Rugby: Handling Skills Warm Up

Three, four or five players are stood close and next to each other on a line. Set up a similar line opposite. On feeders go they drop back and wide to give an attacking line, once ready the players pass the ball with quick hands down the line. The first team to realign properly and get the ball to the end player wins.

With each new instruction to players you'll be having a race, lets see which group is the fastest - no cheating! Don't spend too much time talking, get the players into their groups quickly and tell them to do the following: Pass the ball between your legs to the person behind you - keep going until the ball reaches the end of the line. Same thing as above, but this time when the ball reaches the end of the line, the player at the end runs the ball back and the ball starts the same journey again. This is repeating until the every player has run from the back to the front of the line. Same idea but this time under legs then next person passes over head, next under legs (under/over/under etc.) Same idea but twist hips to pass to person behind first to the left then to the right - back person runs to front. As above but just over the head. Progress this with your own ideas e.g. pass to the person behind you with one hand etc. This warm-up should be full of fun.

Players stand in a inner circle and have an outer circle 5m behind them. 2 players in the middle. one player passes the ball to one of the outside players. The other central player runs at the player with the ball rips the ball off the player and presents the ball to the original passer. This player then passes the ball to another player in the circle and the practice repeats it self.

Split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of coloured bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your players the following laws: No forward passes. When touched, stop and set the ball down. Another player from your team will act as scrum half - passing the ball to his teammates, who will continue the attack. Each team will be allowed five touches before they must turn the ball over (you can make this more or less depending on the skill level of your players and what you're hoping to achieve during the session.) Some coaches decide on unlimited touches, only turning the ball over when a mistake is made by the attack e.g. a knock on. Knock on's and other law infringements will result in a turn over to the opposition.  Don't be afraid to play these laws a little, e.g. for younger players you might even go as far as to allow some knock on's or turn a blind eye to the odd forward pass - let them play a little and have fun!

Break your players into two teams. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby do not apply e.g. the ball can be passed in any direction. The ball is passed from player to player, but once the ball is caught - the ball carrier must stop moving. They can move only to pass the ball to another player. The defenders can close down attackers, working to remove attacking options. Defenders can intercept the ball, but must leave the ball carrier alone once the ball is cause. They can apply pressure on the pass, similar to the pressure that a bastleball player might apply (but consider using this as a progression). Tries can be scored by attackers who catch the ball inside the oppositions in goal area. Dropped balls result in a turn over.

Tell players the following.... Each Player will work individually, unless told otherwise. Players can run in any direction: moving forward or side to side. They must remain within the grid trying to avoid contact by running into space, sidestepping for example. They will have a ball each. When the coach calls stop, all players must be at least 1m from the nearest player. From time to time players will be ask to do things e.g. 1 press-up. Following completing the instruction - players should keep moving. You will be asked to pass your ball - before doing anything make sure you communicate with another player, you agree to pass to each other, and then you make the pass! This part of your warm-up should be no more than five minutes.

Start with a sausage pad horizontally on the floor. Players should get low to make a shoulder on tackle with the sausage pad. Encourage players to drive through with the legs to push the pad forwards. Drag the pad back into position and repeat.

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.The defence must commit three players to every ruck, or risk an infringement which will see tem pushed back ten meters. The ball must be moved from the ruck within 5 seconds. Make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck.  Throughout the game the coach call the point of attack e,g, attack RED ZONE or Zone 2. The coach can also call the scoring zone, Score At Zone Yellow or Zone 3. As the game progresses have the players call the point of attack, and the scoring zones - but they must do this early and they must committ to that attack for a period of time. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! On a mistake or after a period of time, turn the ball over so that both teams get time in attack and defence. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

1v1 scrumage  both players get into a scrum postion. However do not lock hea dand shoulders, ut arms out infront of you and with your hands push against the other player shsoulders.

Groups of 3.  - 1 player is active, 2 players are resisiting.  - Active player gets into scrumage position between 2 defending players. - Tries to push both players back, like a scrum. 

Groups of 3.  - 2 players get into the T.O.P positon next to eachother.  - Another player on all 4 knees on thier back.. - the players holding the player above them must work together to move from side to side.  - 5m each way.

- The bear crawl is a movement that strengthens your core and adds stabillity to your spine. - 2 things that need to be very strong while scrummaging.  - One player should bear crawl resisted for 5 steps. - They should explode out the blocks working on his powerful legdrive.   

Groups of 3.  - 2 players get into a strong T.O.P position. - Another player starts to to standing press ups on to the heads of the 2 players.  - This encoruages neck and core strenth essential for a safe scrum. 

Players hop around on one foot and gently bump off one another. The focus is on a getting a slight nudge between players and landing properly on one foot.

Involve a ball in your warm-up. Get players to pass the ball around their head to flex the neck and shoulders.

2 players pair up, site back to back and lock arms together.  The coach tells each player to lean a side.  when the coach blows hs whistle they players wrestle to get there shoulder to the gorund the coach said.  Once one player has won, you must reset and start again.

Get in pairs and players start in a press up position. Players hold onto opposite arms whilst still in the press up position. The aim is to remain balanced and work to pull the other player over

Set up a running slalom for your players to run through at the end of their training. It should be approximately 10 by 5m in size. Slalom through the blue cones From the final blue cone players run backwards to the 1st red cone Then run forward out to the next red cone, then backwards again (repeat pattern until final red cone) Quick turn around the final red cone and then sprint to the end of the course Jog back to the start line and repeat.

Split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of coloured bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your players the following laws: Keep the law briefing, brief! Normal laws of rugby apply - in the case of a knock on etc. the ball will be turned over to the opposition. When the ball carrier is touched, they must go to ground. The defender steps back and does not compete for the ball. The defender that made the touch - cannot make the next touch! The ball carrier on the groud must pop the ball to a supporting player, the pop pass should be quick - any delay can result in a turn over. Judge the speed at which the player has went to ground, how quickly the support has gotten there and how quickly the pass was made. Depending on the age and skill level of your player - make a decision on weather you allow the attack to continue or if the ball is lost and turned over. The player receiving the pop has two options - they can take the pop at speed driving past the defender who made the original touch (remember they cannot make a second touch right away). Or - they can stop and pass the ball away from contact. If the supporting player stops to take the pop - the defence must allow that support player to make a pass away from the point of contact. The support player cannot run on. The ball cannot be kicked.

Keep your playing briefing, brief and tell the players the following laws. Both teams are in attack and both teams are in defence, at the same time! It is up to you how many players you allocate to your attack and how many you allocate to your defence. If you are touched while carrying the ball (decide if the touch is one handed or two handed), you and your entire team must return to your red zone before being able to restart your attack. While your team is returning to your own zone - you cannot defend the neutral zone and any touches in there will not count. If your team makes a mistake e.g. a dropped ball or forward pass. Your entire team must return to your own red zone, not defending the neutral zone as you retreat. The winning team is the team that invades the oppositions space and scores a try, just outside the grid, first. There is no offside in defence. There is no kicking.