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shout DRILLS
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123 Play Divots

 The Moles want to turn the cones onto their head, and the Green-keepers want the cones the right way up. Let the kids play, you can start the game by shouting '123 Play Divots!'. After playing for some time, lets find out who is winning - but don't take too long counting. Now tell the players that they must do one press-up before turning a cone - let the game start again. Play for another minute or two.

Warm Up

Agility Slalom - Race

Start with 2 players on the centre cone, each with a ball, and facing each other. On the shout "GO", they both run backwards to the first cone They then side step up the grid to the second cone Next players run through the slalom cones back to the start where the ball is passed to the next players Next players can only go when each player has received a ball (to ensure each race is fair).

Agility & Running Skills

Alcatraz: Jail Break

This is a great warm-up for defensive and evasion sessions, or it might even be a warm-up that helps you reinforce coaching points made during a previous session. The best bit is that it's fun and relevant to all ages. If you're coaching tag rugby, change the warm-up exercise from contact to tags. One team runs clockwise round the inside of the circle with the other team running anti-clockwise around the outside of the circle. The circle in this case is marked out using blue cones, but you can use whatever colour you like. When the coach shouts 'Jailbreak' the players inside the inner circle try to 'escape' to outside the 10m x 10m square (yellow cones). The size of the square and distance from the circle is a suggestion, play with it a little and let us know your variations! The inside team scores a point for each 'jailbreaker' - swap over. If you have an odd number of players give the defenders the extra man.

Warm Up

Cat and Mouse

Players stand back to back and await the coach's call. Whichever colour the coach shouts out are the mice (in the animation the coach shouts 'Blue'). Upon hearing the call the mice must try and escape by running out the far end of the grid. At the same time the cats (the other players) must turn around and try to catch the mice before they escape with a tag/tackle.

Agility & Running Skills

Defense vs attack drill

The aim is to the defensive situation to keep changing the defence gets used to drifting or pressing. The aim of the attack is to realign using the full width, get the ball out of the breakdown quickly (no matter what position you play), seeing space, communicating options and reading the defence. Can be done with any number of players but best suited to around 7. You will need 7 cones, 1 ball, a 40 m area, attack of line and try line. Players passed the ball quickly down the line. When the ball gets halfway, the coach shouts out a number. Number reflects the number of defenders. The end player puts down the ball by pad, then the 2 defenders get onside (beyond defensive line) and defend against the other attackers. The defenders need to work together. Stay tight and use the sideline extra defender. Drifting from the inside and pushing up and out. Attack looks to use, player pace and beat the drift. Important defence talks and understand what they are doing in the changing circumstances. With 4 attackers and 3 defenders, defenders might look for a blitz defence or up then drift. Scrum-half can break so defence must defend at guard. Attack should be looking up and reading the situation. If we have an overlap then as a unit we must understand how to fix defenders. You must start to add a kicking option to advance the drill. 8 players, you can have a forward runner offering a shadow line of 10. He is involved in the passing down the line but is on a separate cone in the front of the 7. This fits in with the patterns and philosophy of attack. You might get the forward to press ups or other exercise to replicate fatigue.

School

Listen to the call - 2 vs 1

4 Cones and 1 Ball inside a 10m x 10m Grid. Number the players. The coach shouts out a number and that player is the defender, who has to run to the end line. The other two players are attackers, who run to the opposite end to collect a ball before having a 2 v 1 with the defender.

Decision making

Mini Maul Technique

Groups of 8 split into four groups of 2 Players pass and, chase the space, until coach shouts - Maul, at which time the second player joins the first and they play with four hands on the ball until coach shouts play

Maul

Three grids - Passing Alignment

Set up one small grid (5x5m), one medium grid (10x10m) and one large area (15x15m). Players work in groups of 3 with one ball. Coach shouts out the name of a square (large, medium or small) and players have to realign quickly inside the coloured square. The idea of this practice is that players understand how to use the full width of the pitch and realign quickly.

School

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

Front 5 Drills Agility & Runni...

Form a 1v1 scrum and hold for 20 seconds.Taking it in turns, one of the players must shout break and then both players sprint laterally, racing their partner to the finish line.

General

Pod-Ruck Ruck - Rugby Drills, ...

On the shout of &quot;GO&quot; the scrum half passes to the player on the first cone, who attacks the 1st bag. Once the bag is attacked and cleared out, the scrum half then passes to the player at the 2nd cone.<br /><br />Once the player at the 2nd cone has attacked their back, the scrum half then passes the ball to the person on the 3rd cone who repeats the exercise.<br /><br />Once the last bag is attacked the exercise is repeated.

General

Tracking hit Tackling - Rugby ...

Tracking hit (2 x 10 minutes in split groups) Set up3 different colour cones on the gain line. 2m spacing (set up 3-4 areas with 2 pads)Defender starts in the middle cone. Attacker has a pad. On &quot;GO&quot; the Attacker with the pad runs straight to one of the 3 cones.The coach can shout a colour to direct the Attacker to a certain cone. The Attacker must run straight to it. This drill will test Defender's front on and side on tackles: left and right.

General

Colour Cone Attack Decision ma...

Drill to practice attacking from different positions.Set up a grid roughly 20m wide and 15m long with three defenders (yellow) and four attackers (blue). Within the grid place a number of different coloured cones.The attack start with the ball and the coach will shout the colour of a cone, the attack must touch the ball on that cone before they can attack. Once the attack have touched the ball on the cone the defence can start to defend.PROGRESSION:To start with the defence can only move laterally along the try line, then are allowed to move off the try line.

General

Back To Back Turn & Chop Tackl...

Players stand back to back with coloured cones either side. When the coach shouts go both player run around their white cones. The coach shouts a colour and the ballc carrier runs towards that cone. If the attacker runs to the tacklers left hand side they must tackle with their left shoulder, if they run right they must tackle with their right shoulder.

General

1v1 Tackle Grid Tackling - Rug...

Small playing area, for 1 v 1 tackling.Players line up in two lines adjacent to the coned area.Coach shouts go and the front two players run round their end to end up facing each other.The coach passes the ball to the attacker who runs at the defender, and the defender tries to take them down.

General

Cat and Mouse Agility & Runnin...

Players stand back to back and await the coach's call. Whichever colour the coach shouts out are the mice (in the animation the coach shouts 'Blue'). Upon hearing the call the mice must try and escape by running out the far end of the grid. At the same time the cats (the other players) must turn around and try to catch the mice before they escape with a tag/tackle.

General

Continuous Passing Square 2 Pa...

Set up a square of cones, and get the players to form equal lines behind each cone.The ball starts in the hands of a player behind cone 1, who runs (black running line) towards cone 2, passes the ball to the player behind cone 2 who passes the ball back to the first player. The first player then runs towards cone 3 and passes the ball to the player standing behind cone 3.The player who passed the ball from behind cone 2 runs (blue running line) following the run of the first player and receives a pass from the player behind cone 3 before running towards cone 4 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 4.The player who passed the ball from behind cone 3 runs (yellow running line) following the run of the second player and receives a pass from the player behind cone 4 before running towards cone 1 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 1.The player who passed the ball from behind cone 4 runs (red running line) following the run and receives a pass from the player behind cone 1 before running towards cone 2 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 2. The player who passed the ball from behind cone 1 runs (black running line) following the run and receives a pass from the player behind cone 2 before running towards cone 3 and passing the ball to the player behind cone 3, and the drill continues.Change the direction which the ball is going.Progressions:Get the players to change direction on your command (shout/whistle etc)Multiple ballsAs 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

Agility Slalom - Race Agility ...

Start with 2 players on the centre cone, each with a ball, and facing each other. On the shout "GO", they both run backwards to the first cone They then side step up the grid to the second cone Next players run through the slalom cones back to the start where the ball is passed to the next players Next players can only go when each player has received a ball (to ensure each race is fair).

General

Rugby: Mini Maul Technique - S...

Groups of 8 split into four groups of 2Players pass and, chase the space, until coach shouts - Maul, at which time the second player joins the first and they play with four hands on the ball until coach shouts play

General

Agility and Balance Race Agili...

Set out a course of cones in pairs, with two pairs of cones at the front and back of the course - two cones go in the middle of the front and back cones, not in line but just to the side. Two cones then go opposite the two cones in the middle on either side. <br><br>Two players stay at the front of the circuit, standing back facing towards the rest of the cones. On the shout of GO, the players run backwards before turning to face forwards at the first cone, sprinting to the side and running around this cone before sprinting to the top. Here they turn completely around the cone, before sprinting forward to the start.

General

123 Play Divots Warm Up - Rugb...

 The Moles want to turn the cones onto their head, and the Green-keepers want the cones the right way up. Let the kids play, you can start the game by shouting '123 Play Divots!'. After playing for some time, lets find out who is winning - but don't take too long counting. Now tell the players that they must do one press-up before turning a cone - let the game start again. Play for another minute or two.

General

Team - Stuck in the mud Warm U...

Groups of 10+ Balls Bibs Cones 4 player with a 1 ball must run around trying to touch the other players without a ball.If tagged the player must stand like a scarecrow still. The other players must try and rescue him by running under his arms or going through his legs. The tagger wins if all other players are stuck.

General

Passing Grid-Under pressure Ha...

Groups of 12+ Balls Cones4 defenders lineup in a passing grid, that has laid out 2 red cones and 2 blue cones as shown in diagram. 4 attackers line up opposite passing the ball up and down there line of 4.When the coach shouts blue or red, the attackers set off, and the defenders on the coloured cone the coach shouts out. The Attckers must react fix the defenders, identify the space and score.

General

Staying square and fixing defe...

Groups of 6+ BallsSausages/BagsCones Players line up opposite the trinagle of cones set up on the floor with ball in hand. Player runs at the black cone, as the player runs the coach shouts either yellow or red (cones). The player with ball then reactes to the colour called and steps to attack that cone. When reached trhe cone the player must perform a pass back the direction they came to player waiting to recieve.

General

Traffic Lights Game Passing - ...

Brief your players one what you would like the to do by telling them the following.... One of the players will stand outside the grid, they are the traffic light. The rest of the players will be inside the grid passing one ball. When the traffic light player shouts GREEN, they turn and face away from the grid (they can decide for how long). The players within the grid and continue to pass the ball, as fast as they can - they don't want to be the player holding the ball when the Traffic Light shouts RED. On the call of RED the Traffic Light player turns around to see who is holding the ball. On the RED call the players must stop passing the ball right away. The player holding the ball becomes the new traffic light, and the old traffic light enters the grid as a passer.

General

The Berlin Wall Warm Up - Rugb...

Tell the players that when you touch the shoulder of a player, they: have to go into the center of the circle, pick up the ball, and try to break out with the ball. The circle must close the gap left by the player that has went into the circle, and bind tight to try and stop the player from leaving. <em>IMPORTANT:</em> The players in the circle must stay bound and cannot use their arms or knees to stop the player trying to exit. The player trying to exit cannot attack the smallest player, nor can they attack sensitive areas of other player's bodies. There must be a sense of fun. The ball carrier should attack the space between the players that are bound on, that space will be very small indeed. The coach walks around the circle taps a player on the shoulder, and lets the fun begin. If the player gets out - well done them. If not, let them rejoin the circle and the select another player. Don't spend too long on this - but the players should enjoy it.

General

Netball With a Rugby Ball Warm...

Set up an area of about 15 x 15m. Have 2 teams of 5+ players, with 1 one ball.The players can run anywhere in the area but can't run with the ball. The first team that get 10 passes wins a point. If the ball in intercepted or dropped then turnover. The 1st pass is after the turnover is free.Stop the game every 1 minute to stretch for 30 seconds.

General

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shout SESSIONS
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Decision Making and Handling

Time waits for no man, so use this easy to set up attacking session to get your players thinking on their feet and playing fast, quick-thinking and intelligent rugby
shout ANSWERS
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My fowards seem afraid to ruck and stand around the?

My fowards seem afraid to ruck and stand around the ruck while in the way of the scrum half trying to get the ball out to the backs. They also don't support the ball carrier while he is being tackled. Please help me with any suggestions!!!

William Barrett Coach, United States of America

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

How quickly must a player call a mark when he catches?

How quickly must a player call a mark when he catches an up and under inside his 22. We had someone catch the ball whilst diving on the floor - he looked up and then called a mark. Is this legal or does someone have to call a mark whilst in the process of catching?

Archived User Coach

Does anyone know some games for 5-8 year old children?

Does anyone know some games for 5-8 year old children referring to rugby?

Archived User Coach

Moves from Penalty Situations

Can anyone suggest some attacking Penalty Moves I can use with my U13s?

Archived User Coach

What drill can I use to get U8s to retreat to an onside?

What drill can I use to get U8s to retreat to an onside position after the tag and line up defensively

Rupert Armitage Coach, England

What is the rule in Mini Festivals or games for U7s carrying the ball in one hand. Should they be penalised?

What is the rule in Mini Festivals or games for U7s carrying the ball in one hand. Should they be penalised?

Andy Kershaw Coach, England

Vision and Anticipation??!!!

Hi guys, Thanks for everyone that answered my question on Stats!!! I am in the process of drawing up a sheet and sharing it with those that want. Next Question%3A I have come up with a few drills that I think will improve my players Vision, anticipation and decision making. I am wondering if anyone will share their ideas and process to improve these aspects of players especially VISION? I know the 2v1 and 3v2 drills ext for decision making but I want to focus more on VISION and ANTICIPATION. Any ideas??? Thanks again. Shaun

Archived User Coach

how to keep a defensive line for u7+u8

i currently help out with the coaching of the u7+u8 tag rugby but we are struggling to keep a defensive line can have anybody got any drills

jason halse Coach, Wales

Refereeeing an U10 ruck

As well as coaching U10 rugby, I also get to referee U10 games, under the New Rules Of Play. I feel that my refereeing of the ruck isn't as good as it could/should be. Has anyone got an easy to follow system to help them referee U10 rucks ?

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

(U11 Rugby) - How to referee the 'big lad'

I'm coaching and reffing U11 rugby and one of my players is the definitive 'big lad'. His 'strength' is his size and his power, but last weekend he didn't seem to get reffed fairly. The opposition couldn't tackle him down, one on one and when another two joined in to make a mini maul, that didn't slow him down much either. The ref then let other people join in the (one sided) struggle to tackle him down, which seemed very unfair as A) it's outside the laws of U11 rugby,, B) it makes it nigh on impossible for him to offload, C) when he is brought to ground, he has 4-5 players all over him and he got pinged for 'holding on'. He is a recent arrival to rugby and it was our first game for a couple of months, so the situation hadn't reared his head before. We are keen that he learns all of the core skills of rugby and doesn't get used as a battering ram, but after seeing a pack of hyenas trying to pull down the big fella, something just didn't seem right to me.I'd be grateful for any thoughts and opinions.

Archived User Coach

Warm up ideas before a game

What are the best warm up drills to do before a game Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Liam Manley Coach, England

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

3 people, 1 tackle bag

Hi I was just asking what the best drills would be to do on a tackle bag with 3 people? Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Liam Manley Coach, England

U7 and u8s tag rugby with low numbers

I coach under 7s and under 8s tag rugby and we often get low numbers at training as low as 2 or 3 any ideas for games for them to play that is related to skills without having to cancel a session. Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

James Gallagher Coach, England

I'm about to begin coaching fo...

I'm about to begin coaching forwards at the college level, any drills, conditioning, tips, or any suggestions from my more experienced ruggers will be greatly appreciated

Archived User Coach

good tackling drill that is no...

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

Erin Chant Coach, Australia

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

(U11 Rugby) - How to referee t...

I'm coaching and reffing U11 rugby and one of my players is the definitive 'big lad'. His 'strength' is his size and his power, but last weekend he didn't seem to get reffed fairly. The opposition couldn't tackle him down, one on one and when another two joined in to make a mini maul, that didn't slow him down much either. The ref then let other people join in the (one sided) struggle to tackle him down, which seemed very unfair as A) it's outside the laws of U11 rugby,, B) it makes it nigh on impossible for him to offload, C) when he is brought to ground, he has 4-5 players all over him and he got pinged for 'holding on'. He is a recent arrival to rugby and it was our first game for a couple of months, so the situation hadn't reared his head before. We are keen that he learns all of the core skills of rugby and doesn't get used as a battering ram, but after seeing a pack of hyenas trying to pull down the big fella, something just didn't seem right to me.I'd be grateful for any thoughts and opinions.

Archived User Coach

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