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competition DRILLS
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Pass and Control

Keep you player briefing, brief. Get the players moving and training as soon as possible. If you feel it would help, have one group demonstrate. Tell your players the following: They work as pairs, passing the ball back and forth between one another. They can move anywhere in the grid, be as close or as far apart as they like. Passes may not be forward. The temp should be high, and ball carriers should not hold onto the ball for more than 3 seconds. When they hear the first whistle they keep working but listen to the instruction. On the second whistle the ball carrier executes that instruction. Instructions can include: Pass the ball between your legs, pass the ball around your back, pass the ball around your neck, roll the ball down your back and catch it, flick the ball over your head and catch it etc. These can be as simple or as complex as you like. This is about getting your players to control the ball, to be more comfortable handling the ball. This should be fun, but players should strive to control the ball and may even end up impressing themselves and others.

Passing

Presenting The Ball

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball, once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

Ball Presentation

Relay Passing Race

With each new instruction to players you'll be having a race, lets see which group is the fastest - no cheating! Don't spend too much time talking, get the players into their groups quickly and tell them to do the following: Pass the ball between your legs to the person behind you - keep going until the ball reaches the end of the line. Same thing as above, but this time when the ball reaches the end of the line, the player at the end runs the ball back and the ball starts the same journey again. This is repeating until the every player has run from the back to the front of the line. Same idea but this time under legs then next person passes over head, next under legs (under/over/under etc.) Same idea but twist hips to pass to person behind first to the left then to the right - back person runs to front. As above but just over the head. Progress this with your own ideas e.g. pass to the person behind you with one hand etc. This warm-up should be full of fun.

Warm Up

School

To make the players work harder poster high ability group, if they score, then they can attack the other way. By having to turn if successful, you will develop natural competition which group do that most without a mistake (i.e. getting touched, forward pass, running out of the area etc)

School

Serious Fun

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.

Passing

Speed passing, scoring wide and realigning

Any number of players can be used. Make the distance between each pass shorter for lower ability groups. Excellent develop ability to move ball wide at speed. Developed ability to pass a full speed, in different positions and under pressure. The runner provides super competition and feedback to players. Past ball down the line quickly then realigning using full width. End man fall down on the 1st cone and then goes round the 2nd came to become the defender. 30 m in width and 5 players. Realign early using whole width and path while at full speed. The aim is to get the ball to winger in Cone zone before defender gets there.

School

Standing and Passing - Variation

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

Passing

Standing and 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.

Passing

Tackle Box

The exercise is simple, the attacker has 2 minutes to score as many tries as they can. They do this by attacking the space between 2 sets of cones, but there is a defender they need to avoid. When it is clear which area the attacking is going to attack, that defender can advance. This is a full contact exercise. If the attackers scores, they return to the center of the grid to attack again. They cannot attack the same defender twice. If the attack fails, they reset and have another go. After 1/2 minutes, switch the attacker. This is a competition, so keep score.

Sevens

Ten passes then...

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. Players make 10 passes and then: Make figure 8 between legs. Partner does the same after another 10 passes. 10 passes then throw ball up and make a 360 degree turn to catch it before it hits the floor. 10 passes then throw ball overhead and catch it behind back. You might consider asking players to pass the ball with just one hand, off their hip

Handling

6 Things Changing Rugby in 202...

General

Competitive Arch Sprints Warm ...

The lead runner chooses one of two sides to run.One or two players behind have to react and chase the lead runner around the arch.

General

Rugby: Contest The Tackle - Sp...

Groups of three, the aim of the exercise is for the second defender to contest the tackle.One player starts with the ball, standing still.A defender is on one or both knees preparing to tackle the attacker.A second defender is stood ready behind the first defender.The first defender wraps their arms round the attacker and tackles them to the floor.The attacker presents the ball as if to the scrum half.The second defender rucks over (contesting the tackle) and should steal the ball.

General

Rugby: 1v1 Competitive Warm Up...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>1 vs 1 in a small pitch<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>All players line up on the same line on one side of the pitch in the middle.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>On the coaches signal, a player with a ball goes around a cone in one corner and another player goes around the other corner of the same sideline. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Then it is a simple 1 vs 1 with the player with the ball using footwork to beat the defender.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>You can vary the level of contact at your discretion.

General

Tackle, Bounce, Compete Ruck -...

Sausage ConesAfter you have completed the bounce motion, you can bounce and fire. Fire - is by any means effect there breakdown and slow the ball down - when you realise you cant steal the ball. Jackal - stay on and win the ball over the break down. Players line up on the cones the first play makes a tackle on the sausage get s up and becomes the defender. (jackal)the second player listens to the coloured cone the coach shouts and goes around that cone before trying to clear the (jackaler) The jackaler makes the decion to Jackle or Fire through the break down depending on the speed of the arriving defender.

General

The 2026 Lineout Law Change: N...

General

Counter Bag Sevens - Rugby Dri...

Tell your players the following..... One player will straddle the bag and compete for the ball on the ground. The two remaining players will remove the competing player. The competing player will change sides, and compete for the ball on the opposite side, but the remaining two players need to get there quickly to stop them and remove the competing player again. This sequence repeats until the coach says stop. That's it, let get going. Don't forget to change the players around.

General

Rugby: Changing Direction - Co...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players are racing to get back to the middle after touching cones on opposite sides.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players start facing each other on the middle cone and await the coaches signal.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Players will accelerate to the cone on one side, turn and accelerate to the other side, turn again and accelerate back to the middle.

General

Compete for the ball Catching ...

2 players, 1 ball. The player with the ball throws the ball up and both player jump up to compete for the ball winner scores the point and throws up the next ball.

General

Youth Development: The Player-...

General

Sausage Wrestle and Jackal Ruc...

Groups of 3 Sausage Ball1 player lines up opposite a standing sausage, wrestles it to the floor, landing chest ontop of the bag. A 2nd play holding a ball puts the ball down on the right side of the sausage as if it was an attacker placing it. The first play wrestling the sausage, bouncers up and competes for the ball (remeber to release) The 3rd player once the ball has been placed tries to clear the player competing for the ball.

General

Contesting The Ruck Ruck - Rug...

This is a two person exercise, designed to improve ability at the ruckStand up a tackle tubeOne player tackles the tube to the floor, before turning to face the opposite direction and ruck against a second playerThe two players contest the ruck, with the tackle tube between their legs

General

Confidence in the tackle Tackl...

Groups of 3.Progression.1. Wrestling Players link up, one arm under &amp; one arm over each shoulder. Players then pick a side to wrestle to, then give a count down and fight to force opposition on the side they chose to wrestle to.2. Tackle on Knees Each player takes turns to complete tackles on there knees. 3. You can make this fun and competitive by counting how many tackles a player completes in a certain amount of time.

General

Jackal Warm Up - Rugby Drills,...

Groups of 3 BallOne Player lies in a Long placement on the floor. Another player (Jackaler) comes over the top of the player, to compete for ball. Another player pushes, pulls and tries to make the player off balance.

General

Presenting The Ball Tackling -...

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball, once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

General

Grip Games Handling - Rugby Dr...

Here are two games to improve your players grip on the ball:1. Simple grip battle (0.00-0.14)<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players have one ball between them.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>This is a grip battle where the players are trying to take the ball from each other. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Tell your players to focus on how they are gripping the ball and using grip strength rather than by moving their feet or hips.2. Competitive grip game (0.14-1.04)<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Set up an area with cones and give half of the players a ball.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The players without the ball are trying to knock the ball out of their hands.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The players with the balls are trying to stop that happening.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Either play that when all the balls go down the defence wins.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Or play when a ball goes down those two players swap roles.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>(1.04) Have players work on the hand off and ball transfer in pairs and then play again and see the difference.

General

Rugby: Lineout Game - Sportpla...

The coach calls out the number of people that required in the lineout, together with a team name to. The hooker throws the ball in for both teams to compete for the ball. The lineout is over when the scrum half receives the ball. If a team wins the ball and the coach has called their team name then they receive 1 point. If the team wins the line out against the coaches call then they receive 2 points.

General

Rugby: Presenting the Ball Usi...

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields, 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball. Once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

General

Ruck Clear Out - Rugby Drills,...

4 players (2 players in Tackle Suits, one ball carrier and one support player) and one ball. Ball carrier attacks suited player and takes 'leg' tackle &ndash; 2nd suited player quickly moves in to compete for ball &ndash; support player clears.

General

Punt Kick Kicking - Rugby Dril...

2 players working together, about 4m apart. One player punt kicks the ball to the hands of the other.<br>Create a competitive edge by having teams of 2 compete against each other for the most kicks in a minute, this increases pressure on technique.Alternately 10 kicks from one distance and take a step back - if a mis kick given, start from the beginning.

General

Tackle, Bounce, Jackal, Fire D...

4 players + cones ball. Cones laid out on 5m chanel other 10 chanel. 3 Players line up passing ball up and down the line, when coach says now they pass it to the player stood opposite in the 5m chanel. The player then attacks down the 5m chanel. The player opposite makes a chop tackle, bounces and competes. for the ball. (Tackler becomes clearer).The 2 other players then try to clear the player off the ball. Decinign whether to fire or steal ball depedning of spped of clearer off the floor.

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

Ruck, Ruck, and Ruck Again Sev...

Tell your players the following..... Both the pad and attacking units will jog within the grid, the players in the attacking units don't have to stay together, but must work together on the coaches call. When the coach blows the whistle the attacking units must locate a pad, and hit that pad creating a ruck. The first player, the ball carrier hit, the second player rucks over, and the third player picks up the ball calling the rest of the players out of the ruck, they start jogging again. The second defending player works to steel the ball as soon first attacking player hits. The pad holding defender can also drop their pad and compete for the ball.

General

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competition DRILL CATEGORIES
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Sevens Drills
Sevens Drills
competition SESSIONS
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Position Specific Speed Training

Get your team the fastest and most agile out there. As the season deepens, we all need to stay on top of our game; make sure every position is covered with this intense drill.

Defensive Principal: Competing...

Develop some tactical awareness and get your players recognising the value of slowing down the game with a jackal.
competition ANSWERS
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I am researching a new blog...

I am researching a new blog entitled "Aspiring to Mediocrity" that looks at the current trend that teaches children that it is OK to just compete and that winning is not important. Without adding any of my own views quite yet, I'd be interested to know what you all, as coaches and people involved in the game, think of this concept.

Archived User Coach

Any thoughts on a condiioned game where the emphasis?

Any thoughts on a condiioned game where the emphasis is on lineouts and in particular to coach a peel

Mike Taylor Coach, England

Scoring tries - habit?

Why is it important to get players to score the try when completing a handling/running drill?

Archived User Coach

How do I coach women the game of rugby?

I just finished my collegiate rugby career. I feel inspired I would love to coach rugby to women in countries that have a lower popularity of women's rugby. How do I get started?

Archived User Coach

Off side in general play. Can anyone explain this better?

Off side in general play. Can anyone explain this better as it seems to be a bit ambiguous. When are you off side in general play? Rugby Unoin.

Karen Thornton Coach, England

spin pass

How to teach the spin pass to u12

Archived User Coach

Can I and should I coach basic tackle skills to U8s?

Does anyone have a definitive answer to this question%3A can I coach basic tackling skills to U8s now, in preparation for next season, without falling foul of any RFU rules or regulations? Hugo

Hugo Norton-Taylor Coach, England

First time coaching the U13s next season - any tips greatly appreciated!

I have just started helping our head coach with under12's team. He wants to retire and has put me forward to be head coach next season. I am a little worried on how i should aproach training with the boys, going to a full 15 a side team on a full pitch. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Archived User Coach

How can I overcome my son's fear of tackling?

How can I overcome my son's fear of tackling. He's 10 and shaping up to be a useful player in other areas but is very reluctant to engage other players in contact. What drills might help overcome this?

Archived User Coach

How to stop U12s forwards picking the ball up?

My forwards constantly pick and go from the rucks in games and this is starving the backs from any ball. Is there anything I can do, drills etc, which would help them realise there is a time and a place for pick and go, but to do it every time narrows the game and it becomes ineffective and not good teamwork.

Simon Luxton Coach, England

Rugby warm-Ups for Mini Rugby Aged 8

Hi. I am in charge of the Mini Rugby (age 8) warm-up and am interested in more ideas. I try and keep them fun, sports specific and interesting for the boys and they seem to like what I do. Can anyone please help? Thanks!

Archived User Coach

good tackling drill that is not too hard or impact??

For school assignment, i am teaching 12-13 year old girls rugby and need tackling drills

Erin Chant Coach, Australia

Reaction time Improvement

How can I improve my U15 reaction timings? They seem so much slower to react than most of the teams they play.

Noel Hill Coach, England

struggle with the tackle during games

what to do?when on the field players struggle to make tackles, but when we use the junior bag they go in hard and tackle like animals.any drills to help us please?my group is under 9s

JOHAN BRENKMAN Coach, Namibia

Game plan advice needed

Im starting as headcoach for the first time. im looking for templates and or advice on how to make a gameplan. any advice is welcome. Kind regards, Jasper

Jasper Noltes Coach, Netherlands

Managing tackle intensity

Hi. How do you manage the intensity that some players want to bring to the tackling and rucking sessions while other players want to not be at the same intensity either because of coming back from injuries or because they don't have the same experience/confidence in their skills. Currently trying to split players into new/lacking confidence and experienced/confident, but even then it seems some players I would put into the experienced players, are not comfortable with working with high intensity players. Even though they all have played full competition level matches.

Luis Calzada Coach, Mexico

How do I coach women the game ...

I just finished my collegiate rugby career. I feel inspired I would love to coach rugby to women in countries that have a lower popularity of women's rugby. How do I get started?

Archived User Coach

I need ideas for fun team buil...

I need ideas for fun team building activities and any fun games to help towards team building. Has anyone got any ideas on what to do? Anything to spice up rugby training sessions in the dark, cold winter nights.

Archived User Coach

Interpretation of the maul - f...

I will be coaching under 10 next season and need some guidance on how to interpret the rules for the maul?

Ezra rushen Coach, England

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