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Rugby: attack the space

attack the space DRILLS
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2 v 1

This is a simple 2 v 1. The two players have to get past the one defender without being touched, that's it. The defender will start 10 meters back, and can move anywhere inside the box. The attack must remain inside the box and all pass msut be legal. Don't forget to change the defender.

Passing

2 vs 1 - Decision Making

Four players per group inside a 10m x 30m Channel. Requires 10 cones and 1 ball. Two players start outside of the grid with two players inside. One of the outside players passes the ball to one of the inside players before both of the outside players (defenders) run through the red gates. The two inside players (attackers) have to try and cross the try line before the defenders can tackle them, if the attackers are too slow they will create a two 2 v 1 situation.

Decision making

3 'v' 2

This is a simple 3 v 2. The three attackers have to get past the two defenders without being touched, that's it. The defenders will start 10 meters back, and can move anywhere inside the box. The attack must remain inside the box and all pass msut be legal. Don't forget to change the defenders.

Passing

3 vs 2 - Sprint to support

15m x 35m Grid. 1 Attacker starts on the half way line of the grid, with the other two outside of the grid back to back with two defenders. On the command the one attacker runs around the red cone, with the other one running around the blue cone - likewise for the defenders. Once they have run around the cones a 3 vs 2 will develop. If the player with the ball passes immediately this will give a 3 vs 2 in the middle of the pitch.

Decision making

Attack The Space

The pitch is divided into two halves The defenders must start at opposite corners of the pitch The attacker must have at least one player in either half. The middle player starts with the ball.

Tag Rugby

Attack until youre tackled

Playing area of 25m in length - adjust width to suit numbers- equal numbers in both teams Full LEG tackles ONLY - ball carrier when tackled can off load immediately or IF no support present when support arrives - game continues until knock or forward pass occurs. When a try is scored the try scorer turns to attack the other try line game continues playing the opposite way. No rucks or mauls.

Off Loads

Pop and Pass

Tell the players the following.... The player on the cone passes the ball forward to the player just in front of the cone, the passer then become the runner. The reciever pops the ball for the runner to run onto. Runner takes the ball and makes a bawards pass to the player on the cone opposite them.  The runner can drift to increase the distance of the pass. Players should side step to avoid one another in the middle of the grid. The first reciever can change the way they present the ball: they could set the ball on the ground for the runner to pick, they could lob the ball into the air for the runner to reach for and catch, they could deliver a low pass aross the knees for the runner to catch etc.

Passing

Race to cone - 3 v 2

One ball and 6 cones. 15m x 15m. Setup the practice as shown. The first two players run up to the half way line of the grid and place the ball down before continuing their run to the end of the grid before turning around to defend. The remaining 3 players (attackers) can go as soon as the ball is placed down and then they play a 3 v 2.

Decision making

The Berlin Wall

Tell the players that when you touch the shoulder of a player, they: have to go into the center of the circle, pick up the ball, and try to break out with the ball. The circle must close the gap left by the player that has went into the circle, and bind tight to try and stop the player from leaving. IMPORTANT: The players in the circle must stay bound and cannot use their arms or knees to stop the player trying to exit. The player trying to exit cannot attack the smallest player, nor can they attack sensitive areas of other player's bodies. There must be a sense of fun. The ball carrier should attack the space between the players that are bound on, that space will be very small indeed. The coach walks around the circle taps a player on the shoulder, and lets the fun begin. If the player gets out - well done them. If not, let them rejoin the circle and the select another player. Don't spend too long on this - but the players should enjoy it.

Warm Up

Attack The Space Tag Rugby - R...

The pitch is divided into two halves The defenders must start at opposite corners of the pitch The attacker must have at least one player in either half. The middle player starts with the ball.

General

Attacking Overload - Exploit T...

The drill starts with two teams of equal players playing a standard game of touch. Whenever a touch is made, the defender immediately joins the attacking side and acts as scrum half. This creates an attacking overload. Players must try to score a try by exploiting the overload in the least amount of touches. The drill resets after a try is scored.

General

Mid-Space attack Decision maki...

There are 4 cones in a rectangle , 2 red and 2 blue. The 2 defenders stand within the square, and on the coach's call, they must go and touch the called colour cone.As the coach calls it the attackers can go.The ball starts with the attacker in the middle.His aim is to attack the space in between the two players, and execute the first opportunity that presents itself. either one of the players will move in on him, therefore opening up space for the support runner on that side, or both will commit to him, or none in which case he is through!

General

Attack The Space Tag rugby - R...

The pitch is divided into two halves The defenders must start at opposite corners of the pitch The attacker must have at least one player in either half. The middle player starts with the ball.

General

React to space and attack Back...

5 players start on a straight line of cones about 5m apart. 10m away there are 5 more cones. Two of the 5 cones are blue, and two are red, and the middle cone is orange. The player on the orange cone never defends, he always attacks and always starts with the ball in hand.The coach shouts a colour and the players who are standing on those cones must run forward and touch the cone 10m away from them. It will always be 2 defenders, but their positions will slightly vary. Once the first defending player has touched the furthest cone across from where he started the orange player can initiate attack. The orange player will have 2 supporters, one either side of him.The ball carrier should look to attack the "Mid-Space" i.e. the space between the 2 defenders, as hard as he possibly can. This will cause at least one of the defenders to move in towards him, and therefore open up space for the supporter.You will notice as the drill goes on, if the ball carrier runs at this space hard enough, the defenders are sometimes caught in two minds of "its your man" and the attacker will glide straight through the gap, but only if he is explosive from the word go!!

General

Pass to Space zPassing - Rugby...

UPDATE

General

Quick Passing To Space Sevens ...

Give each training area one ball and tell the players the following...... One of the attacking lines takes the ball. They simply attack, moving the ball through the hands - lateral passing only. The defenders (there will be three), mark the first three attacks, they leave the forth free. Defenders can move up and down, left and right, but must leave channel 4 open. Defender start 10 meters back. The ball must go through all four attacking hands. Don't forget to switch the attackers and defenders.

General

Space Invaders Warm Up - Rugby...

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.

General

Quick Passing To Space Passing...

Give each training area one ball and tell the players the following...... One of the attacking lines takes the ball. They simply attack, moving the ball through the hands - lateral passing only. The defenders (there will be three), mark the first three attacks, they leave the forth free. Defenders can move up and down, left and right, but must leave channel 4 open. Defender start 10 meters back. The ball must go through all four attacking hands. Don't forget to switch the attackers and defenders.

General

Game To Coach Depth Sevens - R...

Four attackers, two defenders in quite a small playing area - trying to find space.The aim is for each team of four to try to score as many 'tries' as they can consecutively. Failure to score means the team of four changes over to the next team.Touch rugby game play.Attacking four players are aiming to touch the ball down on an end line.Defenders are aiming to touch the attackers.

General

Colour Cone Attack Decision ma...

Drill to practice attacking from different positions.Set up a grid roughly 20m wide and 15m long with three defenders (yellow) and four attackers (blue). Within the grid place a number of different coloured cones.The attack start with the ball and the coach will shout the colour of a cone, the attack must touch the ball on that cone before they can attack. Once the attack have touched the ball on the cone the defence can start to defend.PROGRESSION:To start with the defence can only move laterally along the try line, then are allowed to move off the try line.

General

2 vs 1 - with running support ...

The lead attacker runs at straight at defender. Attacks runs into space, either on the left or the right, takes the tackle and then off-loads to the support player who should be running down the opposite channel to the first attacker (so if the the first attacker runs left the support player goes right).

General

Switch Over Attack Passing - R...

Drill to practice attacking organisational skillsSet up a grid roughly 20m wide and 20m long, with different coloured cones at one end and 5m away from that end (see diagram).3 defending players line up at one end (blue players between white cones) and 5m infront of them 4 attacking players line up (red players between green cones). One further defender waits at the opposite end of the grid.On the coaches command the three defending players run to the green cones and turn to defend. Meanwhile the four attacking players run to the white cones and turn to attack, receiveing the ball from the coach (grey). They are trying to score at the far end of the grid (red cones).Once the attack have beaten the defensive line the final defender may move forward off the try line (red cones) and try and defend.

General

3 'v' 2 Passing - Rugby Drills...

This is a simple 3 v 2. The three attackers have to get past the two defenders without being touched, that's it. The defenders will start 10 meters back, and can move anywhere inside the box. The attack must remain inside the box and all pass msut be legal. Don't forget to change the defenders.

General

The Trinity Sevens - Rugby Dri...

The exercise starts with the first attacking unit running around the bottom of the grid, as they do the first defending unit run around the top of the grid. The first defender run up to defend in line with the first cone, the second defender in line with the middle cone, and the last defender is at the end of the grid. Therefore the attack will aim to beat the 3 defenders, in three 3 v 1 situations. When the attack finishes, they pass the ball to the next attacking unit, and the exercise starts again with the new attacking and defending unit. The last two attacking and defending units, switch sides returning to starting positions, ready to go again.

General

Rugby Gaelic Football Sevens -...

Tell the players the following laws....... One team will be attacking, the ball carrying team. The other will be a defending team. Defending players mark attacking players. The ball is passed by kicking, and can travel in any direction. Players try to catch the ball in the air, and have 3 seconds to make the pass. They can take 3 steps in that time. Tries are scored in the usual way. Players can compete for lose balls. Players should use all of the space available, and should move the ball to space. You can make this game a little harder by saying that attacking players must catch the passed ball in the air, if they do not, then the ball is turned over to the other team.

General

Rugby: Running into space from...

2 groups of 2 players start on set cones about 15m apart. The 2 players are situated one in behind the other, the same goes for the second set of 2 players. Once the player with the ball starts to run, the supporter goes wide and straightens onto a gate of cones. As soon as he passes the ball the second supporter can start to move out to his designated gate. Ensure that the players hide behind one another!

General

Find the space Handling - Rugb...

Players run in any direction in the grid trying to avoid contact by running into space. When the teacher calls stop, all players must be at least 1m from the next nearest player. Pass the ball around your back at the same time. <em>Option</em>: throw the ball in the air and catch as you run around

General

4 vs 1 Tag rugby - Rugby Leagu...

Groups of 5 Combine grids to make 2 channels each 10m x 20m 1 Ball per group Ball carrier tries to score a try by running past the defender. Support players follow the ball carrier. If tagged, the ball carrier must pass the to one of his / her support players. The defender must GIVE the tag back before trying to make a second tackle.

General

2 v 1 Passing - Rugby Drills, ...

This is a simple 2 v 1. The two players have to get past the one defender without being touched, that's it. The defender will start 10 meters back, and can move anywhere inside the box. The attack must remain inside the box and all pass msut be legal. Don't forget to change the defender.

General

2 vs 2 colours attack and defe...

The drill starts with 2 defenders and 2 attackers. The 2 attackers start one behind the other, about 3+ meters apart, the first players job is to either draw and pass to his supporter in space, or to beat the first man and draw and pass the second man.The defenders again will be split seconds behind as they will see the ball after the attackers. Use your whistle to set off the pass to the attackers.The first cones stay the same distance away, for the next set of cones for defenders double the distances.

General

attack the space SESSIONS
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Spatial Awareness and Attackin...

Change channel to find space with this week's using the full width of the pitch scanning and heads up attacking session

Attack, attack, attack: Findin...

Improve how your team exploit mis-matches in the opposition's defence to get them creating more try-scoring opportunities with this attacking skills session

Dominant, decisive attack | Ru...

Create a dominant and decisive attack in your team with this session, focusing on their ability to offload under pressure

Attacking Space: How to find t...

Improve how your team exploit mis-matches in the opposition's defence to get them creating more try-scoring opportunities with this attacking skills session

Effective Counter Attacking - Options after a Turnover

Can your team counter quickly? A speedy attack after a turnover is a great way for your team to score as the opposition will be out of position

Developing Invasive Attacking Skills

Think quickly and get past the opposition, with this attacking skills session!

Sevens Rugby: Attacking the Space - Pass, Follow and Support

Get your players to use the width of the pitch and play intelligently, offering wide support options in this sevens rugby session.

Conditioning for Attacking Patterns of Play

Keep this session up your sleeve - Get things going with a half hour conditioning introduction and then progress onto Attacking Patterns!

Mismatch Gold - Making the most of the numbers

Create space by shifting the focus of your attack and practice exploiting the mismatch with this Sevens Session
attack the space ANSWERS
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In what situation is the miss pass best employed

In what situation is the miss pass best employed

Archived User Coach

A way to develop the ability of the players, to perform the switch pass coachen U/14s

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Experts.

Archived User Coach

How can I improve my tackling?

How can I improve my tackling? I'm new to the game this year, and I had a couple of injuries to my shoulder and ribs early on which held me back somewhat. I was diving in and making good hits before- now as I approach being fully fit again I have found if I hit a player running at me with my shoulder around hip-height, I make good contact, but fail to get the wrap with the arms, and often don't bring the man down. On bigger lads I've tried hitting as low as possible, but often end up with one leg, sometimes two, and very low, still not getting the desired effect.... So, depending on the size of the opponent, where should I be hitting with the shoulder? Hips, knees, or other? And any tips on getting the wrap right? Thanks

Archived User Coach

What is an umberella defensive system? also I would?

What is an umberella defensive system? also I would like some tips on offloading and poaching the ball after making a tackle?

Archived User Coach

please can you help with any drills to help with realignment?

please can you help with any drills to help with realignment (of backs) to attack? Thanks

Archived User Coach

develop the ability of your players to realign, to?

develop the ability of your players to realign, to take pass running from depth

Archived User Coach

Hi Guys Though we all fully enjoyed it, We have just?

Hi Guys Though we all fully enjoyed it, We have just lost a tournament - mainly because the forwards were not offloading in contact and were getting turned over. Does anyone have a forwards type game I can use with the boys to play instead of drills, to strengthen their skills in this area? The team is a under 12 group. And I have 14 forwards. Thanks for you help in advance. Cheers Iain

Iain Hughes Coach, England

Scoring tries - habit?

Why is it important to get players to score the try when completing a handling/running drill?

Archived User Coach

Drill to help to teach backs how to check their line?

Drill to help to teach backs how to check their line up from defensive to attacking

Archived User Coach

establish principles of counter attack from a turnover?

establish principles of counter attack from a turnover all in contact

Archived User Coach

First time coaching U9 and U10s - anyone got any backline coaching tips?

Hi im a first time coach and is still getting the hang of how the technical details of the game works the back line is my department and whould like any help i can get to know what drills to do and anything helpfull in the backline im currently coaching for the under 9 and 10

Archived User Coach

First time coaching the U13s next season - any tips greatly appreciated!

I have just started helping our head coach with under12's team. He wants to retire and has put me forward to be head coach next season. I am a little worried on how i should aproach training with the boys, going to a full 15 a side team on a full pitch. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Archived User Coach

Trouble gettng the ball to our winger from first phase ball

We have two very fast wingers but we cannot get them the ball . Teams are coming up fast and we are lucky to get the ball to the O. C. We have tried setting up further back but too many times we are getting caught behind the gain lines when we do that. Any ideas?

john mcmullen Coach, United States of America

when do i pick and go?

rugby forwards , pick and go from rug

Archived User Coach

Jackel at breakdown and ruck

Lòoking for tips on jackling at breakdown ruck Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

billy beggs Coach, New Zealand

How to coach using counter att...

I need to coach a progressive session of 20 minutes for how to establish the principles of counter attack from turnover ball in contact coaching the palyers to counter attack. Any ideas please?

Trevor Brice Coach, England

U8s crowding the ball | Sportp...

Hey all,Can anyone suggest some drills or tips to try and help my under 8s from crowding the ball carrier, We are finding that all of the team huddle around the ball carrier at Starts / Restarts. I dont want to keep stopping play to tell them that huddling around the ball carrier is not creating the space they need as i sound like a broken record.Any suggestions very welcome.Cheers

Matt Osborne Coach, England

How can I stop kids bunching i...

How can I stop the kids bunching in tag rugby games ?

christopher jenkins Coach, Wales

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