Rugby: backs

backs DRILLS
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Maul Touch

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, but there will be some light contact. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team, it will be their job to move the ball from the back of the maul and out to an attacking line. 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 stop and turn, a maul is then built based on how you have trained your players to Maul. Only four players should be in the maul - but every player should be able to maul - including the backs! When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the maul. They will commit 4 players, but will not do anything more than provide light resistance. Once formed the maul can take four steps before moving the ball. If there is a delay in creating the maul, or the quality of the maul is poor - the ball can be turned over. 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! If a team has been in possession for a long time, don't forget to turn the ball over to give the opposition a run. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you.

Warm Up

Realignment & Depth - 5 v 4 Ba...

The realignment and depth hands drill is a quick drill to focus the players in sharpening their alignment and depth before a session. You can spend as long or as short on this drill as you need. The aim of the drill is to develop the speed at which players realign themselves, to support their early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player.Set a 5 cones 1.5 meter apart in straight line. This will mark where the players will start the drill fromSet 4 cones at a diagonal in line with the starting cones from one edge. This will be the cones that the defending players need to retreat to before coming up to pressure the attacking players.The first attacking player needs to step back 1 meter and will receive the ball from the first defending player who has also stepped back 1 meter to his designated coneDivide the group into 4 attacking player and 5 defending players, there should be a free attacking playerThe ball starts with the defending playerOn the coaches call, all defending players need to work back to their designated cone and then come forward in a straight line to their opposite attacking playerThe attacking players set their own depth to ensure they have time to catch and pass effectivelyOn the coaches call, the first defending player will move back to their cone, once they get to the cone they pass the ball to the first attacking player, and then the first defending player tries to put pressure on the first attacking playerThe attacking players try to get the ball to the 5th player without being ‘touched’ by a defending player

General

backs ANSWERS
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What is the current thinking regarding kickoff receiving alignment?

What is the current thinking regarding kickoff receiving alignment?

Gary Kent Coach, United States of America

Beep test - suggested levels of achievement.

Beep test - suggested levels of achievement. I coach at level 7 in England am looking for any data on the average level in beep test that should be achieved by different positions (e.g front row, back row, backs). Does anyone have any data or suggestions?

Archived User Coach

Any ideas on a session I can do on an athletics track?

Any ideas on a session I can do on an athletics track for a senior team. It's the first session back after the Christmas break and we've got an important game coming up on Saturday if the weather holds up.

Archived User Coach

Forward running; positoning after breakdown

I am trying to explain to my Under 12 forwards where they should run to after a breakdown. Inevitably the committed lads end up running from ruck to ruck without getting there hands on the ball. How do you coach positioning? When to hang in the back line, when to cover wide, when to set up a chain play? Traditional unopposed has the forwards going thru ruck after ruck when the backs have broken the play down but how do you explain positioning to the big men?

David Mason Coach, England

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

How would you help a 17yr old scrum half understand about not taking all the good ball on himself,this has just started creeping into his game

 a

Archived User Coach

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who?

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who is the flanker, hooker, fly half etc

Archived User Coach

Backs move from restart scrum?

Has anyone got a good backs move from scrum at halfway after failed restart.

Warren Galbraith Coach, Switzerland

Position discipline!

I am a coach with an under 10 rugby side. Last season the team found it hard to stay in their positions (acting like a swarm of bees). Can anyone suggest how i can get them to stay in positions, particulary our backs.

Lindsay james Coach, England

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

What drills you would run forwards and backs?

If you are running a training session what drills you would run for forwards and backs, before then breaking up into things forwards and backs would work on?

oabmwbcwtb Coach, New Zealand

Running from deep-how to get backs to line out deeper

How do I get my backs to line out deeper when the pack have secure ball. The backs come up to flat and run out of room.I need some drills to give them the habit of taking a step back instead of forward.Thanks Connor

Connor Maher Coach, Ireland

How to stop U12s forwards picking the ball up?

My forwards constantly pick and go from the rucks in games and this is starving the backs from any ball. Is there anything I can do, drills etc, which would help them realise there is a time and a place for pick and go, but to do it every time narrows the game and it becomes ineffective and not good teamwork.

Simon Luxton Coach, England

Team warm up drills that incorporates all the backs

Looking for some drills that use all 7 backs for pre match warm up. Something that we can use other than running through moves Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Stewart Ley Coach, England

How can I get players (U15s) to take the initiative).

How can I get players (U15s) to take the initiative and to go looking for the ball? They have the skills to use the ball when they get it but remain waiting for a pass. This applies especially to the wings and fullbacks. The same is true about backs getting involved in rucks and forwards not picking up loose ball. (I've only just inherited this team).

Andy Stephens Coach, Wales

men to men defence drill

i want the key ponts of men to men drill

serapelontaopane Coach, South Africa

Running from deep-how to get b...

How do I get my backs to line out deeper when the pack have secure ball. The backs come up to flat and run out of room.I need some drills to give them the habit of taking a step back instead of forward.Thanks Connor

Connor Maher Coach, Ireland

First time coaching the U13s n...

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

How do I get the back line run...

Our back line is very sluggish and drift ,any ideas for simple plan to get them moving straight and fast?

Michael Strain Coach, Wales

switch pass in rugby union | S...

switch pass in rugby union

maria Coach, England
backs WEB VIDEOS
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