Rugby: Introduction to defensive systems

3 attackers start at the beginning of the grid who will go up against the tackle bag first and then the person in the body suit second; these two should not stand next to each other unless you move on to the progression. At the coaches command the attackers will go into the tackle shield first with the ball carrier going to ground and the two supporters either both clearing out or one person clearing and the next picking up the ball and going into the next defender 5 metres behind who will be in a bodysuit. The ball carrier here will try to stay strong on his feet and offload to the two support runners or one of them will come in and rip the ball and offload to the support runner who will finish by crossing over the line.

Simple game for teaching tackling when on your knees. Starting with initially two tacklers and the rest as attackers, players must try to go from one side to the other with a ball in their hands without being tackled. If a player is tackled they must throw their ball out of the area and become a tackler in the next round of the game.

Set up a wide pitch, with cones on the half way line plus an extra box on two opposite corners. These corner boxes are the prisons for tackled/tagged players. The aim of the game is for players to run into the opposing team's area and grab a ball to bring back into their ball area in their half. However, if a player is tackled/tagged while in the other team's half they must go and stand in the prison square. Players can be released from prison by being tagged by a team-mate. Once released they must walk around the outside of the pitch back to their own half before rejoining the game.

Groups of 2. Everyone find some space. Stand opposite your partner. One of the players (attacker) use footwork and move arround. The other (defender), try to keep as close as they can to the moving player. The attackers claps at a point of his choice, this is when the defender makes a shoulders on contact. Low Impact. Shoulders on. 

Small playing area, for 1 v 1 tackling. Players line up in two lines adjacent to the coned area. Coach shouts go and the front two players run round their end to end up facing each other. The coach passes the ball to the attacker who runs at the defender, and the defender tries to take them down.

2 on 2 tackling and clear out game. Players line up in two lines, adjacent to the coned gameplay area. The coach stands opposite the two lines with the ball and passes to the front player of either team. The front two players of each team run round the back of their cones and the ball carrier takes the ball into contact. The two secondary players then ruck over and attempt to clear each other out. One team comes away with the ball.

10m wide channel, 2 attackers start with the ball while 2 defenders atart at the other end. when instructed the attackers attempt to score agaisnt them. Defenders must work together to try stop them. Attackers can throw dummies and switches. Do continuous reps. 

Get all players into teams of 3 One group of 3 with bibs start as defenders  In a 10mx10m grid - the other groups line up either side of the grid as attackers. Split evenly. The defenders work together to stop the attacking side scoring and getting through  After a tackle is made or a try is scored, the attacking team pop the ball off to a team on the other side of the grid who attack straight away Defending side need to react and realign quickly to stop the next team from scoring Start as shoulder on and then can progress to full contact Defence works for 1 minute and then change Competition - Team with the least tries scored against them wins

4 sausages  4 Bags  The sausages and bags are lined up alternately in a line. 8 defenders start lined up outside of the tackle grid. Whistle goes, the tacklers must shuffle across as a team (in a line) to line up opposite a bag or sausage before making a hit. 

Set up 5 cones around in a circle. The tackler works out from the first cone to make the tackle. The tackler then backtracks around the next and then comes forward to make the tackle again. Two tackles off the right shoulder, one front on and two off the left shoulder.

Players sit back to back, arms interlocked and knees bent. The coach says left or right. The players must battle to pull their partner to the floor on the said side.

Players stand back to back with coloured cones either side. When the coach shouts go both player run around their white cones. The coach shouts a colour and the ballc carrier runs towards that cone. If the attacker runs to the tacklers left hand side they must tackle with their left shoulder, if they run right they must tackle with their right shoulder.

Get in pairs. One player starts in a plank position with a rugby ball placed under each hand trying to stay in the plank position. The other player walks around a gently nudges and pushes the player working. The work aims to stay stable on the balls.

This game is designed to teach the players about retiring to an onside position when a tackle is made. Set-up a field approximately 10m wide and 15 m long. Place all the rugby balls at one end. Split the players into 2 teams and send them to opposite ends of the field. The attackers are the players with the ball and the defenders without. Explain to the players with the ball and defenders without. Explain to the players that the attackers are to try and get the ball to the defenders line to score a try. The defenders are to try and stop them. After a successful tackle both the defender and the attacker must return to their line by running out and around the corner marker. To begin with few attackers will get the ball over the line, however, as the players start to rounding the markers - more space opens up and defenders become less organized.

5 stage progression session.  Bibs. Balls  Cones.  1. Warm up - Wrestle  One player with the ball trys to fight their hips away from the other play who fights to to keep his/her hips infront of the other player.  2. 50% Side --> Front Tackle Players start on oppsoite side of grid. Ball Carrier runs across while the defender makes a tall tackle, whist trying to get his hips in a front on position. Low to High hit, aiming for under the elbows or ball.  3. 2nd Defender introduced.  Double team tackle. Inside player hits low to high under elbow, keeping hips square. The second player aims for the ball and fights to keeps attacker off the ground.  4. Rugby Netball in 7m x7m grid .  Attacking team tries to complete 8 passes while the defending team tries to complete a choke tackle on one of the attacking players. Turn over once a choke tackle has been successfully executed.  5. Contact Game  Half pitch contact game, with defending team aiming to complete a choke tackle. Turn over when one is made. 

Aim to develop good tackle habits through repetitive practice. Using pads allows you to train with intensity whilst lowering the impact on the body. Set up two lines of players 5 metres apart Attackers start on the 5 metre line with a tackle pad and defenders start on the try line A coach or non participating player will stand behind the defending players (tacklers) and indicate the direction the attacking players run by raising their arm. The attacking players (with pads) take 2 steps forward and then step 45 degrees and try to score on the try line. The defending line need to communicate (whatever the teams call for getting off the line), eg READY READY UP (when attack moves – ball is lifted in a match) The defending line come off the line and complete a tackle and reset to go again.

-4 bags -2 sausages.  Put players on each bag, sausage and 2 defenders at the end of the grid.  There are 4 working attacking player.  Step 1 - Complete 2 shoulder clears on the opposing tackle bags.  Step 2 - 2 attackers nominate themselves to tackle the sauages.  Step 3 - the 2 support players pick the ball up and try complete the 4v2 (tackling players need to bounce up of feet quickly) 

Groups of 3. Progression. 1. Wrestling  Players link up, one arm under & one arm over each shoulder.  Players then pick a side to wrestle to, then give a count down and fight to force opposition on the side they chose to wrestle to. 2. Tackle on Knees   Each player takes turns to complete tackles on there knees.  3. You can make this fun and competitive by counting how many tackles a player completes in a certain amount of time.

Groups of three, the aim of the exercise is for the second defender to contest the tackle. One player starts with the ball, standing still. A defender is on one or both knees preparing to tackle the attacker. A second defender is stood ready behind the first defender. The first defender wraps their arms round the attacker and tackles them to the floor. The attacker presents the ball as if to the scrum half. The second defender rucks over (contesting the tackle) and should steal the ball.

Basic but good warm up drill for matches. 4 cones set up a grid of about 5-10m by 5-10m. 2 defenders with tackle shields start in the centre. Attacker starts at the base of grid running onto and catching a pass from the next attacker. Attackers then run through the two defenders with tackle shields to score a try. The attacker that passed the ball immediately goes to starting position (base of grid) to be passed a ball and start the next repetition while the scorer joins the line to make a pass.