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Rugby: low body position

low body position DRILLS
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Contact and Support

Ball carrier goes into contact with the tackle pads. Break through and offload to a supporting player.

Contact Skills

Continuous Ruck Support

Groups of 4 and two groups of defenders with contact pads. 1 ball per group. The ball carrier drives into the contact pads and presents ball backwards. Player 2 binds on, face to face and secures ball, player 3 binds on the other side to form a front row. All attackers bind together and drive defenders back 2-3 metres. Player 4 takes ball out at back and runs back around cone with players 1-3 in support. Repeat going back the other way until all attackers have practised each role.

Ruck

Driving Maul

3 attackers against two defenders with contact pads. Ball carrier takes ball into contact turning before hitting pads and presenting the ball.Next two players bind on either side and drive the maul to the end of the grid to score.

Maul

Fast running and Fast hands

Mark out a channel about 10 meters in length, with a cone at either end and four diagonally placed other cones. Divide your players into two small groups. Players work in pairs. The drill starts with a pass being made at the top of the channel. Players then run down the side, stepping off and changing direction at the cones placed in a zig-zag pattern. They round the last cone and run up the centre of the channel placing and picking the ball for each other. When they reach the top of the channel the ball is passed to the next pair who repeat the drill.

Agility & Running Skills

Fast Up

Tell your players the following..... One player will be the bag man, they will put the bags that have been hit back up again. Players will start at the bottom of the channel, they will hit the first bag - get to their feet and pick the ball. They should then set the ball just before the next bag - where they will again make the hit, before getting to their feet and taking the ball. They will repeat this at bag 3. The bag man - should be tracking and putting the bags up again. They player that has just went - will become the bag man, and the existing bag man joins the end of the line ready to complete the exercise. That's it, lets get to work.

Sevens

Hit and Drive Ruck Clearout

A drill to be completed in pairs. One player holding a tackle bag stands in a low, strong position with knees bent. The player is standing with one foot either side of a tackle tube on the floor, with their weight forward. The other player starts lying on the floor in a half press-up position ready to go. The tackler needs to get to their feet quickly, sidestep past the cone on the floor and tackle the player holding the tackle bag. Once the player with the tackle bag has been hit, the tackler drives through to clear the opponent out of a ruck.

Ruck Clear Out

Hit And Roll Ruck Clear Out

A tackling exercise to be completed in pairs. One player stands over a tackle tube, while holding a tackle bag themself against their chest. The tackler begins lying down with chest on the floor ready to go. The tackler gets to their feet quickly, and gets low before tackling the opponent/tackle bag with force. The aim is for the tackler to rip the tackle bag away from the opponent, and roll away.

Ruck Clear Out

Lineout Progressions With Bag

1. Two players stand either side of a tackle tube (tackle tube on the floor 'stood up'). The coach shouts go and the two players turn inwards to face each other and the tube. The players then get set in a low position before lifting the tube into the air. 2. Three players. One in the middle faces forwards. One player either side holds a tackle tube. The coach shouts left or right (or a call to their discretion) for the middle player to turn to. The middle player and the teammate on that side lift the tackle tube into the air the same as the first drill. 3. Three players. Two players set up in the set position either side of one tackle tube, while the other player is set on their own behind a tackle bag facing inwards. The player on the outside of the two runs quickly round their first bag, to join the player on their own. Together the players lift the tube into the air, as per the first two drills.

Lineout

Progression in ruck

In groups of four, the ball carrier runs out, turns and passes the ball to the second player. The first player then becomes a defender. Player 2 goes into contact and tries to drive the defender forward but when stopped, slides down to ground and presents the ball. Player 3 then drives over player 2, clearing the defender out of the way. Player 4 picks up the ball and runs on to the end where the drill is restarted running back down the grid

Ruck

Ruck Turnover Body Position

The coach pops the ball off to the attacker. The first defender tackles the player to the floor quickly. The second defender arrives and gets low in an attempt to get their hands on the ball prior to a ruck being formed. A second attacking player comes in to try to clear out the second defender.

Ruck

Rugby: Ruck Turnover Body Posi...

The coach pops the ball off to the attacker. The first defender tackles the player to the floor quickly.The second defender arrives and gets low in an attempt to get their hands on the ball prior to a ruck being formed.A second attacking player comes in to try to clear out the second defender.

General

Mastering the Breakdown: Ruck ...

General

The Saddle Roll Technique Ruck...

This clearing technique is used to remove defenders who have latched onto the ball and are in a low body position.One player is bridged over a tackle tube with their hands on the ball, in a strong stable position.The player is braced for pressure from the front, but vulnerable side on.The rucking player should tackle the opponent, by wrapping their arms round the torso and rolling them away from the tackle tube.

General

Getting Low in the Tackle Tack...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>In groups of 5 tie a bit of tape or string around the two posts approximately 0.5 to 1 meter above the ground. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players hold the sausages behind the tape on either side and one holds the bag in front of the tape.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Change the man with the bag every few reps or hold the bag as the coach. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The players will rotate around with each rep. 1 Full Repetition: <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The player starts on the ground, hits the bag with either shoulder and then powers past the bag.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Player then gets into a low body position and moves under the tape to complete a tackle on the sausage.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Next, they should get into a strong body position as if they were contesting at a ruck.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>They then pick up the sausage and the previous holder moves around.

General

Sausage Pad Tackling - Getting...

Start with a sausage pad horizontally on the floor. Players should get low to make a shoulder on tackle with the sausage pad. Encourage players to drive through with the legs to push the pad forwards. Drag the pad back into position and repeat.

General

Cone Crawling Contact Conditio...

Players start in a bear crawl position with a cone on their back. They should crawl 5-10 metres forwards and then back whilst keeping the cone stable. Focus on staying low in a strong body position, perfect to warm up for tackling.

General

Get Low - Tackle Below The Pad...

A great drill to get your players tackling low. Set up two cones about 2 metres apart with a player on each cone. One player stats holding a tackle pad horizontally at waist height. The player with the pad jogs forward and the tackler must make a tackle below the pad.

General

Tackle and clear out Ruck Clea...

3 players (one in tackle suit, one with ball) and one tackle bag.<br /><br />Player in tackle suit crouches or kneels next to tackle bag. Suited player tackles bag, player with ball places ball next to tackle bag, suited player returns to feet to compete for ball. The third player now clears out suited player.

General

Rugby: Tackle Touch Game - Spo...

2 Teams Ball Bibs Tackle touch is a contact game that focuses on technique rather than the power of the contact. The game is a normal game of touch, however when a touch is made, both ball carrier and defender put their chests to the floor. They then bounce back up, for the defender to make a low chop tackle. This takes out alot of the power of the colision and means the defender can focus more on technique.

General

Rugby League: Getting Low in t...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>In groups of 5 tie a bit of tape or string around the two posts approximately 0.5 to 1 meter above the ground. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players hold the sausages behind the tape on either side and one holds the bag in front of the tape.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Change the man with the bag every few reps or hold the bag as the coach. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The players will rotate around with each rep. 1 Full Repetition: <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The player starts on the ground, hits the bag with either shoulder and then powers past the bag.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Player then gets into a low body position and moves under the tape to complete a tackle on the sausage.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Next, they should get into a strong body position as if they were contesting at a ruck.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>They then pick up the sausage and the previous holder moves around.

General

1v1 Tackle and Support Clear R...

3 players (One player in Tackle Suit, one ball carrier and one support player) and one ball. Ball carrier attacks suited player and takes leg tackle. The suited player returns to feet an competes for ball before the support player clears.

General

Rucking drill School - Rugby D...

Excellent way to develop the different rucking techniques. Works concept of leg drive, body positions in contact, ball placement and desire to get go forward ball. Pad holder roles ball 1st man down and up into contact 2nd man clear 3rd man picks 1st player pumps legs and ends up long and is active on the floor. 2nd man is low and drive beyond the ball. 3rd player stays low and powers away. 2nd man may have to and Leach on. The idea is for them to work on getting going forward. Keep changing handball is taken by the 1st player.

General

Rucking Body Position Ruck Cle...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Players split into pairs and line up in as many lines as you require<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Balls should be set out 2 yards in front of the player at the front of the line<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The first player holds a tackle bag side on and falls flat to the floor with the bag, just behind the ball<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>The player gets into the rucking position over the ball and drives out over the ball for five yards.

General

Rugby: Learning to tackle on h...

Groups of 6+ players. 3 tackle shields per group. 1 Tackle Sausage per group. 3 people with bags act as attackers, 1 by 1 they run at suausage stepping to a side of there choice when at the sausage.Defenders start running when the attackers do, when the attacker steps, the defender makes quick decison in reaction to what shoulder he/she hits with. NOT FULL TACKLE - Focus on impact, and leg drive.Progression: Get rid of the tackle bags and use balls - progress to full tackle.

General

Reaction Tackle Tackling - Rug...

Groups of 6+ players. 3 tackle shields per group. 1 Tackle Sausage per group. 3 people with bags act as attackers, 1 by 1 they run at suausage stepping to a side of there choice when at the sausage.Defenders start running when the attackers do, when the attacker steps, the defender makes quick decison in reaction to what shoulder he/she hits with. NOT FULL TACKLE - Focus on impact, and leg drive.

General

Rugby Pinball Tackling - Rugby...

This game is designed to teach the players about body height in tackling and ruck clean out. Set up a field about 15m long by 10m wide. Keep it narrow to give the defenders a better chance at catching the runners. Tell all the players to line up at one end facing back down the playing field. Choose 2 players to stand in the middle and tell them they are the defenders who have to tackle any runners before they reach the other side. Explain to the runners they have to run from one end to the other without getting tackled by the defenders. If a runner gets tackled they must stop exactly where they were tackled and stand on that spot. They are called bashers and cannot move their feet until the game is finished. The bashers can, however, push runners over if they come close enough to reach (bashers cannot move their feet so a good strong stance is necessary). If a runner is pushed over by a basher he/she becomes a basher too. Once the runners have made it through to the other end the bashers and tacklers turn around to face the runners and on the coaches call the run through again. This continues until there are no more runners and the last runner wins.

General

Progression in ruck Ruck - Rug...

<BR>In groups of four, the ball carrier runs out, turns and passes the ball to the second player. The first player then becomes a defender. Player 2 goes into contact and tries to drive the defender forward but when stopped, slides down to ground and presents the ball. Player 3 then drives over player 2, clearing the defender out of the way. Player 4 picks up the ball and runs on to the end where the drill is restarted running back down the grid <BR>

General

Hit and Drive Ruck Clearout Ru...

A drill to be completed in pairs.One player holding a tackle bag stands in a low, strong position with knees bent.The player is standing with one foot either side of a tackle tube on the floor, with their weight forward.The other player starts lying on the floor in a half press-up position ready to go.The tackler needs to get to their feet quickly, sidestep past the cone on the floor and tackle the player holding the tackle bag.Once the player with the tackle bag has been hit, the tackler drives through to clear the opponent out of a ruck.

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: Tackling (static). - Sp...

Tackler to stand in a squat position.<BR>Player with ball standing (static).<BR>Tackler hitting the player with the ball low with their shoulder and driving through.<BR>The player with the ball thinking about their own body position, landing on their back and presenting the ball.<BR>

General

Pre-Contact Circuit Warm Up - ...

Brief your players, but keep it brief! In each grid there will not be two channels. In each of the two channels there are two players with a tackle bag and two players binding with their back to the runner. The players binding will be leaning/driving against a tackle shield (similar to how they would be during a maul). The shield will provide support and resistance just before and during the runners hit. The first player starts and runs to the player with the tackle bag and makes a tackle before moving on. After the 2nd tackle they runs to bind with the 2 players and drives them across the line, their bind should result in their head between the hips of the two players in front of him and his shoulders in contact with the from two players backsides. The players driving position should be low and the hit proportionate. When the 3 players cross the line, one of the 2 binding players takes over and continues to run up the other channel, with the first running player now binding with the other remaining player and taking up a driving position against the shield. Change players around to ensure that every player has an opportunity to play different roles.

General

Rucking Ruck - Rugby Drills, R...

Groups of 4 and two groups of defenders with contact pads. 1 ball per group. The ball carrier drives into the contact pads and presents ball backwards. Player 2 binds on, face to face and secures ball, player 3 binds on the other side to form a front row. All attackers bind together and drive defenders back 2-3 metres. Player 4 takes ball out at back and runs back around cone with players 1-3 in support. Repeat going back the other way until all attackers have practised each role.

General

Rugby: Tackle Technique 2/5- B...

Groups of 2 Tackle Bag An attacker holds a bag 2m away from a defender.Defender hold hands behind his back, while bagholder stands in split stance. The Defender then does continuous steps and shoulder impacts off each shoulder one after the other.

General

Rugby: Lineout Progressions Wi...

1.Two players stand either side of a tackle tube (tackle tube on the floor 'stood up').The coach shouts go and the two players turn inwards to face each other and the tube.The players then get set in a low position before lifting the tube into the air.2.Three players. One in the middle faces forwards. One player either side holds a tackle tube.The coach shouts left or right (or a call to their discretion) for the middle player to turn to.The middle player and the teammate on that side lift the tackle tube into the air the same as the first drill.3.Three players. Two players set up in the set position either side of one tackle tube, while the other player is set on their own behind a tackle bag facing inwards.The player on the outside of the two runs quickly round their first bag, to join the player on their own.Together the players lift the tube into the air, as per the first two drills.

General

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low body position DRILL CATEGORIES
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Ruck Clear Out Drills
Tackling Drills
Ruck Clear Out Drills
Tackling Drills
low body position ANSWERS
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Is Bridging Illegal?

Simon My son's PE teacher has told him that Bridging is lieegal for the U13 to U19 group. His Club coach has been encouraging its use in games for two seasons. I can see some of the dangers but also the advantages Who is right is it banned or can it be used? Paul submitted by email

Archived User Coach

I have a quick question on the positioning of the hooker in the scrum primarily feet positioning, is there a guide or is it what ever the hooker feels comfortable with to get the job done. I´ve noticed a wide stance throws the props off.

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and IRB Educators.

Tony Meza Coach, Costa Rica

Where should the posts be postioned on a ruck?

Where should the posts be postioned on a ruck? also, what is the best way to teach this?

Archived User Coach

Taking the ball into contact

Several of my players are taking the ball a yard too far into contact and losing possession as a result.Do you have any suggestions or drills that would help to address this? Dave Knights. Hong Kong

Archived User Coach

Teaching a player cues for a halfback pass,(passing?

What could you teach a player cues for the halfback pass,(passing from the ground)?

Archived User Coach

i coach collegiate womens rugby...any suggestions for?

i coach collegiate womens rugby...any suggestions for tackling sessions in practice - my girls are very hesitant to "hurt" each other. we have tackle dummies, but that just isn't the same...

Archived User Coach

Blindside position - I'm new to the game and I'm not sure what to do?

This is my first year playing on a rugby team for my school, grade 9, im much smaller than everyone else but i run fast and can be strong. my position is the blind side wing, and i dont understand what im supposed to do. it seems like i just jog and stay far away, but i dont know what im supposed to do if someone from the opposite team comes near me and noone else is one them, am i supposed to tackle? i also have trouble tackling cause my arms dont rap fast enough when they run into me, any advice?

Archived User Coach

Interpretation of the maul - for U10s?

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

Reduce Numbers in rucks

Hi. I coach a B level under 12 team at school with very mixed abilities. All the other teams we play put all there forwards into the rucks and therefore we have to, to win the ball. Is there a way I can combat this with a few less players in the ruck?

James Pattinson Coach, Australia

Taking the ball into contact -...

Several of my players are taking the ball a yard too far into contact and losing possession as a result.Do you have any suggestions or drills that would help to address this? Dave Knights. Hong Kong

Archived User Coach

how to get a 6ft+ player low i...

how to get a 6ft+ player low in tackles

Archived User Coach

Reduce Numbers in rucks - Spor...

Hi. I coach a B level under 12 team at school with very mixed abilities. All the other teams we play put all there forwards into the rucks and therefore we have to, to win the ball. Is there a way I can combat this with a few less players in the ruck?

James Pattinson Coach, Australia

Blindside position - I'm new t...

This is my first year playing on a rugby team for my school, grade 9, im much smaller than everyone else but i run fast and can be strong. my position is the blind side wing, and i dont understand what im supposed to do. it seems like i just jog and stay far away, but i dont know what im supposed to do if someone from the opposite team comes near me and noone else is one them, am i supposed to tackle? i also have trouble tackling cause my arms dont rap fast enough when they run into me, any advice?

Archived User Coach

i coach collegiate womens rugb...

i coach collegiate womens rugby...any suggestions for tackling sessions in practice - my girls are very hesitant to "hurt" each other. we have tackle dummies, but that just isn't the same...

Archived User Coach

Is Bridging Illegal? - Sportpl...

Simon My son's PE teacher has told him that Bridging is lieegal for the U13 to U19 group. His Club coach has been encouraging its use in games for two seasons. I can see some of the dangers but also the advantages Who is right is it banned or can it be used? Paul submitted by email

Archived User Coach

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