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Rugby: Double Gauntlet

What a fantastic tool. I've found a few drills that are unfamiliar,...

Wes, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

Mark an area 15m wide and 20m long.

3 Attackers vs 2 Defence vs 2 Defence

Have the 2 lines of 2 Defenders 5-7m apart

The 3 Attackers beat the first 2 defenders and then attack and beat the 2nd line.

If an Attacker is touched by a Defender then they have to pass the ball.

Stop every 2-3 runs to do stretches for a minute.

To reset the play:

The last 2 Attacking players to touch the ball become the second line of defense. The 2 Defenders from the original first defensive line move forward and with the other leftover Attacker they become the new Attackers.

Make sure every player has a few rotations in Attack and Defence.

Get the Attackers not to start in the same position every time.

COACHING POINTS

This works on decision making for both Attackers and Defenders.

There's always an Attacker free because the drill is overloaded. Once the Attackers get past the first line of Defenders then they need to be aware of where Defenders and space are and who to pass to
Identification of who the free Attacker is (the one with space) through visual cues and communication
Defenders should try to put 2 hands on the Attacker's shorts to replicate a game situation
Good identification of space and communication from support

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Decision Making Exercise

The players stood behind the line work the ball up through the channel in groups of 5. As they progress up the area they work the ball left and right.

Defenders are placed on cones which have been given a number.

As the group work their way up the channel the coach could call 1. At this point one player from cone 1 runs out to defend.

If a call of 1, 2 is made then one player from cone 1 and 2 come out to defend. A call of 2,2 means two players from cone 2 come out to defend and so on...

The diagram shows a call of 4, 1.

Decision making

Continuous 3 vs 2

Set up a grid roughly 7m x 5m with three lines of attackers on one side (blue), and two defenders on the other (red). The aim of the drill is for attackers to execute 3 vs 2 situations and score. The defenders can only move side to side between the red cones.

The attackers start with the ball and run towards the try line (red cones). The ball carrier has two options of who to pass to, the near support player or the wide support player. The ball carrier must draw the first defender and then react to the movement of the second defender to decide who to pass to. He passes to his support player who scores.

Once the attacker scores he passes the ball to the next set of attackers who attack against the same defenders. The previous attackers get in position for the next repetition.

The attack can start from any of the players, it does not have to start at the same side each time.

Decision making

Continuous 2 vs 1

Set up a grid roughly 5m x 5m with two lines of attackers on one side (blue), and two defenders on the other (red). The aim of the drill is for attackers to execute 2 vs 1 situations and score.

The attackers start with the ball and run towards the try line (red cones). The ball carrier draws the defender and passes to his support player who scores.

Once he scores he passes the ball to the next set of attackers who attack against the next defender. The previous attackers and defender get in position for the next repetition.

The attack can start from any of the players, it does not have to start at the same side each time.

Decision making

Counter Attack (from kick).

Player X kicks to receivers A, B & C, while players Y & Z chase the kick followed by X.

Players A, B & C counter attack, first beating players Y & Z and finally X.

Rotate
attackers and defenders and repeat.

Decision making

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Race to cone - 3 v 2

One ball and 6 cones. 15m x 15m. Setup the practice as shown. The first two players run up to the half way line of the grid and place the ball down before continuing their run to the end of the grid before turning around to defend. The remaining 3 players (attackers) can go as soon as the ball is placed down and then they play a 3 v 2.

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Players should pass in a line on the whistle. The 2 players closest to the ball go out to the line and as soon as they turn the 3 remaining players then attack with the intention of scoring.

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Defenders and attackers line up outside the coned area in lines of five. The coach will call out two numbers, the first refers to how many attackers should enter the area and the second refers to the defenders. So 2-1 would see two attackers reacting and running around the cones and lining up against one defender. The coach can call any variation from 1-1 to 5-5.

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Support Gauntlet

Drill to practice decision making. Set up a grid 10m wide and 35m long with cones at the start (yellow), 5m (orange), 15m (blue), 30m (red) and 35m (green). Have 2 defenders with pads at 5m, one defender at 15m, one defender at 30m and one 'full back' defender behind the try line. 3 attackers start with the ball at the start line (yellow). The ball carrier attempts to break through the two padmen at 5m (orange) who can only move laterally. The ball carrier should try and offload once through the padmen. Once the attack beat the padmen D1 (blue) can cover across to defend, but he can only move laterally between the cones. The attack pass the ball to a support player to beat the defender. Once D1 is beaten D2 may cover across to defend, but can only move laterally between the red cones. The attack pass the ball to a support player to beat the defender. Once D2 is beaten D3 can come forward to defend and pressure the attack to try to stop the attack from scoring. D3 cannot leave his line until the attack have made a pass to beat D2. Defensive players sprint outside the grid to the try line once they have been beaten. The defender should commit to tackle one attacker. PROGRESSION: Start with defenders making a two-handed touch and then progress to D1, D2, and D3 making a full tackle D3 tries to stop the attack scoring a try by "holding up" the ball carrier

Decision making

Support Lines

The aim of the drill is to develop players understanding of support lines Players work in groups of 4 in attack Set up 5 defenders with pads, in a 2-2-1 formation Attackers focus on beating the defence by drawing the opposition or breaking through the pad and offloading to supporting players

Decision making

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