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Rugby: Three Player Circuit

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the...

Heather, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

The players in their groups of 3 stand between the lines of the inner square with the working group stood inside the other players.
The first group of 3 begins by running across the grid passing the ball. When they reach the centre the ball is put down an they then run at the players with the pads (on their left) each pushing their player to the outer square. The players then swap.
The pad players run across to the tackle bags and push and tackle the bags to the outer square.
Players swap again now the new 3 players (third group) run to the ball pick it up and take the ball turn right to face the 3 players on the 12 o'clock side of the square and run into contact for the ball carrier to present the ball.
This ball is then picked up by the 3 players being pushed back and the drill starts again.
Keep the tempo of this exercise high.

Note: You can change the position of each activity within the training area - but that will impact on the instructions to coaches. Players can basically go in any direction, but they do need to communicate and work as a unit. Don't get to hung up on where players should be going, or in what order.

COACHING POINTS

Don't feel that you need to focus on all of the following coaching points, pick the points that are most applicable to your session goals. You may also have your own coaching points!

When running with the ball, players carry the ball in two hands.
Passes are weighted in terms of distance, accuracy, and speed.
Passes should not be spun over short distances.
Players define a successful pass as one that has reached its target.
Players come onto the ball at pace.
Players communicate with each other - deciding direction etc.
Communication is encouraging.
When players make a hit, they keep their head up in advance of the hit.
Players make contact with their head up - and with their shoulder.
Player act in a way that is safe for themselves and for each other.
Players drive through contact, driving using their body weight and a strong leg drive.
When driving, footsteps are short and controlled.
The tempo of the exercise is high!

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Pre-Contact Circuit:

Brief your players, but keep it brief!
In each grid there will not be two channels. In each of the two channels there are two players with a tackle bag and two players binding with their back to the runner. The players binding will be leaning/driving against a tackle shield (similar to how they would be during a maul). The shield will provide support and resistance just before and during the runners hit.
The first player starts and runs to the player with the tackle bag and makes a tackle before moving on.
After the 2nd tackle they runs to bind with the 2 players and drives them across the line, their bind should result in their head between the hips of the two players in front of him and his shoulders in contact with the from two players backsides. The players driving position should be low and the hit proportionate. When the 3 players cross the line, one of the 2 binding players takes over and continues to run up the other channel, with the first running player now binding with the other remaining player and taking up a driving position against the shield.
Change players around to ensure that every player has an opportunity to play different roles.

Warm Up

Continuous layoff:

Player with the ball runs into contact and passes the ball out to the supporting player whom inturn passes it to the other side of the grid for the practice to repeat on the other side.

Contact Skills

Offloads:

One group starts with the ball.

Player with the ball forwards towards the player with the pad.

The player hits pad with their right shoulder and ?pops? the ball off to the 1st player in the other group, who is running to receive the ball.

The next player hits pad with their left shoulder and ?pops? the ball off to the next player form the other group, who is running to receive the ball.

Drill continues until all players have carried out the drill from both sides.

Contact Skills

2 x Hit then pass:

Set up the practice as shown inside a 30m x 30m Grid.

6 Shields and 1 Ball.

Player 1 carries the ball before passing the ball to player 2 who bursts through the shields. Once through the other side, 2 passes to 3 and receives a return pass before bursting through the next set of shields

Once they are through the last two players with shields can move and try and block the runners. Player 2 has the option to pass to either player or go it alone.

Off Loads

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