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Rugby: support runners

support runners DRILLS
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Attack until youre tackled

Playing area of 25m in length - adjust width to suit numbers- equal numbers in both teams Full LEG tackles ONLY - ball carrier when tackled can off load immediately or IF no support present when support arrives - game continues until knock or forward pass occurs. When a try is scored the try scorer turns to attack the other try line game continues playing the opposite way. No rucks or mauls.

Off Loads

Bunch

Groups of 6 1 ball per group 4 attackers v 2 defenders holding a tag belt and working laterally.

Decision making

Diamond Geezer

In fours players are moving up a channel. The support runner (blue player in the animation) calls themselves into the line, receives a pass, offloads and repeats down the second channel. Ideally you would like your players to form a diamond: a ball carrier, support running left, support running right, and a support runner behind who can come onto the ball at any angle. When the first group leaves the first channel, the second group should begin. That way there will always be activity. Players should change their positions in the diamond.

Agility & Running Skills

Join the attack: 2v1 - 3v2 - 5v4

With a group of nine, tell two of them they are attackers - for now. The rest will be in defence. Allocate your defenders within the grid, one defender at defenders cone 1, two defenders at defenders cone 2, and three defenders at defenders cone 3. Tell the defenders that they can move side to side, but not forward and back. Also - tell the players on defenders cones 1 and 2, that they will join the attack when they have finished their defensive duties. So after the first 2 v 1, the 1 defender joins the attack to make the next attack 3 v 2, when this attack is over - the two defenders join the attack to make the last attack 5 v 4. Have your demonstration group quickly complete a walk through, then a run through. Now get the other groups working. Don't forget to give the last four defenders a chance in attack.

Warm Up

Narrow - Wide Channel

Groups of 4 One ball per group In the narrow channel stand one behind the other, once into the big space- fan out.

Agility & Running Skills

Passing circle

Tell your players the following..... There will be 4 players on the outside of the circle, starting at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. There will be one player in the middle. The players on the outside of the circle jog around the circle. The player in the middle will have a ball, and will pass the ball to one of the runners - for them to run onto it. The new ball carrier will pass the ball back to the static player in the middle of the circle. And the same happens again, but the passer cannot bass to the same player twice. Players will have to respond to the calls: SLOW JOG, FAST JOG, FASTER, CHANGE DIRECTION, TOUCH THE GROUD WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND, TOUCH THE GROUND WITH YOUR LEFT HAND, etc. Don't forget to change the static player.

Passing

Passing to Support

Tell your players the following...... One the call of the scrum half, the 3 attackers turn, round the cone and attack. The scrum half feeds the ball to the first reciever, players will need to decide who the first reciever is. The other two players fall in at depth, providing support left and support right. The support players can expand the space between them and the ball carrier. As the attack approaches the end of the grid, the coach will point left or right, and the ball must be (without delay) passed to the support player on the side the coach has pointed to. The attacking unit return to join the line in preperation for the next attacking opportunity, they should pass the ball back to the scrum half.

Passing

Split with Trailer

Tell your players the following...... Player A passes to D and cuts - not getting ball back , but holding up - B cuts and receives the ball off D, then turns it back inside to C, who passes to A to score out wide on Right. Players change position after each attack, the static player will be a runner in the next attack.

Passing

2 vs 1 - with running support ...

The lead attacker runs at straight at defender. Attacks runs into space, either on the left or the right, takes the tackle and then off-loads to the support player who should be running down the opposite channel to the first attacker (so if the the first attacker runs left the support player goes right).

General

Rugby: Running into space from...

2 groups of 2 players start on set cones about 15m apart. The 2 players are situated one in behind the other, the same goes for the second set of 2 players. Once the player with the ball starts to run, the supporter goes wide and straightens onto a gate of cones. As soon as he passes the ball the second supporter can start to move out to his designated gate. Ensure that the players hide behind one another!

General

Offloading Technique Off Loads...

Ball Groups of 3+ 2 attackers line up opposite a defender.The defender makes a low leg tackle on the atttacker. The attacker being tackled tries to get arms free and perfom an offload to the supporting runner.

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

3 vs 2 - Support Running Match...

3 vs 2 in a grid. Defenders must stay in position to start. Once skills progress defenders can move to try and stop attackers either by intercepting the ball or touch tackling the ball carrier.

General

Diamond Geezer Warm Up - Rugby...

In fours players are moving up a channel. The support runner (blue player in the animation) calls themselves into the line, receives a pass, offloads and repeats down the second channel. Ideally you would like your players to form a diamond: a ball carrier, support running left, support running right, and a support runner behind who can come onto the ball at any angle. When the first group leaves the first channel, the second group should begin. That way there will always be activity. Players should change their positions in the diamond.

General

Multi Support Touch Tag Rugby ...

Once the coach has kicked the ball in to start players play a normal rules game of touch rugby. The only difference is with the scoring: 1 point for a try - plus 1 x bonus point for an offload within 10 metres and 2 x bonus points for offload with 5 metres of the try line. If no passes within 15 metres of the try line then the score does not count.

General

Beat The Runner Warm Up - Rugb...

Divide your players into groups of five, with one player acting as a running. Each grid will need a runner. The runner starts on the runners cone. You might wish to have two groups of five at each grid, and to have a quick demo before sending all the players to their own grids. Keep your player briefing, brief! The first five passers attack the runners line, passing the pass down the line as they go. The runner sets off as soon as the first ball carrier starts to move. The aim of attack is to score a try in the corner, beating the runner - so quick hands. Each player should realign following their pass, there will be two attacks for each group before they move the ball onto the next group. After the first attack the runner goes to their cones on the opposite side of the grid ready for the next attack. The attack begins when the first players picks the ball off the ground. Don't forget to change the runners. Move the runner cones in to progress the exercise and to put the attack under more pressure.

General

Offloading technique Handling ...

Ball Groups of 3+ 2 attackers line up opposite a defender.The defender makes a low leg tackle on the atttacker. The attacker being tackled tries to get arms free and perfom an offload to the supporting runner.

General

3 vs 2 - Support Running Match...

3 vs 2 in a grid. Defenders must stay in position to start. Once skills progress defenders can move to try and stop attackers either by intercepting the ball or touch tackling the ball carrier.

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

Rugby: Passing to Support - Sp...

Tell your players the following...... One the call of the scrum half, the 3 attackers turn, round the cone and attack. The scrum half feeds the ball to the first reciever, players will need to decide who the first reciever is. The other two players fall in at depth, providing support left and support right. The support players can expand the space between them and the ball carrier. As the attack approaches the end of the grid, the coach will point left or right, and the ball must be (without delay) passed to the support player on the side the coach has pointed to. The attacking unit return to join the line in preperation for the next attacking opportunity, they should pass the ball back to the scrum half.

General

2 on 1 Attack and Defence Dril...

Set a narrow grid to attack. Defenders and attackers begin on the touchline in the centre. Both leave at the same time and run around appointed cones, ball carrier should accelerate up towards inside shoulder of defender to draw in and then pass to the support runner coming from depth who can run in and score.

General

3 on 1 Attack and Defence Dril...

Set a grid to attack. Defenders and attackers begin on the touchline in the centre. Both leave at the same time and run around appointed cones, ball carrier should accelerate up towards defender channeling them however they want realising that they have two other support runners for different options to run in and score.

General

Offloading channel Off Loads -...

Groups of 10+ Ball Bibs. In 5m Channel have 4 defenders stood one behind eachother 5m apart. Have 4 defenders stood in diamond formation. 1 ball carrier, 2 support runners, 1 trailer runner. Ball carrier takes on defender, trying to manoeuvre the defender or get on the outside of the defender using footwork and fend. Once the player has line of sight of a supporting attacker, the attacker returns to 2 hands on the ball, then offloads to support runner. The trailer runner then becomes the second support runner. continue up the grid until the defenders left.

General

2 vs 2 Linebreak scenario Agil...

Here we are re-creating a 2 vs 2 scenario which we might find on the field. The aim is to put players under the same conditions which they would possibly find on the field when there has been a linebreak. You should have support following up, and there will most definitely be defenders chasing from behind. The 2 attackers need to ensure that they take advantage of the linebreak and score. The player in Blue will start on a cone with the ball in hand, The defender in red behind him will start a good 3-5m behind him. The other supporter in blue is off the right, and the 2nd defender in red is a "fullback" or cross defending player. Ensure that once the whistle goes the ball carrier explodes out of the blocks and his support goes with him, they must try to finish the linebreak and score the try. Use 15m as on the field, with the touchline to the right hand side of the supporter.

General

Channel & Lane Running Passing...

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

General

Switch Back Flick Sevens - Rug...

The ball carrier advances, running diagonally across the grid with the player on the other cone doing the same, but with a delay. The ball carrier can then switch or back flick the ball to the supporting runner. The supporting runner passes the ball back to the nearest player waiting from the next group, when they get the ball, they go. That's it, play.

General

Switch Agility & Running Skill...

Groups of 2.1 ball per group.Run straight then change direction at the first cone. Attack the opposite corner and pass to the support runner, before straightening your run to finish.

General

Diamond shape supporting lines...

This is an exercise for continuity and support for attacking play Lay out a rectangular playing area, with four attackers and minimum three defenders The attackers begin in a diamond formation, with the ball carrier at the front The defenders are then stacked in rows, one defender per row, spread out diagonally The ball carrier is tackled by the first man, and offloads to one of the two supporting attackers The receiver of the pass runs and is tackled by the next defender and they offload to one of two supporting attackers As one of the four attackers will be on the floor from a tackle, the next phase will include three attackers, who should be in an arrow formation

General

Rugby: 3 v Tackle Bag and body...

3 attackers start at the beginning of the grid who will go up against the tackle bag first and then the person in the body suit second; these two should not stand next to each other unless you move on to the progression. At the coaches command the attackers will go into the tackle shield first with the ball carrier going to ground and the two supporters either both clearing out or one person clearing and the next picking up the ball and going into the next defender 5 metres behind who will be in a bodysuit. The ball carrier here will try to stay strong on his feet and offload to the two support runners or one of them will come in and rip the ball and offload to the support runner who will finish by crossing over the line.

General

2 on 1 Attack and Defence Dril...

Set a narrow grid to attack. Defenders and attackers begin on the touchline in the centre. Both leave at the same time and run around appointed cones, ball carrier should accelerate up towards inside shoulder of defender to draw in and then pass to the support runner coming from depth who can run in and score.

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

Quick hand and quick positioni...

4 players work together in a 6x6m grid. Players attack each line of the square, from the inside. Once they get to the 4th man they move onto the next closest line to the ball carrier. All the players in support must get into a good position to receive the ball deep and work onto the ball straight towards the line. Players keep going until they finish the last line of the grid.

General

Channels Agility & Running Ski...

1) Run down channels 1/2 / 3/4 pace. <br>2) No forward passes.<br>3) Use 6 balls / 6 runners at the same time.<br><br><br><b>Variation</b><br>1) Speed it up.<br>2) Sidestep within the channel.<br>3) Sidestep into another channel.

General

Depth, Fitness, Warming Up War...

This exercise is all about getting deep lines of support, speed onto the ball, warming up the entire body, and getting fit for rugby - in this one we're doing lots and achieving more than your players may realize. Using cones, mark out a box - size depends on your coaching goals. Have 4 passing units, 1 on each side of the box. Decide on the numbers that you would like in each unit, depends on the number of players at training and your goals for the training session. Give the first player in one of the units a ball, and the last player in the opposite facing unit a ball. The ball carrier starts on their feet, but the rest of the unit starts laying down on the ground. They can only get up to receive the ball when the ball carrier (who will be passing the ball to them) has advanced 1 meter. When the ball gets to the end of the line, the last receiver passes to the first receiver in the line closest to them. The units that have just finished should quickly change place to that the first runner is different each time, they should set and get ready to go again. Keep the action going.

General

2 v 2 (switch) Decision making...

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. Condition defence so that the defender marking support runner stays out and doesn't move in to defend ball carrier

General

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support runners SESSIONS
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2v1 Attacking Skills Session

Improve your players' 2v1 confidence and introduce them to the dummy pass, support running and offloading in this attacking session!

Running Lines and Fixing Defenders

Create doubt in the defender's mind by getting your ball carrier to run straight with the ball, and support runners to run good lines to create depth and width
support runners ANSWERS
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switch pass in rugby union

switch pass in rugby union

maria Coach, England

Forward running; positoning after breakdown

I am trying to explain to my Under 12 forwards where they should run to after a breakdown. Inevitably the committed lads end up running from ruck to ruck without getting there hands on the ball. How do you coach positioning? When to hang in the back line, when to cover wide, when to set up a chain play? Traditional unopposed has the forwards going thru ruck after ruck when the backs have broken the play down but how do you explain positioning to the big men?

David Mason Coach, England

My son has played all season U9's on the wing and has?

My son has played all season U9's on the wing and has now be brought into a inside centre role. What are the key differences he needs to make to be successful in his new position

Archived User Coach

Hi Guys Though we all fully enjoyed it, We have just?

Hi Guys Though we all fully enjoyed it, We have just lost a tournament - mainly because the forwards were not offloading in contact and were getting turned over. Does anyone have a forwards type game I can use with the boys to play instead of drills, to strengthen their skills in this area? The team is a under 12 group. And I have 14 forwards. Thanks for you help in advance. Cheers Iain

Iain Hughes Coach, England

Shortened lineup. Where should my forwards position themselves...?

Any advice as to where rest of forwards should line up without getting in way of fly half and other backs for example in a 3 man lineout?

Archived User Coach

U9 Positional Play Advice

What options are there for positional play in the U9s game? What formations are recommended in attack or defence? What's a good place to start teaching this? No scrums at this level so that's out of the question. Greatful for any advice. Thank you. Matt Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Matt Potter Coach, England

preseason offloading

Hi all. I'm currently busy with u8 training for next years season. The problem im facing is that each player wants to run with the ball, which i cant blame them, but they dont want to offload before a tackle is made, and when they go to ground everyone wants to grab the ball. What can i do for them to offload and also form a ruck ones a tackle is made, While doing drills they do exacly what i ask of them but as soon as we do a practice match everything falls apart.

Ryno Van Rhyn Coach, South Africa

u8s running sideways not forwa...

What drills would anybody reccomend to encourage forward running in an u8s side,whilst keeping it fun?Some players tend to crab along the pitch.

Archived User Coach

switch pass in rugby union - S...

switch pass in rugby union

maria Coach, England

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