Rugby: Grip Games

Description

Here are two games to improve your players grip on the ball:

1. Simple grip battle (0.00-0.14)

• Two players have one ball between them.

• This is a grip battle where the players are trying to take the ball from each other. 

• Tell your players to focus on how they are gripping the ball and using grip strength rather than by moving their feet or hips.

2. Competitive grip game (0.14-1.04)

• Set up an area with cones and give half of the players a ball.

• The players without the ball are trying to knock the ball out of their hands.

• The players with the balls are trying to stop that happening.

• Either play that when all the balls go down the defence wins.

• Or play when a ball goes down those two players swap roles.

• (1.04) Have players work on the hand off and ball transfer in pairs and then play again and see the difference.

Coaching points

How to grip the ball:

• Hold the ball with 10 points of contact on the ball.

• Your players should have their fingers across the seams.

• Your players should hold the ball with their hands like a W.

How your players hold the ball underpins skills like passing and ball carrying. Also, holding the ball like this gives them more control of the ball and allows an offload. 

• Coach your players to use footwork to get the ball away from the opposition.

• Coach your players to use the handoff to distance the opponent so that the ball can't be dislodged or stolen.

Progression

Drill tags: grip, handling, rugby games