch a pass from one feeder, and pass it to the other one before completing the shuttle.Players should do twenty repetitions each and then swap positions.

General

Pass and Follow Warm Up - Rugb...

They pass the ball around either clock wise or anti clock wise, you can decide to change the direction youself at any point during the exercise. After the player passes the ball they have to follow their pass, touching the cone of the player they passed to - then get back to their cone before receiving the next pass. The tempo of this exercise should be high.

General

3 v 1 Grid Passing - Rugby Dri...

6x6m Grid Ball Players line up in 3s opposite sides of the grid. Simply pass the ball along the line. 1 defender is in the middle of the grid putting pressure on all ball carriers.Once hand completed the next line starts immediately. Defender swaps out when there is a mistake or when he touches someone with the ball. Progression: add another defender, make the passes wider.

General

Clapping Game Passing - Rugby ...

Tell your players the following. Lets just get the ball moving clockwise for a while, just to get the ball moving through the hands. After a minute or two, lets switch the direction of the ball. After another minute, tell them the ball can go in any direction, but...... The receiver must clap once before catching the ball - and the passing player must move the ball within 5 seconds. The passer can dummy, and if a receiver claps they must do one or more press-ups. If the receiver doesn't clap and receives a ball - they must do one or more press-ups following their pass. You can also play this game using a word like RUGBY. Each time a play makes a mistake they get a letter. The loser is the first player to get all the letters that spell RUGBY. Some teams and coaches have more interesting and colorful words to spell - I'll leave this to you. Have fun with this!

General

Tennis Circle Catching - Rugby...

<p>• The aim of the drill is to develop reaction catching skills.</p>

General

Rugby: Blind Catch - Ball Hand...

The aim of the exercise is to develop ball control and reaction catching skills.

General

Four Player Continuous Passing...

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>A quick drill to focus the players before going into a session or at the start of a match day warm up. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The aim of the drill is to develop early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set 4 cones 3-5 meters apart on the 5 meter line. This will mark the starting point for your players. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set up cones opposite on the try line<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Ask your players to line up behind each cone.The ball carrier runs out to the cone opposite and passes to the next playerOnce the player on the end receives the ball, the drill changes direction and the ball goes back in the direction it came from<br><br><br>

General

Offloading Grip Game Passing -...

Split your players into two teams in an approx 20mx15m for 12 players. Change this according to numbers.Give every play a ball, they have to hold this in one hand the entire time whilst moving about the gridWork as a team to complete as many passes as possible without dropping the ballCatch and pass the ball in one hand without using the chest as support

General

Standing and Passing Passing -...

Keep your player briefing, brief! Tell your players the folloiwng......... Players should be 5m apart. After the first catch - pass ball around body. After the second catch - pass ball through legs from front and behind left leg. After the third catch - pass ball through legs from front and behind right leg. You might consider asking players to pass the ball with just one hand, off their hip.

General

Clockwork Passing Warm Up - Ru...

4 + groups Balls All players have a ball, start by passing the ball once left then twice right, then 3 times left etc. if the ball goes down you start again. Winning team is the team who competes the most amount of passes without the ball going down.

General

More Loop Passing - Rugby Dril...

Tell your players the following...... The ball carrier (A) runs straight in a line and makes a normal lateral pass to the supporting player (B) After passing the ball A runs towards and behind B After B catches the pass they angle their run towards the direction the pass has come from and so create space A runs around B and straightens as they receive the pass In effect you want the players to loop around the new ball carrier after they make their pass.

General

Rugby: Catching in Pairs - Spo...

Players take it in turns to throw a high pass to one another.5 high catches each and then swap roles.The pass should be accurate and the focus here is on getting the technique right under the high catch.

General

Rugby: Speed pass challenge - ...

Groups of 8Ball Cones2 sets of 4 players line up back to back.Cones are places 3m apart and 3 in fornt of both set of players.When the coach says go the players must complete 4 passes before reaching the far cones. Then they must turn and do the same off coming back. (1 rep) Its a race agaisnt the opposing attackers to compelete the the reps given.

General

Fun Catching Game Handling - R...

6 players + BallsPlayers stand around a coach holding ball.The players then throw a second ball at the coach, he uses his ball to defelct the bal in differnt directions back at the players The players must try and catch the ball. If the players drop it they go to the bottom of the line.Winner is the one who finishes at the top.

General

Continuous Passing Square 1 Pa...

Set up 4 cones in a square, and get the players to form equal lines behind each cone.The ball starts with a player on one cone who runs towards the cone to his right and passes the ball across the square to a player from the next cone running onto the ball. He catches the ball and continues his run, passing the ball to someone from the next cone running onto the ball.Change the direction which the ball is goingProgressions:Get the players to change direction on your command (shout/whistle)Multiple balls at a timeAs 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).

General

Rugby: Standing and Passing - ...

Keep your player briefing, brief! Tell your players the folloiwng......... Players should be moving, staying around 5 meters part - running with the ball and attacking space. After the first catch - pass ball around body. After the second catch - pass ball through legs from front and behind left leg. After the third catch - pass ball through legs from front and behind right leg. You might consider asking players to pass the ball with just one hand, off their hip

General

Quick Hands Passing - Rugby Dr...

Tell your players the following..... The first player runs out with the ball to the first set of cones and passes the ball to the second player. The second player then runs out to the next set of cones and passes the ball to the third player, who runs out to the next set of cones. In the last area of cones, the ball has to be passed quickly amongst all the players.

General

Rugby: Passing By Numbers - Sp...

Keep your player briefing, brief! If necessary you might considering having one group quickly demonstrate the exercise to the other players. Tell the players the following....... This exercise is nice and simple, and fun. Each player will stand on a cone. The game starts with 1 pass right, then two passes left, then three right, then four left, then five right and so on until someone makes a mistake. The tempo of this game should be high. Close the circle as each player leaves. If you make a mistake, your out! A mistake includes: dropped balls and bad passes. The last two players standing, still play the game with two balls. If players can't agree who made a mistake - you resolve all disputes. Quick Hands! This should be fun! Don't forget to keep players that have been put out busy.

General

Simple Hands - Left Passing - ...

Simple handling drill working on catching, passing and straight line running. Line up in lines of three or four. The feeder plays the ball to the first receiver and player transfer the ball along the line of players.

General

Overhead Catch Sevens - Rugby ...

Tell your players to do the following...... The first ball carrier will throw the ball high into the air. The runner will catch it and pass to the player on the opposite cone. They do the same up and down the grid, before swapping with another player.

General

Channel & Lane Running Passing...

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set up a 8 channels of cones 5 metres apart<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>A group of 4 players start on the side line, and all players need to work around the nearest/corner cone.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The first player with the ball will run into the nearest channel of cones (lane 1) and all the other players will work around the corner cone and filter into the proceeding channels<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The 1st player passes the ball as soon as the 2nd player gets into the 2nd channel. The ball is passed down the line of 4 players until the 4th players receives the ball.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Once the 4th player receives the ball, the ball is placed down and all the players work around to get into their respective channel to repeat the process.<br>

General

Relays continued Passing - Rug...

1) Run out to a cone - round cone back to the team 2) Run out to a different cone but back to your own team. 3) Dribble ball with your feet up to the line - dive on ball - pick up ball and run back.

General

Serious Fun Passing - Rugby Dr...

Tell your players the following, keeping your player briefing, brief! It's vital to get the players moving as quickly as possible. Each of the three cones should have one player. The player in the middle will have a ball, and one of the two other players will have a ball. The player in the middle has to throw their ball up in the air (vertical), catch the ball being passed from the other ball carrier, and then forward the passed ball onto the other player in the group, before catching the ball that they just threw up into the air. Once that is done, they do the same again - this time the lateral pass will come from the opposite direction. This is repeated, the tempo increasing as the players get more comfortable handling the two balls they must keep in play. Change the position of each player in the group; there can be a competition between the players to find out who can do the most without dropping any of the balls, or giving a poor quality pass. Have fun with this, but don't forget that there are great lessons to be learned here, many of which are noted in the coaching points.

General

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