Rugby: Arms up defence

Develop your player's understanding of the importance of defensive pressure, while allowing them to practice their 1st and 2nd stage defence.

Two players stand two meters apart.

The receiver turns their back on the feeder and awaits their instructions. When the feeder gives the command, shouting left, right, above (their head) or center (into the player's body) the receiver must quickly turn around and be prepared to receive the ball, where necessary taking two to three small but fast steps to the side in preparation for receiving the pass.

Sometimes the ball is delivered near a line. These drills can help with ball handling skills and balance.

1. In partners, one feeding one working. Worker is to stay stationary and receive passes from the feeder in an arching movement. Worker is to stretch to reach the ball and extend as far as they can.

2. Partners work along the baseline. Worker to have one foot on the line. Passer to deliver a ball outside of the court, worker to recive the ball whilst stay inside the court. 

3. Worker runs along base line and recives a pass on the go. Passer delivers the pass just outside the court. Worker to recieve the ball at a stretch and pass back to feeder. 

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON*

• Set up in pairs
• 1 partner (A) has the ball.
• Partner A faces away from partner B.
• A Passes the ball in the air to themself and turns.
• Partner B jumps back to 3 feet distance and immediately puts arms up to defend the ball. 
• Player A moves ball around and player B is to track the ball. 
• Switch over players. 

Slowly the two attackers pass the ball back and forth down the court towards the circle. The defender must move to the ball side of the player inside the circle.

The defender must remain on their toes and keep moving as the two attacking players can put the ball into the circle at any point.