Rugby: Battle Ships

One team starts in the middle of the grid along the line. The idea of the game is to kick the ball over the middle team and try to land the ball in the oppositions area. If the ball is caught then no points are scored, if the ball bounces in the oppositions area then 1 point is scored.

If one of the players in the middle catches the ball (they gain 1 point) then they swap positions with the team that kicked the ball.

Set up a pitch area (green cones) based on the age of the players (depending on how far they can kick) with fielders spread out around the pitch. (E.g. senior players may need half a pitch whereas 20m x 20m may be big enough for a beginner).

Set up a diamond by setting up cones roughly 10m apart (blue) similar to a baseball pitch, with kickers lined up on one side.

One player/coach is the feeder in the middle of the diamond. He stands on the white cone and passes the ball to the kicker who catches it and then almost immediately kicks the ball, aiming for space.

Once he has kicked the ball he tries to run around the diamond to score points.

The kicker is out:

Caught - their kick is caught on the full.

Stumped - a fielder touches the ball on the cone that the kicker is running to.

Out of bounds - if their kick goes out of the area of the pitch on the full.

PROGRESSION:

Make the feed harder (roll or a difficult pass to catch)

Widen the cone diamond so the kicker has to run further

Kicker has to do a press up on each cone before continuing to the next one

Encourage defenders to work off the ball - they must pass the ball three times before stumping someone out.

Practice short kicks while attacking forward (not standing still).

The attackers are aiming to land their kick in the target area (yellow cones). Adapt the size based on their ability (e.g. senior players 5m x 5m, junior players 10m x 10m).

Set up two cones (red) to simulate the area of a ruck/scrum/line out and give a defensive offside line. Two defenders (red) position themselves on the offside line opposite two attackers (blue).

One attacker (1) acts a scrum half and passes the ball to the first receiver (2). The first receiver (2) catches the ball and tries to perform a chip or grubber kick into the target area . The second attacker (3) chases the kick and tries to regather it.

The two defenders aim to put pressure on the kicker.

Once the attack have gathered the kick they should return it to the feeder and join the back of the line to start again.

PROGRESSION:

Defenders to start passive and increase pressure as attackers gain confidence

Start with a chip kick and progress to grubber or vice versa.

Drill to warm up/practice different types of kick.

Players form two lines in the 15m channels with all the balls starting on one side.

The player with the ball at the front of the line runs out and does a cross-field punt to a partner on the opposite side of the pitch - kick labelled 1.

The partner catches the ball, and does a chip kick which they chase and gather themselves - kick labelled 2. 

Once they have gathered their chip kick they perform a grubber kick to their partner who has continued their run. Aiming to kick the ball between the posts for their partner to gather and score - kick labelled 3.

Players jog back to join the back of the opposite line.

Once the first pair have performed the chip kick, the next pair in line can go.