Rugby: warm up

Rugby is a game of decisions. Every second, players choose: pass, carry, or kick? Blitz or drift? Jackal or get back in the line? The team that makes better decisions more consistently wins matches - not necessarily the team with more talent or better fitness.

Game management is the skill of making these decisions correctly under pressure, with fatigue setting in, with the crowd noise, with the stakes rising. It can be developed.

The Decision-Making Framework

Good decisions start with good information. Players need to see the game clearly before they can choose correctly.

The OODA loop in rugby:

  • Observe: What do I see? Defensive structure, space, support
  • Orient: What does this mean? Opportunity, threat, neutral
  • Decide: What's my best option? Pass, carry, kick, hold
  • Act: Execute with commitment

The faster and more accurately players cycle through this loop, the better their decisions. Training should develop each stage.

Developing Observation Skills

Many poor decisions come from poor observation. Players who don't see the full picture can't make informed choices.

Training observation:

  • Pre-scan: look before receiving the ball
  • Peripheral awareness: what's beside you, not just ahead
  • Key cues: what specifically to look for (defender's hips, space, numbers)

Drills for observation: Play games where the coach calls "freeze" and asks players to describe what they see. What options exist? Where's the space? Where's the threat?

Situational Awareness

Understanding the game situation frames decision-making. The right decision at 0-0 in the first minute differs from 3-0 down in the 79th minute.

Situation factors:

  • Score: leading, trailing, or level
  • Time: first half, second half, final minutes
  • Field position: own 22, midfield, attacking 22
  • Conditions: wind, rain, surface
  • Momentum: who's on top right now?

Players need to know the situation without thinking about it. Score, time, and field position should be automatic awareness.

Risk Management

Every rugby decision involves risk. The question is whether the potential reward justifies the risk in this specific situation.

High-risk decisions:

  • Running out of your own 22
  • Offloads under pressure
  • Speculative kicks without chase support
  • Committing extra players to the ruck

When high-risk is acceptable:

  • Trailing with time running out
  • Attacking in the opposition 22
  • Momentum strongly in your favour

When to play conservative:

  • Protecting a lead late in the game
  • Deep in your own half
  • Opposition on top and looking for turnovers

Pressure Moments

Certain moments in matches carry extra pressure. Decision-making under pressure deteriorates without specific training.

High-pressure scenarios:

  • Final play of the half or game
  • Penalty opportunity to win/draw the match
  • Defending a one-point lead in your 22
  • Restart after conceding a score

Training pressure: Create pressure in training through consequences, time limits, and competitive scenarios. Players who've experienced pressure in training cope better when it matters.

Communication in Decision-Making

Rugby decisions are rarely individual. Communication coordinates group decision-making and ensures everyone understands the plan.

Essential communications:

  • Ball carrier: "Carrying!" "Kicking!" "Looking left!"
  • Support: "With you!" "On your shoulder!"
  • Defence: "Up!" "Drift!" "Numbers!"
  • General: "Time!" "Space outside!" "Keep it!"

Leaders must take ownership of communication. The fly-half and captain should constantly talk, directing the team's decision-making.

Learning from Decisions

Post-match review should examine decisions as much as execution. Why did we make that choice? What did we see? What would we do differently?

Effective review questions:

  • "What was your thinking there?"
  • "What options did you see?"
  • "Given what you know now, what would you do?"
  • "What can we learn from this?"

Avoid blame. Focus on understanding and improvement. Players who fear judgment stop taking responsibility for decisions.

Developing Decision-Makers

Coaching approaches:

  • Guided discovery: ask questions rather than give answers
  • Constrained games: rules that force specific decisions
  • Decision overload: faster game speed to develop instinct
  • Post-play review: brief discussions about choices made

The goal is players who can read, decide, and act without waiting for coach instruction. Games move too fast for external direction - players must be autonomous decision-makers.

Key Coaching Points

  • Good decisions require good observation - train players to see
  • Situation awareness frames every choice
  • Risk must match the situation
  • Pressure can be trained - create it in practice
  • Communication coordinates group decisions

Drills to Develop Game Intelligence

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warm up DRILLS
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Flip It Warm Up - Rugby Drills...

<div class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. </div> <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>This is not a contact game. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>One team goes to attack, and one to defence. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>There is no kicking in this game. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>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. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>It’s important that defenders are employing their defensive pattern behind the primary defensive line. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>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! <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>When you feel the time is appropriate, usually during a ruck, blow you whistle and should FLIP IT – kicking in or throwing in a second ball to the back 3/2 defenders on the team currently in defence OR just kick it behind the defenders. The defensive team goes, without hesitation, into attack. The team that was attacking goes into defence and you or an assistant coach remove the other ball from play when you can. Ideally you might have two balls with different markings. <li class=&quot;&quot;&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&quot;&quot;>Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

General

Maul Touch Warm Up - Rugby Dri...

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.

General

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warm up SESSIONS
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Rugby warm-Ups for Mini Rugby ...

Hi. I am in charge of the Mini Rugby (age 8) warm-up and am interested in more ideas. I try and keep them fun, sports specific and interesting for the boys and they seem to like what I do. Can anyone please help? Thanks!

Archived User Coach

My team takes 15min to really start playing...

My team takes 15min to really start playing... what should I do? These are high school boys that have never played the sport before. After a few games, they play really well in the 2nd half but by that time we are down 2 or 3 tries. Is it a warmup issue? Nerves? Any ideas?

Mike McD Coach, Canada

more fun warm up drills for under 7s tag

more fun warm up drills for under 7s tag

Archived User Coach

where can i find info regarding 2 v 1 drills, and also has anyone got any good mini games that i can use to warm up ?

where can i find info regarding 2 v 1 drills, and also has anyone got any good mini games that i can use to warm up

Archived User Coach

I am taking level 1 coaching amp; would welcome comments?

I am taking level 1 coaching amp; would welcome comments on warm up sessions

Archived User Coach

Under 10 - Pre Match Preparation

If you have 30 min before the start of a match how should you prepare a team of under 10 players. How do you get them suitably motivated to hit the ground runnung with a high level of intensity.

William OBrien Coach, England

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from?

Hi guys I’m helping coaching the local rugby union team and I’m receiving a mixed opinions  from the coaches about the pre-game warm-up. Any suggestions? Thanks

aaron zaky-mcenroe Coach, Australia

Hi all. I am the coach for the U12s and we are about?

Hi all. I am the coach for the U12s and we are about to enter a tournament this W/E. Does anyone have any pre planned simple fun drills that will link together to keep the players occupied between the Matches? Cheers Iain

Iain Hughes Coach, England

problem- slow start at 7s games

I coach a womans 7s team. Every two weeks we have a two game tournament. The problem is that for the whole first game the girls play like they haven't woken up yet, and only in the second game their real rugby comes out. How do I help them play strong from the start?

eli Coach, Israel

First time coaching the U13s next season - any tips greatly appreciated!

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

Not playing hard at the start of game - how to improve my team's start?

Our H.S. boys are flat at the beginning of the game and seem to take 10 minutes to start playing efficiently. We have tried various pregame warmups to correct this but to no avail. I look forward to your suggestions as to the best way to correct this issue.

Larry Berriochoa Coach, United States of America

Warm up to improve agility, balance and coordination?

Can anyone recommend a warm up drill for improving agility, balance and coordination?Currently attending level 1 introducing children to rugby; I have some ideas already in mind. I'm interested to hear other ideas.Thanks

Matthew Langtree Coach, United Kingdom

game appropriate warm up

i have been told i need to make my warm ups more rugby specific and game appropriate, what are some small drills i can do at the end of the warm up that don't involve too much contact but will get players ready for a training session or match

Hannah Sangan Coach, England

Team warm up drills that incorporates all the backs

Looking for some drills that use all 7 backs for pre match warm up. Something that we can use other than running through moves Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Stewart Ley Coach, England

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

struggle with the tackle during games

what to do?when on the field players struggle to make tackles, but when we use the junior bag they go in hard and tackle like animals.any drills to help us please?my group is under 9s

JOHAN BRENKMAN Coach, Namibia

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