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testing DRILLS
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Bag Slams | Contact Conditioning Circuit Exercise 2

This is the second exercise in a series of three that can be put together to form a contact conditioning circuit. The circuit can be sets of 30 seconds of hard work followed by 30 seconds of rest. Swap in this circuit for your usual fitness routine to give the players something a bit more interesting and transferable to a game. Alternatively, this would be a great exercise to include as part of a warm up. Players work individually, picking up a tackle sausage and driving it into the ground. Repeat for the whole 30 seconds. This exercise will develop your players core strength, which is immensely important in most areas of the game. Moreover, this exercise simulates how players will have to maintain power in a game. For example when going from making a tackle to then contesting the ruck. 0.40 - What is the purpose of these conditioning circuits?

Contact Skills

Catching and Kicking Tennis

Drill to practice kicking accuracy and contesting the ball in the air. Split the players into two even teams with different coloured bibs (red and blue). Set up two squares (roughly 15m x 10m, with a 5-10m middle zone - see diagram). Split each team in half so half of each team is in each square. Players have to try to kick the ball to a player on their team in the opposite area to score a point. For each kick that is caught on the full by a team mate in the opposite area the team scores one point. The opposition team are trying to disrupt the catch by competing in the air or trying to distract the player catching the ball. PROGRESSION: Use one ball to start with then introduce multiple balls. Players kick with the ball with their less dominant foot. Catch with one hand only. Set a time limit on the time a player is allowed to hold the ball for before kicking it back (e.g. 2 seconds). The catcher has to pass to another player in their team to kick the ball.

Kicking

Coach Says!

Coach gives orders and the players do it. Example include: coach says do a press-up, coach says touch the groud with your right hand, coach says jump up and clap your hands, coach says pass the ball, coach says jog on the spot. You might have youngers players who don't do as they are told quick enough - be out of the game. But keep it fun!

Warm Up

Contest The Tackle

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.

Tackling

Contesting The Ruck

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

Ruck

Getting Low in the Tackle

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

Tackling

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

Agility test 2. Agility & Runn...

From the start position, run forwards out of the 1st set of cones, then side-step to the left to go around the far left cone.<BR>From the far left cone, head back towards the centre set of cones in the course.<BR>Run out form the centre set of cones, this time side-stepping to the right around the far right cone and then heading back throght the last set of cones to the finish.

General

Passing Accuracy Passing - Rug...

Passing in partners.Players stand opposite each other about 3-4m away. One player will take 1-2 steps forward, then pass back and sideways to their partner. Their partner then takes 1-2 steps forward, as they walk backwards to their original spot, so the player can pass back to them. Continuous walking and passing.

General

Agility Slalom Agility & Runni...

The first player runs around the red cone and back down to the start of the slalom. There the player zig-zags up the slalom, then back down before running around the second red cone and down to the second group of players where the ball is passed to the next player Important no more then a max of 3 players per slalom to make sure that there is lots of activity.

General

Front Row Binding Scrum - Rugb...

Some older players giving a technically correct demonstration.

General

Passing circle Passing - Rugby...

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.

General

Tackle Conditioning Tackling -...

This is a simply set up game designed to test players' ability to continuously make tackles, especially when fatigued.Each area should be about 10m long and 5m wide - 1 tackle tube required.Starting from one end, a player runs to the other end where the tube is standing up, and the player tackles the tube to the floor.That player must then pick the tube up and run back to the original position and place the tackle tube there, stood up.The other player in the pair runs from their end, and tackles the tube to the floor, before picking the tube up and carrying it back to thetheir end.Continue this for one minute.

General

Handling Skills Warm Up Warm U...

Groups of four, players stand in a T shape with about two yards between each player.The player in the middle is the focal point and each round is designed to test that middle player as they will be doing the most passing and receiving.Player A - Player BPlayer B - Player CPlayer D - Player BPlayer B - Player DPlayer C - Player BPlayer B - Player APlayer D - Player BPlayer B - Player DThe middle player must receive from the side and pass out the other side.The middle player then plays a one-two return pass with the player opposite.The middle player then receives the ball from the side player they just gave it to and passes it back across to the original passer.Another one-two with the player opposite is then played.Switch positions clockwise after 20/30 seconds.

General

Catch and pass channel Passing...

8+ players  Ball  Players stand at equal distance away at differnt points along the grid. One working player runs in the middle of the channel.  The players on the outside pass the ball into the running player. The Working player must complete 2 sets of passing - 1 run off each hand. 

General

Rugby 5 Pin Bowling Sevens - R...

Using cones and tackle bags, mark out your training area as shown in the diagram. The tackle bags should be stood up, and at a distance away from the play that tests the strength of their pass. Set 6 balls at each cone and divide your players into groups of 2, and allocate one group of 2 to each training area. Tell your players that... Each player has five tackle bags and six balls, the winner is the player that knocks down the most balls.<br /><br />A player cannot leave their cone and must knock the bags down by passing and hitting with the ball on the bag or the bag itself.

General

z Drop Kick Kicking - Rugby Dr...

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

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

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

Jackal progression drill Conta...

1. Bounce Race to get off the floor. CHest to bag then bag to feet. 2. Bounce with sausage Same as above however, now get in position to compete for the ball over a tackled player (sausage).Ball should be wedged between 2 sausages. 3. Live but Static A tackler hsould start on his knees half tacklignan attakcing player.A jackler should be behind and as soon as tackled player hits the floor should be over the top jackling. A 3rd player bag man, should test his tsability. 4. Jackal and Bag Race Bag man and Jackler start either side of a sausage. Coach blows his whistle, both leap to feet and compete for the ball. Race for space

General

Short Passing Passing - Rugby ...

Give each training area one ball to start with and tell the players the following...... Lets just get the ball moving down the line. Give the player at the start of one of the lines a ball, tell the line to advance using lateral passing - with the last player in each line passing the ball to the first player in the opposite line. Players should change positions in the line following each attack. Focus on the coaching points - the drill is only a means to an end. No spin passing. When you feel that the players are executing the short pass to your satisfaction - add in more pressure by have two opposite lines run at once.

General

Pressure Cooker Passing - Rugb...

4 players stand on the middle cones in the grid, avoiding the corner cones. The 2 players at the top and the bottom of the grid will have a ball. The players on the sides of the grid will have one ball between them. The 5th player will be the ball carrier. The ball carrier starts at the top of the grid facing the bottom. Moving forward they will take a pass off one of the middle players and pass the ball onto the other middle player. They will then collect a pass off the player in front of them, before popping the ball back to them. They will then turn and once again collect a pass off one of the middle players before moving it on to the other middle player. They then take a pass off the top player before popping it back and starting the exercise again. They keep going until told to switch with another player. The player in the middle can turn and flick the ball to the static players at the top and bottom of the grid, as well as popping the ball.

General

Introducing Contact Rugby Manu...

General

Introducing Contact Rugby Manu...

General

1st man at the ruck Ruck Clear...

Ball.Groups of 3+2 attackers line up infront of a defender. The 1st attackers takes the ball into contact The defender makes a low chop tackle.The 2nd attacker resposibility is to clear away the tackler from the contact area and look after the ball.Progression : Add second defedner with a tack;e nag to test the stability of the clearer.

General

React and Defend Defensive Pat...

Drill to test defenders reactions to situations.Set up a 15m x 15m grid with 3 defenders (blue) and 4 attackers (red).All start on the side with the green cones, and jog towards the side with the red cones, defenders about 5m infront of the attackers.On the coaches call the defenders turn to defend and have to adjust to the attack.

General

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testing SESSIONS
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Fitness Testing Session | Rugb...

Put some responsibility onto your players and make sure that they?re up to the standard they should be after pre-season. Test their levels with this session.

Defensive Skills: Contest Possession

Pile the pressure on the oppositions attack with this defensive skills session. Get them scanning the attack to put pressure on the ball carrier and anticipate the attack.

Attacking part 1

It?s all about points scoring with this session. Encourage your players to continually offer support to develop fine techniques to attack with crisp plays.

Pre-season Burner

Are you up to it physically yet? Really feel the burn with this session and push your team hard! You will really feel the benefits after!

Rugby Fitness, Strength and Endurance

Make sure your players don't run out of steam with this Rugby Fitness session, working on their strength and endurance

Jackal at the Tackle - Technique and Confidence Session

Can your players tackle and jackal? Use this session to introduce your players to the jackal and improve their technique in 1v1 and game situations

Handling and Passing - working under pressure

Fast hands and a cool head will be needed in this physically testing pressure passing session - are your players up to the challenge?

Heads up Rugby - Think fast

Attack the space! Develop your players' speed, reaction and decision making to improve their ability to get through holes in defences.
testing ANSWERS
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I did the 150's shuttle test with my players%3A 30 secs?

I did the 150's shuttle test with my players%3A 30 secs on 30 secs off covering as much distance as possible for 6 sets Just wondering has anyone else done this and what is generally a good score for positions?

Archived User Coach

How do you afitness test on your players to see how fit the are

How do you afitness test on your players to see how fit the are.

Archived User Coach

Beep test - suggested levels o...

Beep test - suggested levels of achievement. I coach at level 7 in England am looking for any data on the average level in beep test that should be achieved by different positions (e.g front row, back row, backs). Does anyone have any data or suggestions?

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

I did the 150's shuttle test w...

I did the 150's shuttle test with my players%3A 30 secs on 30 secs off covering as much distance as possible for 6 sets Just wondering has anyone else done this and what is generally a good score for positions?

Archived User Coach

My fowards seem afraid to ruck...

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

Law no. 16 Maul | Sportplan

When a scrum is awarded following an unsuccessful end to a maul, which team throws the ball in?

Paula Peniasi Coach, Fiji

Law 19 Scrum law | Sportplan

Hi, I need help with this multiple-choice question from the world rugby laws test. When is the non-throwing scrum half offside when the ball is in a scrum?;1. When stepping ahead of the ball with either foot at the side the ball is thrown in2. When stepping ahead of the tunnel, but not the ball, at the side the ball is thrown in3. When stepping ahead of the hindmost foot at the side the ball is not thrown in4. When moving away from the scrum and not retreating 5m behind the scrum5. When moving away from the scrum and remaining ahead of the hindmost foot in the scrum

Erin Moore Coach, Australia

Improving game awareness. How ...

Improving game awareness. How can I improve players insight into "what happens next", besides by whatching (games)? Players tend to be fixed on the ball(situation) and seldom look at what is in front of them%3A how can I stimulated them to take time to quickly look around and assess the situation?

Yvonne Bouman Coach, Netherlands

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