Rugby: Building The Contact 2

DESCRIPTION

Setup:

Set up with 4 players with pads, and four players facing them about five metres away. There should be enough space between the players to ensure that they and the players making the hit are safe.

The rest of the players fall in behind the leading 4 players who will be making the first hit. Each group of four will go together.

The players holding the pads should do so with one hand on each strap, not with one arm through both straps as this exposes them to a lower arm fracture on a big hit.

Have more than one group if necessary, as you don't want to have players waiting for more than 20-30 seconds between hits.

Start slowly to get the technique right, and build from there. Tell the hitting players to raise their elbows 90 degrees or more. They will notice that their shoulders get bigger. Demo this with another coach if necessary.

COACHING POINTS

Players heads should be up and watching what they are doing at all times. Pad holders can remind players to keep their heads up.

The spine should be parallel with the touch line and fully facing the opposition try line. Talk to the players about lost energy if they make a tackle that does not hit straight and through the target.

Get the leading leg close to the pad holder. Hit low, driving up through the hit. Dip the shoulder just before the hit and drive through.

Get close to the side of the pad holder, and do not make contact with the head, but use as much of the shoulder as possible in contact.

Eyes must be scanning the target, and the head must be up as players need to make decisions based on what they see.

Defenders making the hit should be high, low, high. High before committing to contact, low following their decision to make the hit, hitting low and driving up high through the contact.

Arms should be up, shoulders should be big, and the contact area should be big. Hands/arms should be ready and well placed to wrap quickly.