Rugby: Passing in Traffic

Develop your team's attacking abilities with this session, working on their passing and support for their team-mates

• Tell the players the following....

1. The player on the cone passes the ball forward to the player just in front of the cone, the passer then become the runner.
2. The reciever pops the ball for the runner to run onto.
3. Runner takes the ball and makes a bawards pass to the player on the cone opposite them. 
4. The runner can drift to increase the distance of the pass.
5. Players should side step to avoid one another in the middle of the grid.

• The first reciever can change the way they present the ball: they could set the ball on the ground for the runner to pick, they could lob the ball into the air for the runner to reach for and catch, they could deliver a low pass aross the knees for the runner to catch etc.

1. 4 players stand on the middle cones in the grid, avoiding the corner cones. The 2 players at the top and the bottom of the grid will have a ball. The players on the sides of the grid will have one ball between them.
2. The 5th player will be the ball carrier.
3. The ball carrier starts at the top of the grid facing the bottom. Moving forward they will take a pass off one of the middle players and pass the ball onto the other middle player. They will then collect a pass off the player in front of them, before popping the ball back to them. They will then turn and once again collect a pass off one of the middle players before moving it on to the other middle player. They then take a pass off the top player before popping it back and starting the exercise again.
4. They keep going until told to switch with another player.
5. The player in the middle can turn and flick the ball to the static players at the top and bottom of the grid, as well as popping the ball.

Keep your player briefing short. Tell your players the following....

1. Pass the ball left, clockwise for 2 passes.
2. Then right (anti-clockwise) for 1 passes.
3. Retain the ball and flick it to the player behind you.
4. Attack, at speed, across the grid. You will take a pass from the ball carrier on your left before finishing with a pop to the player in front of you.

• The pattern of this exercise can be a little confusing at the start, but when your players get the pattern there will be no problem. Start off slow and build from there.

• Tell your players the follow.....

1. The first two players at each coach will advance, attacking the cone to their left, in the middle of the training area.
2. The players should split as they run, increasing the distance between them.
3. When they get as far as the middle cone, they should then pass.
4. The reciever then passes to the first reciever on the cone they are approaching.