Rugby: compete for the ball

compete for the ball DRILLS
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3 Touch Kick

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: We will be playing a rugby league style touch. When touched: set the ball down, stand over the ball, allow the scum-half to move the ball away from the point of contact. The defenders should stay on side following a touch, and should not compete for the ball. Any infringements in defence should result in the defending team conceding 10 Meters or possibly giving 1 or more extra touches to the attacking team. I'll leave this to your judgement depending on your team's age, skill level, and your session target/s. The attacking team can sustain three touches before they have to kick. Their kick should be as it would be in the game: a kick to touch, a kick for territory, or a kick that can be regained e.g. a grubber kick. The defenders should behave as they would in a real game. Quick put in's from the touchlines replace lineouts. Defenders who take the ball from an attacking kick should counter attack. A forth touch results in a turn over. The Scrum Half has a maxium of 5 seconds to move the ball from the point of touch. A ball kicked directly to touch from outside the attacking teams 22, or where the ball has been taken into the 22 by the attacking team and then kicked into touch - will result in a turn over with play starting on the five meter line closest to where the kick was made. The defence should be 10 meters back. A ball kicked from inside the attacking teams 22 can go directly to touch, as long as the attacking team did not carry the ball into their own 22 before the kick. The resulting put in will be to the opposition from where the ball has went into touch. Quick put-in's are enoucraged, if not possible the ball is played from the 5 meter line with the defence 10 meters back. Give points for quick put ins that work. Feel free to play with any of noted laws, let us know the law variations that work for you!

Warm Up

Living On The Edge

Split the players into two teams, giving each team their own set of bibs. Two different colours that clearly define the teams. Keep your player briefing, brief. It's important that you get your players moving as quickly as possible. Tell the players that we will be playing One Touch Ruck, see the laws surrounding this game in the Warm-Ups section of the SportPlan site. Briefly - when an attacking player is touched while carrying the ball: they go to ground and either pop or present the ball for a minimum of two supporting players to ruck over. The defence should behave as they normally would at the ruck, committing two players who will not compete for the ball or go into contact. The defence should employ their normal patterns around the ruck. The attacking team can have three touches in a row between the 15 meter lines, if they move the ball to the either of the 15 meter channels they can have another four touches in that channel before having to move the ball back out. If the attacking team moves quickly from one 15 meter channel to the other (exploiting space), they get a bonus of 4 touches in that zone. If any attacking team exceeds the number of touches they can sustain inside a channel, the ball is turned over. Play with these laws a bit - keeping an eye on what you want to achieve in this session. The normal laws of rugby apply, any law infringements result in a turn over. There is no kicking in this game. Don't forget to give the defence a turn in attack, if for any reason the attacking team is particularly good at retaining the ball. If they are, well done you as a coach!

Warm Up

compete for the ball ANSWERS
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tackle video, tackler competing for ball?

Thought there was a drill/video here that showed tackle being made and the tackler then swinging round doing a 'press up' on the tackled player to get in position to compete immedialtely for the ball. Ive been through each drill section and can't find it, any one help me and point me in the right section

Gwilym John Pritchard Coach, England

Is Bridging Illegal?

Simon My son's PE teacher has told him that Bridging is lieegal for the U13 to U19 group. His Club coach has been encouraging its use in games for two seasons. I can see some of the dangers but also the advantages Who is right is it banned or can it be used? Paul submitted by email

Archived User Coach

Where should the posts be postioned on a ruck?

Where should the posts be postioned on a ruck? also, what is the best way to teach this?

Archived User Coach

u19 scrum rules

u19 scrum rules

Rob Middlehurst Coach, Bahrain

Can anyone give me an idea on how to coach competing?

Can anyone give me an idea on how to coach competing for the kick off to U16s? We have a great drop kicker who really gets the ball to hang in the air. The loose forwards seem to have grasped the idea of getting to the area where the ball is landing but then seem to wait until the oppo's have claimed it and then make the tackle rather than compete while the ball is still in the air. Any ideas welcome. Cheers, James

Archived User Coach

We've just taken an under 10s team from England across?

We've just taken an under 10s team from England across the border to Scotland and all match the Scottish coach was shouting no targeting the ball in mauls and tackles and a penalty followed to them. What is this?

Archived User Coach

Looking for varations for touch rugby games.

Looking for varations for touch rugby games. Using as a bit of preseason want to freshen the game up.

Jack Redfern Coach, England

Are there any drills to encourage my 3/4s to return to midfield quickly?

Are there any drills to encourage three-quarters to quickly return to the midfield to defend 2nd phase possession? My U11s backs get drawn into rucks amp; mauls and leave the opposition too much attacking space in midfield. Thanks

Simon Luxton Coach, England

Looking for drills to improve my U10's defending skills?

We have recently formed a new under 10s team. Out of the team , roughly half have played before, and the other half are new to the game. We played Sunday and were well beaten , although the side we played has a very good reputation for being a good side. I do see promise though in our team, it's just the organisational side that needs attention. Example, keeping our players from bunching, realigning in defence, etc. after doing the coaching course, I am we'll aware of trying not to pigeonhole players into positions, but I think they need this to help them organise themselves easier. Are there any drills to help with the above? Cheers, Chris.

christopher jenkins Coach, Wales

Rules of play for Under 15 girls

What are the laws for U15 girls

TRACY HERBERT Coach, England

Looking for drills to improve ...

We have recently formed a new under 10s team. Out of the team , roughly half have played before, and the other half are new to the game. We played Sunday and were well beaten , although the side we played has a very good reputation for being a good side. I do see promise though in our team, it's just the organisational side that needs attention. Example, keeping our players from bunching, realigning in defence, etc. after doing the coaching course, I am we'll aware of trying not to pigeonhole players into positions, but I think they need this to help them organise themselves easier. Are there any drills to help with the above? Cheers, Chris.

christopher jenkins Coach, Wales

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