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creating DRILLS
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Decision Making Exercise

The players stood behind the line work the ball up through the channel in groups of 5. As they progress up the area they work the ball left and right. Defenders are placed on cones which have been given a number. As the group work their way up the channel the coach could call 1. At this point one player from cone 1 runs out to defend. If a call of 1, 2 is made then one player from cone 1 and 2 come out to defend. A call of 2,2 means two players from cone 2 come out to defend and so on... The diagram shows a call of 4, 1.

Decision making

M1, Inside Pass/Pop, Back

Keep your player briefing, brief! It's important to get your players working as quickly as possible. Lets get the ball and the players moving with lateral passing through the hands. Each training area only needs one ball, and that ball should be any of the two players at the outer most cones. Tell players to move forward, passing the ball down the line. When the ball gets to the last receiver, that player will pass it to the first receiver in the next line. That player should be waiting to go. Players should advance right away, they don't need to wait for your call. Allow the players to move the ball down the lines, just to get them used to handling the ball within the L. When you feel the players are comfortable, tell the players that the first ball carrier will miss pass the ball to the third player in the line, who will miss pass to the last player in the line, who will give an inside ball to the forth player in the line, who will then pass the ball to the second player in the line. When each line has completed the above pattern, they should give the ball to the next attacking line. The last pass to the next attacking line will be a long pass and should be completed correctly within the laws of the game. Allow the players to discover, though questioning, the best possible way of executing the M1 while maintaining or creating depth in advance of changing the pattern of attack. Players should change position in the line after each run.

Passing

Maul Touch

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game, but there will be some light contact. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team, it will be their job to move the ball from the back of the maul and out to an attacking line. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must stop and turn, a maul is then built based on how you have trained your players to Maul. Only four players should be in the maul - but every player should be able to maul - including the backs! When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the maul. They will commit 4 players, but will not do anything more than provide light resistance. Once formed the maul can take four steps before moving the ball. If there is a delay in creating the maul, or the quality of the maul is poor - the ball can be turned over. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! If a team has been in possession for a long time, don't forget to turn the ball over to give the opposition a run. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you.

Warm Up

One Touch Off-Load

Keep your player briefing; brief, and get them working as soon as possible.I can't stress this enough, it's not a debating society - players want to play. Split your players into two teams, giving each team their own set of bibs - if necessary. One team will be in attack, the other in defence. Tell the players we are going to play one touch off-load, the normal laws of rugby apply. Any forward passes etc. will result in the ball being turned over. When a player is touched, they must pass right away without delay. A delay will result in the ball being turned over. Use your own judgement here, taking into account the age and skill level of the players. Alternative: You might decide that one team will play 5 minutes in attack no matter what - and 5 minutes in defence. They have unlimited touches, you can change this depending on your training goals. Let them play - don't tell them what it's all about. Let them discover, remember this is the warm-up! Don't hesitate to change any of the above to suit your training goals/targets.

Warm Up

Pass Developer

Tell the players the following...... Players should make 10 passes each between the 5 meter and the touch line. When they have done that, number 2 will move out 5 meters. The players do the same for 10 passes, and then move out another 5 meters. They keep going, lets see which group of 2 will be able to pass over the longest distance.

Sevens

Path Of Least Resistance

In this example we will play one touch offload, but remember you can change the version of touch to suit your training goals, applying the same mismatch strategy. Tell the players we are going to play one touch off-load, the normal laws of rugby apply. Any forward passes etc. will result in the ball being turned over. When a player is touched, they must pass right away without delay. A delay will result in the ball be turned over. Alternative: You might decide that one team will play 5 minutes in attack no matter what - and 5 minutes in defense. They have unlimited touches, you can change this depending on your training goals. Tell the players the defenders in the different coloured bibs don't have the ability to make a touch that counts. That doesn't mean that they don't try! If you are an attacker, and if you are touched by one of those players, keep going. You can start the game with lots of players on the defense wearing mismatch bibs, and reduce it as the session develops. Let them play - don't tell them what it's all about. Let them discover, remember this is the warm-up!

Warm Up

Ruck, Ruck, and Ruck Again

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.

Sevens

Scoring Zones

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.The defence must commit three players to every ruck, or risk an infringement which will see tem pushed back ten meters. The ball must be moved from the ruck within 5 seconds. Make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck.  Throughout the game the coach call the point of attack e,g, attack RED ZONE or Zone 2. The coach can also call the scoring zone, Score At Zone Yellow or Zone 3. As the game progresses have the players call the point of attack, and the scoring zones - but they must do this early and they must committ to that attack for a period of time. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! On a mistake or after a period of time, turn the ball over so that both teams get time in attack and defence. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Warm Up

Snap, Crackle, and POP - Touch Variation

Split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of coloured bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your players the following laws: Keep the law briefing, brief! Normal laws of rugby apply - in the case of a knock on etc. the ball will be turned over to the opposition. When the ball carrier is touched, they must go to ground. The defender steps back and does not compete for the ball. The defender that made the touch - cannot make the next touch! The ball carrier on the groud must pop the ball to a supporting player, the pop pass should be quick - any delay can result in a turn over. Judge the speed at which the player has went to ground, how quickly the support has gotten there and how quickly the pass was made. Depending on the age and skill level of your player - make a decision on weather you allow the attack to continue or if the ball is lost and turned over. The player receiving the pop has two options - they can take the pop at speed driving past the defender who made the original touch (remember they cannot make a second touch right away). Or - they can stop and pass the ball away from contact. If the supporting player stops to take the pop - the defence must allow that support player to make a pass away from the point of contact. The support player cannot run on. The ball cannot be kicked.

Warm Up

Waterfall Attack

The drill starts with 2 attackers in blue, standing behind one another, 5m from the 1st defender/attacker in red. The blue players attacks the red defender, once they pass him the defender/attacker joins the attacking team in one motion - therefore 2 players will be ahead with 1 backup supporter creating a 3v2 situation. The 3 attackers now attack the 2 red defenders. Once the attackers beat the 2 red defenders the two defenders also join the attack to make it a 5v3. The 3 defenders at the end stay on. The 2 attackers, 2 defenders and 1 defender must be replaced by new player to keep the drill continuous and stimulating

Match Related

4 vs 1 vs 1 Decision making - ...

Players work in groups of six, with 1 ball per group and set up in the following way: 4 attackers vs 1 defender (between the first cones) and another defender between the second set of cones. Defenders can only move sideways in an attempt to stop the attackers getting through the area.

General

Decision Making Sevens - Rugby...

Tell the players the following..... The players at the bottom of the triangle will pass the ball back and forward. The passer in the middle must not only complete the pass, but should keep their head up and call out the colour of the cone that is being held up for their attention. Don't forget to change the players around to allow everyone a chance to do everything.

General

Creating the Overlap With a Lo...

This drill is designed to work on the loop; on of the simplest and most effective ways to create your own overlap/space out wide Start with three attackers and three defenders using tackle bags in front of them.Attacker 1 passes to attacker 2 and begins to loop around.Player 1 should then receive the ball back and his next aim is to fix the third defender.Attacker three should make his way out to the edge where the space has been created.Attacker 1 then passes to attacker 3 who has space to get around the defence. Using this drill will develop your players handling under pressure and their attacking vision and ability to create space

General

7 v 3 Decision making - Rugby ...

Groups of tenOne ball per groupDefenders equidistant, can only move forwards and backwardsAttackers bunched to startOnce at the end turn straight around and repeat

General

3 on 2 Attack and Defence Dril...

Set an area with two different coloured cones on the touch line in the middle, one for defenders and one for attackers. At the prompt of the coach the players run around designated cones and attack the defenders to score. Ball carrier should initiate the attack by attacking the inside shoulder of the first defender to stop a drift defence. Draw the first defender and make the pass to your next support runner who should do the same to pass to the outside runner who can go and score. Once attacked three or four times players should swap to defence but not every single time to create continuity and positive development.

General

Hit The Gap Drill Decision mak...

A drill to practice decision making and finding space between defenders.Set up a line of three defenders with tackle shields (roughly 2m apart), with one defender 2/3m behind the middle defender (blue - see diagram).Roughly 5m opposite the defenders set up three attackers, one opposite the middle defender with the ball and one either side of the ball carrier (red - see diagram).When the ball carrier starts running towards the defenders the defender behind moves in to fill one of the defensive gaps. The attackers must successfully select the space and pass the ball to the player to run through the gap and score. PROGRESSION:Defenders put more pressure on attackers.All players must touch the ball. The third attacker must get through their space as a support player.The ball starts on one side instead of in the middle and players have to call whether the space is the first gap or the second gap, in which case the ball carrier should through a miss-pass.

General

Rugby: Turnover ball - Creatin...

5 players in a group, line up within touching distance of one another, 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 moves forward.

General

2 vs 2 (loop and step inside) ...

This is a basic 2 vs 2 drill to allow players to progress from a simple 2 v 1. In a channel no wider than 10m, 2 attackers have 5 attempts to score a try on the red cones. The attackers try to create space and beat the defenders by running good support and holding lines.

General

Waterfall Attack Match Related...

The drill starts with 2 attackers in blue, standing behind one another, 5m from the 1st defender/attacker in red. The blue players attacks the red defender, once they pass him the defender/attacker joins the attacking team in one motion - therefore 2 players will be ahead with 1 backup supporter creating a 3v2 situation.<br /><br /> The 3 attackers now attack the 2 red defenders.<br /><br /> Once the attackers beat the 2 red defenders the two defenders also join the attack to make it a 5v3. The 3 defenders at the end stay on. The 2 attackers, 2 defenders and 1 defender must be replaced by new player to keep the drill continuous and stimulating

General

Support Lines Decision making ...

The aim of the drill is to develop players understanding of support lines Players work in groups of 4 in attackSet up 5 defenders with pads, in a 2-2-1 formationAttackers focus on beating the defence by drawing the opposition or breaking through the pad and offloading to supporting players

General

Offloading in Contact: Creatin...

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

2 vs 2 (out - in support line)...

This is a basic 2 v 2 drill to allow players to progress from a simple 2 v 1. In a channel no wider than 10m, 2 attackers have 5 attempts to score a try on the red cones. The attackers try to create space and beat the defenders by running good support and holding lines.

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

Bunch Decision making - Rugby ...

Groups of 61 ball per group4 attackers v 2 defenders holding a tag belt and working laterally.

General

The Atom Game Warm Up - Rugby ...

Quickly tell the players that when you blow you whistle and shout Atom, you will also shout a number to let the players know the size of the groups/atoms they need to get into. For example - if you shout Atom six - you want the players to get into groups of six. They should bind on in the groups to create a small circle of players. In between atom calls the players run around the grid in different and random directions. Some players may be left out of some groups/atoms, depending on the size of the groups when you call Atom. If those plays are a little put out by being left out, give them the opportunity to make the next Atom call. <em>Progression:</em> Same as above, but in between Atom calls you play Simon Says e.g. let the players jog around but you call Simon Says put you hand on your head, Simon Says touch the ground with your right hand, Simon says jump up and clap your hands, ATOM 4! T his should be fun, joke a little with the players and have fun with this. You may decide on minor outcomes for players that don't get into groups quick enough e.g. 2 press-ups. You are the referee, so use your judgment.

General

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creating SESSIONS
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Developing Invasive Attacking Skills!

Improve your players decision making to help them recognise where the space will develop and how they can maximise their success when they create the space, either by going into contact and offloading, or passing before the tackle.

Attacking - Part 2

Work on your players composure when going into contact to be able to provide the offload to create scoring chances even when under pressure.

Improving Kicking Accuracy

Add an extra dimension to your game plus scrub up on the absolutely essential kicking techniques with this kicking session packed of videos and drills.

Developing Correct Contact Habits

Ingrain correct techniques and habits into your players with this session as we focus on tackling and rucking skills.

Developing communication and teamwork

Build a culture in your team that gets everybody understanding each other and makes them work hard for their teammate next to them.

Proactive Attack!

Improve your players decision making and passing ability and timing and attack proactively with pace and decisiveness to cut through defences at will.

Ruck Development!

Rucking isn’t just about the breakdown itself, get your players thinking ahead towards the next play and make your rucks twice as effective.

Dominating the Ruck

Create sustained attacks by understanding how to dominate the ruck by developing an understanding of positioning and technique amongst your players.

Attacking Principle: Improving Decision Making and Support Play

Develop an understanding between players of where the support is and what the benefits are of providing it.

Lead from the front - Front foot attack

Develop your team's attack to go on the front with this session, by improving their movement and offloading to their team-mates

Dominant, decisive attack

Create a dominant and decisive attack in your team with this session, focusing on their ability to offload under pressure
creating ANSWERS
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New rules... how best to take long corners ?

Given the lovely new rules... Can you suggest how to coach a team taking long corners. No player can be 5 yards from player taking the long corner - So creating a 2v1 now is impossible. How do you coach this ? Thanks

Grant Hunt Coach, United Kingdom

Looking to open a bit of a debate. I was running a?

Looking to open a bit of a debate. I was running a 'coach the coaches' course last night and I asked the candidates 'do you coach your players to run at the man? or run at space?'. There was a 50/50 split, the older coaches said 'the man', younger ones 'the space', and others who'd never played before 'both!'. What do you coach?

Archived User Coach

How can my forwards counter a wheeling scrum?

My props (and I ) lack front row experience

Archived User Coach

Backs move from restart scrum?

Has anyone got a good backs move from scrum at halfway after failed restart.

Warren Galbraith Coach, Switzerland

Problem with creating text on chalkboard

I'm not able to add text when creating a new chalkboard.

Lucie Savelberg Coach, Netherlands

Is there a tutorial on creating animations?

Is there a tutorial on creating animations?

Jason Madvig Coach, United States of America

Sessions get Deleted

Just wondering why when i make a session plan it sometimes deletes its self or doesn't show up in our folders.

Grace Coach, England

U8s crowding the ball

Hey all,Can anyone suggest some drills or tips to try and help my under 8s from crowding the ball carrier, We are finding that all of the team huddle around the ball carrier at Starts / Restarts. I dont want to keep stopping play to tell them that huddling around the ball carrier is not creating the space they need as i sound like a broken record.Any suggestions very welcome.Cheers

Matt Osborne Coach, England

about creating

how to create the drills in sports plan phone app?

akash hiremath Coach, India

creating a animation plan

I an not seem to access the animation planonce select then a cross appears

Andre mynhardt Coach, United Kingdom

Creating Animated Passing Drills

How can I create animated drills that pass back and forth between players?

Jesus Arriaza-Lopez Coach, United States of America

Animation tutorial

Are there any tutorials for creating animated drills?

Jesus Arriaza-Lopez Coach, United States of America

Session plan

The template for creating a session plan does not work, and it has not since May 12. When will this be fixed?

Scott Gargan Coach, Canada

Creating a PDF

When I try to create a PDF of the plan I want it does not create a PDF

Paige Stringer Coach, United Kingdom

making lesson plans

how do I put the things I want to do in my training session in one place? I would just fav them but I coach 4 Diffrent age groups

Tillie House Coach, England

Multiple Passes

Hi there , im finding it hard to do multiple passes when creating a animation

Shaun Tuteru Coach, Australia

Tips on breaking through a def...

Hi my name is Mac and i am a 8 man and i struggle to push through a defensive line when i have the ball due to how my coaches make us practice so i wanted to know tips on how to push/break through a defensive line when i have the ball.

Mac Coach, United States of America

Under 9`s rugby, fear of tackl...

I coach under 9`s rugby and a lot of the kids have a bad fear of tackling, they lack the confidence to get stuck in. What is the best thing to help them overcome this?

Archived User Coach

First time coaching the U13s n...

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

Developing a 1:1 coaching plan...

Hi I’m a proud dad who wants to help his 12 year old son develop as an aspiring number 12/13. No experience at all coaching but willing to give it a go. He already trains with his team of course but only once a week. I’d like to supplement that with a plan that he and I can follow 2 to 3 times a week but limited realisticallly to he and I. Passing and tackling and speed and agility I’m guessing are key? Anything on decision making would also be good. Any advice gratefully received!

Carl Mooney Coach, England

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