Rugby: Pass and Support

Tell the players the following....

1. Player 1 starts with the ball.
2. Player 1 passes the ball to player 2 and then quickly moves off their cone and runs to the cone where player 2 is and back to their cone.
3. Player 2 then passes to player 3, follows the pass to the position of player 3 and back to their starting position.
4. Change your passing hand each time
5. The aim is to for the players to be back in their starting position before the ball returns back, but main thing is that they provide a good pass to the receiving player.

• Give each training area one ball and tell the players the following......

1. Lets just get the ball moving down the line. Give the player at the start of one of the lines a ball, tell the line to advnce using laterial passing - with the last player in each line passing the ball to the first player in the opposite line. This should include all of the players, including the players that will be working in defence.
2. After some time (your call on how long this should be). Tell the players that.......
3. You will have three defenders, 10 meters back from the attack.
4. The attack will start by laying on the ground facing the opposite direction.
5. The defence will leave one channel open, they should vary this each time.
6. The attack should get to their feet when the defence says ATTACK (this give the defence a chance to get ready).
7. The attack should move the ball to the open channel, attacking that channel with more that one player - if possible.
8. The defence can defend their own channel, they can move forward and back, and side to side - but they cannot enter the channel they initally left open.
9. Players should change positions in the line following each attack.
10. Change the defenders after some time.

Lets get the ball and the players moving with lateral passing through the hands. Each training area only needs one ball, and that ball should start with the any of the two players at the very ends of the L.

• Tell players to move forward, passing the ball down the line. When the ball gets to the last receiver, that player will pass it to the first receiver in the next line that is waiting to go.
• They should advance right away. Allow the players to simply move the ball down the line.

• Keep you player briefing, brief. Get the players moving and training as soon as possible.
• If you feel it would help, have one group demonstrate.
• Tell your players the following:

1. They work as pairs, passing the ball back and forth between one another.
2. They can move anywhere in the grid, be as close or as far apart as they like.
3. Passes may not be forward.
4. The temp should be high, and ball carriers should not hold onto the ball for more than 3 seconds.
5. When they hear the first whistle they keep working but listen to the instruction.
6. On the second whistle the ball carrier executes that instruction.
7. Instructions can include: Pass the ball between your legs, pass the ball around your back, pass the ball around your neck, roll the ball down your back and catch it, flick the ball over your head and catch it etc. These can be as simple or as complex as you like. This is about getting your players to control the ball, to be more comfortable handling the ball.

• This should be fun, but players should strive to control the ball and may even end up impressing themselves and others.