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Rugby: Realignment & Depth - 5 v 4

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Heather, Rugby Coach

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Set a 5 cones 1.5 meter apart in straight line. This will mark where the players will start the drill from
Set 4 cones at a diagonal in line with the starting cones from one edge. This will be the cones that the defending players need to retreat to before coming up to pressure the attacking players.
The first attacking player needs to step back 1 meter and will receive the ball from the first defending player who has also stepped back 1 meter to his designated cone
Divide the group into 4 attacking player and 5 defending players, there should be a free attacking player
The ball starts with the defending player
On the coaches call, all defending players need to work back to their designated cone and then come forward in a straight line to their opposite attacking player
The attacking players set their own depth to ensure they have time to catch and pass effectively
On the coaches call, the first defending player will move back to their cone, once they get to the cone they pass the ball to the first attacking player, and then the first defending player tries to put pressure on the first attacking player
The attacking players try to get the ball to the 5th player without being ‘touched’ by a defending player

COACHING POINTS

The 1st receiver needs to run straight whilst catching the ball accurately (early hand-catch - reach for the ball), and transferring of the ball across his chest to the receiving player
All players need to focus on catching the ball early, transferring the ball quickly without eating up too much space for the player outside of them
All players need too focus on finishing their pass
All players should try to keep hips as square as possible whilst passing the ball
The final player receiving the ball should be running at pace

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Attack Vs Defence Continuous Drill 4v2:

Set a cone 2 meters from the defensive line. This will mark where the ball will passed from (feed) preferably from a scrum half.
Set a cone 0.5 meters each side from the mid point of the passing cone to simulate the sides of the ruck.
Set a cone a cone 5 meters from the ruck on the defensive line.
4 players start as attackers
3 defenders start on their stomaches on the other side of the defensive cone (ruck) and 1 player on the defensive cone 5 metres from the ruck
The player on the 5 meter cone (defence) starts the drill by shouting âFOLDâ (or whatever call your team may use).
Defenders on their stomachs get up and fold around the ruck to take up a defence position. Players fold wide first, and ensure that 2 players are close to the ruck (Guard and Body Guard).
The player on the defensive cone bounces out (takes space in the defence line), the first player who folds takes up a position on the 5 meter defence cone (or inside the first attacking player)
Once the defence line is set the scrum half can pass the ball.
The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back

Passing

Bang & Bingo:

Set up: the cones as shown with a cone 10 meters each side of the posts on the try line. This will mark where the ball will be passed from (feeder) preferably from a scrum half.
Divide the group into 3 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone.
The ball is fed from a position alternately from either side of the post. This will encourage the players to scan, communicate and to be expectant of the ball.
The players on the cones opposite the posts will either be the 1st receiver or the BANG option runner. The BANG runner is always running an out to in, or up to in line to fix the 2nd defender.
The players on the middle cone will receive the ball in the BINGO (pull back) option outside the âoutsideâ post or just in behind the BANG player.
The BINGO players should run and an arced run to receive the ball outside the outer post. The BINGO player should try to straighten up prior to receiving or on receiving the ball.

Progression:
Get 2 players or coaches to stand in front of the posts with 2 different coloured cones in their hands on their hips.
The cones will represent the âhipsâ of the 2nd defender.
The aim is to encourage the 1st receiver to scan, look, and make a quick decision (choice of pass) depending on what the defender is doing.
If the 1st receivers sees the âinsideâ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned OUT and make a short pass to the BANG runner.
If the 1st receivers sees the âoutsideâ cone on the 2nd defender then they must assume the defenders hips are turned IN and make a PULL BACK pass to the BINGO runner.

Warm Up

2v1 Into 3v2 - Off The Ball Organisation:

The aim of the drill is to develop mechanisms to unlock defences in open play
The first defender/feeder starts with the ball at a cone set up on the touch line five metres out from the try line
Set another 2 cones 15 meters up on the same touch line. Two players (defenders of the 3v2) start from here once the 2v1 is completed.
Set 2 cones on the try line 5 metres apart to create the start position for the two attackers and the attacking channel for the 2v1
The ball is fed from the first defender, with the attackers completing a 2v1
The defender joins the two attackers to create a 3v2
Two attackers then become the two defenders for the next repetition of the drill

Passing

Contact Square - Inside Clear:

Set up a 5mx5m grid
Work in fours - two attacker and two defender
The ball is fed from a player from the 1st defending player who also holds the tackle pad and will simulate the âjackalâ threat player in the 2v2
The first attacking player receives the ball and engages the pad holder and passes to the second attacking player
The second attacking player engages the second defender (tackler) and bounces out to a weak shoulder
The first attacking player (inside clear out) and the 1st defending player (jackler) then try and race to support
The inside clear looks to support the attacker and clear out the jackler

Ruck Clear Out

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Realignment & Depth - 5 v 4

The realignment and depth hands drill is a quick drill to focus the players in sharpening their alignment and depth before a session. You can spend as long or as short on this drill as you need. The aim of the drill is to develop the speed at which players realign themselves, to support their early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player. Set a 5 cones 1.5 meter apart in straight line. This will mark where the players will start the drill from Set 4 cones at a diagonal in line with the starting cones from one edge. This will be the cones that the defending players need to retreat to before coming up to pressure the attacking players. The first attacking player needs to step back 1 meter and will receive the ball from the first defending player who has also stepped back 1 meter to his designated cone Divide the group into 4 attacking player and 5 defending players, there should be a free attacking player The ball starts with the defending player On the coaches call, all defending players need to work back to their designated cone and then come forward in a straight line to their opposite attacking player The attacking players set their own depth to ensure they have time to catch and pass effectively On the coaches call, the first defending player will move back to their cone, once they get to the cone they pass the ball to the first attacking player, and then the first defending player tries to put pressure on the first attacking player The attacking players try to get the ball to the 5th player without being ‘touched’ by a defending player

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