HOME Rugby Drills Practices for Juniors

Rugby: Grid Island

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

Wes, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

Fun game to practice passes/kicks not being intercepted.

Divide players into two equal teams and set up two grids (one small and one big - see diagram).

The blue team are divided in half with half in the small grid, and half outside the big grid. They are trying to pass/kick the ball between themselves to score points - one for every pass/kick which is caught on the full.

The red team are trying to intercept the passes/kicks or distract the blue team players. They cannot leave big grid or enter the small grid.

Players in the small grid cannot leave the small grid

Progressions -

Players can only hold the ball for 5 seconds

If a ball is dropped/intercepted it is taken out of the game

COACHING POINTS

Kicking and passing

Communication

Make the grid wider based on ability/accuracy

READ MORE

READ LESS

OFTEN USED WITH...

Maul Rip in a circle

This is good for upper body strength.

5 or 6 defenders, 1 ball, 2 attackers

Defenders must stand in a circle about 2 metres apart to keep contact away from injuring anybody unnecessarily. The ball carrier works into a defender who must wrap around and keep hold of the ball, the support attacker must rip the ball from his partner and move onto a different defender for the process to repeat. The 2 attackers are given a time limit to work as hard as possible.

Practices for Juniors

Chasing The Pass

Keep your player briefing short, and get the ball moving around the circle as quickly as possible.

First have the players move the ball - clockwise around the circle, passing off their right hand.
Then switch it, and have the ball move anti-clockwise around the circle, with the players passing off their left hand.
Once the players have gotten into a rhythm of passing the ball, tell the players the following.

The player holding the ball will become a runner, their job is to pass the ball and then to set-off in the direction the ball will be traveling, trying to get to their starting position before the ball does.
They win if they make it back before the ball.
The players win if they can get the ball back before the runner.
The passers cannot miss-pass, the ball must travel through every set of hands.

Each player in the group should have the chance to become a runner.
Change the direction of the runner and the ball half way through.
You might decide that the runner has to do a press-up or two, if they don't make it back ahead of the ball.
And you may also decide that all the other players need to do the same if they do not get the ball back before the runner.
You can further develop this game by making the circle bigger. This will push the runner and will increase the length of the pass required between each player. Just ask all of the players to take one or two steps back.

Passing

Ball Tag

Within a set playing area split your players into two groups - catchers and runners.

It's the catcher's job to tag as many runners as possible with the ball.

Once a runner has been tagged they are "stuck", and must stand in a T-shape, with their arms up. They cannot move until they are released by another runner.

If you are stuck, the other players can release you by touching you on the head or running under your outstretched arms and/or legs.

Practices for Juniors

Agility Slalom - Race

Start with 2 players on the centre cone, each with a ball, and facing each other.

On the shout "GO", they both run backwards to the first cone
They then side step up the grid to the second cone
Next players run through the slalom cones back to the start where the ball is passed to the next players
Next players can only go when each player has received a ball (to ensure each race is fair).

Agility & Running Skills

1940916

1009

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE

search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
create professional rugby coaching plans
or access our tried and tested rugby plans

Rugby

STAY CONNECTED

in more ways than one

sportplan_netball

MORE Practices for Juniors DRILLS

Pass along the line

6 players in a coned area. All players start off behind the cone in a line. As player 1 starts to run each player staggers their run diagonally across the area, to receive a pass down the line. The last player scores a try. Drill can be repeated going back the opposite way.

Practices for Juniors

Pass to Coach

6 players in a semi circle facing the coach. Coach passes the ball to each player in turn to catch the ball, and make a return pass. The drill can be developed by the coach passing the ball to any player, keeping the players on their toes.

Practices for Juniors

Round the Back

3 players line up in a coned area each with a ball. They run out in a straight line to the opposite end of the area, moving the ball around the back and front of their body, touch the ball down, then return to their starting position throwing the ball up in the air and catching it as they run. Pass the ball to their partner and the next 3 go. Repeat the drill. Drill is continuous. Â

Practices for Juniors

Run and touchdown

6 players line up in a coned area each with a ball. Players run out to score a try at the opposite end, and then return with the ball and pass to their partner. Next 6 players go. The drill is repeated and continuous. Develop the drill by racing against each other

Practices for Juniors

Tackle and Offload

Three players start off in a coned area. Player 1 with a ball jogs in a straight line. Player two runs in from the side to tackle player 1, by placing both hands on player 1's back above their waist. Player 1 off loads the pass to player 3 in support. Players rotate. Repeat the drill.

Practices for Juniors

Tackle from waist

Two players start off in a coned area. Player 1 with a ball jogs in a straight line. Player two runs in from the side to tackle player 1, by placing both hands on player 1's back above their waist.

Practices for Juniors

Tackling on knees on the move

2 players and 1 ball. Player A kneels down with the ball in their hands. Player B also kneels down. Coach shouts go, player A moves forward on their knees, and player B also moves forward to meet player A, tucks their head around the back of player B, wraps their arms around their waist, and knocks to the ground to complete the tackle. Complete 5 tackles then rotate players.

Practices for Juniors

Tackling on knees

2 players and 1 ball. Player A kneels down with the ball in their hands. Player B kneels with one leg on the ground in the set position. Coach shouts tackle, and player B moves forward, tucks their head around the back of player B, wraps their arms around their waist, and knocks to the ground to complete the tackle. Complete 5 tackles then rotate players. Can also rotate to tackle from the opposite side.

Practices for Juniors

Taking the ball into contact and support play

Drill to improve players taking the ball into contact and ruck clear out. Set up a square roughly 5m x 5m. Get two lines of players behind two of the cones with a ball on one side. Get a defender to stand with a hit shield towards the edge of the square where the players are lined up. The player behind the red cone runs around the opposite red cone, when he enters the square the player behind the green cone passes him the ball and then runs around the opposite green cone to support him. When the player receives the pass he continues running and hits the hit shield, before going to ground and presenting the ball. The support player comes in and clears out the defender with the hit shield. The players then swap lines and the ball is passed to the front of the line behind the green cones for the drill to continue.

Practices for Juniors

Touchdown relay

5 players all with a ball line up along a coned area. They run out and touch the ball down halfway, leaving the ball on the ground. The players continue to run to the end of the coned area, touch the ground with their hand, turn and run back picking the ball up on the way, and then pass to their partner. The drill is repeated with the next set of players. The drill can be developed by racing against each other.

Practices for Juniors

1 2