Rugby: Path Of Least Resistance

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the...
Heather, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

In this example we will play one touch offload, but remember you can change the version of touch to suit your training goals, applying the same mismatch strategy.

  • Tell the players we are going to play one touch off-load, the normal laws of rugby apply. Any forward passes etc. will result in the ball being turned over.
  • When a player is touched, they must pass right away without delay. A delay will result in the ball be turned over.
  • Alternative: You might decide that one team will play 5 minutes in attack no matter what - and 5 minutes in defense.
  • They have unlimited touches, you can change this depending on your training goals.
  • Tell the players the defenders in the different coloured bibs don't have the ability to make a touch that counts. That doesn't mean that they don't try! If you are an attacker, and if you are touched by one of those players, keep going.
  • You can start the game with lots of players on the defense wearing mismatch bibs, and reduce it as the session develops.
  • Let them play - don't tell them what it's all about. Let them discover, remember this is the warm-up!

COACHING POINTS

Remember, you don't need to focus on all of the following:

  • Players running support lines in support of the ball carrier.
  • Ball carrier has support options close and far away. Attack the mismatch areas.
  • The attacking team should not feel that they have to rush everything to get the ball to the mismatch areas, they might have to take one or two contacts to get there - and that's ok.
  • If the attack is creating traffic, and therefore space - are they moving the ball away from that traffic and towards the space?
  • The communication should be: encouraging, efficient, and effective. We need to do a, b and c - this is how - great last pass by the way.
  • Are defenders working together to cover mismatch areas? In the real game they may be working along players that are struggling, they will also have to cover there.
  • Defenders need to communicate to know who is on their inside and outside, and to pull in help when needed.
  • Are your leaders making decisions? Who is directing the attack?
  • Players need to scan the pitch. Some teams have used CPC in the past - scan from corner to posts to the opposite corner.
  • Play this game at pace!

READ MORE
READ LESS
OFTEN USED WITH...
1232189
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
STAY CONNECTED

in more ways than one

sportplan_netball
MORE Warm Up DRILLS
/drills/ Rugby/ Warm-Up /categoryDrills_21.jsp

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

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

Sportplan App

Give it a try - it's better in the app

YOUR SESSION IS STARTING SOON... Join the growing community of rugby coaches plus 1100+ drills and pro tools to make coaching easy.
LET'S DO IT