Contact Help center
Rugby Rugby
HOME Rugby SEARCH

Rugby: evade

evade DRILLS
View All

Channel Ball

This game is designed to teach the players about retiring to an onside position when a tackle is made. Set-up a field approximately 10m wide and 15 m long. Place all the rugby balls at one end. Split the players into 2 teams and send them to opposite ends of the field. The attackers are the players with the ball and the defenders without. Explain to the players with the ball and defenders without. Explain to the players that the attackers are to try and get the ball to the defenders line to score a try. The defenders are to try and stop them. After a successful tackle both the defender and the attacker must return to their line by running out and around the corner marker. To begin with few attackers will get the ball over the line, however, as the players start to rounding the markers - more space opens up and defenders become less organized.

Tackling

Evasion Skills

Tell the players the following..... The player on the top of the grid is the defender. The player on the bottom is the attacker. When the defender passes the ball to the attacker, the attack begins. Using footwork and other evasion skills the attacker should score a try. That's it, play. Give the players a number of chances each - changing the attacker and defender. When you feel they are doing well, decrease the width of the grid by 1 meter. Keep decreasing until the players are at the limit of their ability to evade contact.

Sevens

Footspeed

Tell your players the following...... One group of 3 will be on the bottom right cones, the attack - they should have a ball each. The other group of 3 will be on the bottom left, starting at the furthest away cone - they will be the defence. On the coaches call, the first attacker (with ball) will run to the opposite end of the grid, in order to score a try. At the same time a defender will leave the last cone and will try to touch or tackle them. When all attackers have made it, the defence will move close (up one cone). The exercise continues forcing the attack to move at greater speed. Don't forget to change the attackers and defenders.

Sevens

Passing & Evasion

Tell your players the following..... Trackers will pass the ball and tag the evades. Evade simply avoid getting tagged with the ball. If tagged, a player must join the tracking team. They must remove their bib. That's it - play.

Sevens

Side-stepping the opponent

Players line up and approach the pole and evade to a side. Using shorter strides when they get close, they step to one side with the POWER STRIDE, and off that leg they change direction in the other direction, anything from 30-90 degree angle changes is sufficient.

Agility & Running Skills

Stuck in the mud

Within a set playing area split your players into two groups - catchers and runners. It's the catcher's job to tag as many runners as possible. Once a runner has been tagged they are "stuck", and must stand in a T-shape, with their arms up. They cannot move until they are released by another runner. If you are stuck, the other players can release you by touching you on the head or running under your outstretched arms and/or legs.

Practices for Juniors

Support play down channel

5 players start in a 5x5m grid and can pass the ball to one another in any direction. Once the coach blows the whistle they explode with speed down the channel. The aim is to firstly not run into an agility pole, and secondly to pass to a player in support while attacking down the channel. Once a player has made a pass, he must get in behind the ball and support once again.

Agility & Running Skills

Tackle Challenge

The exercise stand clockwise, with the first player going from the bottom left cone. The defender must tackle that player to the ground. As soon as that tackle is complete, the attacker quickly clears the area, and the defenders gets to their feet. The next attack goes right away. This pattern repeats, with each new attacker coming forward from a new cone, and then rejoining the back of the line on the opposite side. The idea is for the defender to be tested time after time, in quick succession. The ball carrier can try to evade contact. After 1 minute, change the defender.

Sevens

Touch The Runner

Put a group of 7 inside inside one of your grids. Tell them the following laws: The player not wearing a bib (the runner) is trying stay away from the ball - because if you touch that player with the ball they have to do 10 press-ups etc. (amend depending of players age etc.). Give one of the 3 man teams the ball; the hunters, it's their job to pass the ball to each other hunting the runner, trying to touch the runner with the ball. The other team of three is there to try and intercept the ball as it is passed between the hunters (they are interceptors). Ball carriers can run with the ball. The ball cannot be thrown at the runner. Passes can be in any direction. If the ball is intercepted by the other team, they now hunt the runner and the opposing team has to try and intercept the ball to get it back. Don't forget to change the runner by swapping them with a member of of the two teams in the grid. If a team has been good at keeping the ball, swap the ball over when you feel the time is right. If the ball is dropped or a pass goes outside the grid, it's turned over to the other team who then become the hunters. The team trying to intercept cannot push or have any contact with the hunters (ball carriers). Law Change: After a little time you can change the law to: the ball carrier cannot move with the ball or the ball carrier only take 2/3 steps upon catching the ball.

Sevens

Evasion Drill Tag Rugby - Rugb...

Drill to practice/teach evasion skills.Set up two lines of cones (green and red) with two lines of players (blue and red) of equal numbers opposite each other, roughly 5m away.The attackers (blue) are trying to cross the defensive line without being touched by a defender (red). The defenders can only move laterally.Every time the attacker crosses the line, or gets touched by a defender they have to return to the line 5m away before trying to attack again.The attackers are trying to cross the line as many times as possible in 30seconds. Then switch the attackers and defenders over.

General

Passing & Evasion Sevens - Rug...

Tell your players the following..... Trackers will pass the ball and tag the evades. Evade simply avoid getting tagged with the ball. If tagged, a player must join the tracking team. They must remove their bib. That's it - play.

General

Capture and Escape - Evasion a...

Set up a wide pitch, with cones on the half way line plus an extra box on two opposite corners. These corner boxes are the prisons for tackled/tagged players.The aim of the game is for players to run into the opposing team's area and grab a ball to bring back into their ball area in their half.However, if a player is tackled/tagged while in the other team's half they must go and stand in the prison square.Players can be released from prison by being tagged by a team-mate. Once released they must walk around the outside of the pitch back to their own half before rejoining the game.

General

Evasion race Agility & Running...

Divide your players into two groups and set up two lines of cones about 3m apart. Each cone should be 1.5m apart in a straight line. The player in front must go through the cones evading from one side to another return and give the ball to the next player to go They are done when the ball is back in the hand of the player which went first Each player needs to pass through the grid and they end with the ball back in the hands of the player that started.

General

Escape To Victory Warm Up - Ru...

Within each group of 10, there should be 4 attackers and 6 defenders. The defenders should be in the outer grid and the attackers will be in the inner grid. The defenders cannot enter the inner grid. The players can pass the ball in any direction inside the inner grid, and can move around as much as they like. When they attack outside the inner grid, they can only use non forward passes. The aim of the game is for the attackers to touch the ball down outside the outer grid, without getting touched. If the attacker gets touch, they swap places with the defender that touched them - they become a defended and the defender now becomes an attacker. Decide on two handed or one handed touch, it's your call. You might also decide to give your four attackers a period of time and unlimited touches before switching defensive and attacking players. Don't forget to give everyone a chance in attack and defence.

General

1v1 evasion Agility & Running ...

2 players start on opposite end of a 5x5m block On the whistle they run down the line, turn the corner, The player with the ball must try and beat the defender with his feet

General

Alcatraz: Jail Break Warm Up -...

This is a great warm-up for defensive and evasion sessions, or it might even be a warm-up that helps you reinforce coaching points made during a previous session. The best bit is that it's fun and relevant to all ages. If you're coaching tag rugby, change the warm-up exercise from contact to tags. One team runs clockwise round the inside of the circle with the other team running anti-clockwise around the outside of the circle. The circle in this case is marked out using blue cones, but you can use whatever colour you like. When the coach shouts 'Jailbreak' the players inside the inner circle try to 'escape' to outside the 10m x 10m square (yellow cones). The size of the square and distance from the circle is a suggestion, play with it a little and let us know your variations! The inside team scores a point for each 'jailbreaker' - swap over. If you have an odd number of players give the defenders the extra man.

General

Capture and Escape - Evasion a...

Set up a wide pitch, with cones on the half way line plus an extra box on two opposite corners. These corner boxes are the prisons for tackled/tagged players.The aim of the game is for players to run into the opposing team's area and grab a ball to bring back into their ball area in their half.However, if a player is tackled/tagged while in the other team's half they must go and stand in the prison square.Players can be released from prison by being tagged by a team-mate. Once released they must walk around the outside of the pitch back to their own half before rejoining the game.

General

6 ways to improve evasion and ...

General

Tackle practice Tackling - Rug...

Teams of 3 one team with ball.Start with both teams on their own goal line. <BR>Team with ball attempts to score<BR>Defending team allowed 1 on 1 tackles.When tackled, both players get to feet and ball carrier restarts game with free pass. Knock on, forward pass, in touch all result in turnover ball and free pass<BR>Change attacking team after each score.<BR>

General

Tackle Challenge Sevens - Rugb...

The exercise stand clockwise, with the first player going from the bottom left cone. The defender must tackle that player to the ground. As soon as that tackle is complete, the attacker quickly clears the area, and the defenders gets to their feet. The next attack goes right away. This pattern repeats, with each new attacker coming forward from a new cone, and then rejoining the back of the line on the opposite side. The idea is for the defender to be tested time after time, in quick succession. The ball carrier can try to evade contact. After 1 minute, change the defender.

General

Stuck in the mud Practices for...

Within a set playing area split your players into two groups - catchers and runners. It's the catcher's job to tag as many runners as possible. Once a runner has been tagged they are "stuck", and must stand in a T-shape, with their arms up. They cannot move until they are released by another runner. If you are stuck, the other players can release you by touching you on the head or running under your outstretched arms and/or legs.

General

Kamikaze Passing Passing - Rug...

Passing drill under pressure.Set up a grid roughly 20m x 15m, with lines of 4 players facing each other across the grid. Each line of 4 needs a ball.The first line on each side of the grid starts running to the other side of the grid while passing the ball along the line.When those teams reach the half way point (white cones) the other two teams begin.When teams approach eachother they need to avoid running into eachother/dropping the ball but will need to continue to pass the ball along the line.

General

1v1 Tackle Grid Tackling - Rug...

Small playing area, for 1 v 1 tackling.Players line up in two lines adjacent to the coned area.Coach shouts go and the front two players run round their end to end up facing each other.The coach passes the ball to the attacker who runs at the defender, and the defender tries to take them down.

General

warm up - wrestle Warm Up - Ru...

players start ontop of eachother.the guy ontop is trying to stop the boy on the bottom gettign up wrestle and by no means let the player on the floor up.

General

Ball Tag Warm Up - Rugby Drill...

Make sure that you have your warm-up area marked out before your players arrive, it's important that you get them working right away. You can decide to play this game in smaller grids, or a larger playing area with the entire team. If using small grids, they can be 10 meters x 10 meters - and mark out as many as you need depending on the size of your team. If playing in a large area with the entire team, have two players working as taggers. The rest will be attackers - running around the playing area trying to avoid the taggers/defenders. If playing in a smaller area, have 2 defenders/taggers and 6 attackers. Give the taggers/defenders a ball each. Keep your law briefing, brief! It's important to get the players working as soon as possible. Tell the players that the two players with the balls will be chasing and looking to tag the rest of the players. If you get tagged, you join the taggers team. Play the game until all players are tagged. The last two players tagged, become the first two taggers for the next game. The ball cannot be thrown.

General

Around The Clock Tackling Tack...

Set up 5 cones around in a circle. The tackler works out from the first cone to make the tackle. The tackler then backtracks around the next and then comes forward to make the tackle again. Two tackles off the right shoulder, one front on and two off the left shoulder.

General

Bulldog on knees Tackling - Ru...

Simple game for teaching tackling when on your knees. Starting with initially two tacklers and the rest as attackers, players must try to go from one side to the other with a ball in their hands without being tackled. If a player is tackled they must throw their ball out of the area and become a tackler in the next round of the game.

General

Whistle passing warm up game W...

2 players work together and stand opposite one another facing each other. They pass a ball between them as they stand about 3m apart The coach indicates which direction the players must move in, this forces the 2 to communicate as one player can see the coach and the other can not. On the whistle the player with ball in hand must try and beat his opponent.

General

1v1 Clap Tackle - Warm up zTac...

Groups of 2.Everyone find some space.Stand opposite your partner.One of the players (attacker) use footwork and move arround.The other (defender), try to keep as close as they can to the moving player.The attackers claps at a point of his choice, this is when the defender makes a shoulders on contact.Low Impact.Shoulders on.

General

evade DRILL CATEGORIES
View All
Agility & Running Skills
Agility & Running Skills
evade SESSIONS
View All

Developing your Key Decision Makers (KDMs)

Can your players take the bull by the horns and make the right decisions when attacking? Find out in this attacking decision making 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!

Tag Rugby: Learning to Evade C...

Improve your junior players' attacking footwork with this fun and simple to set-up evasion games session

Fun Tag Session! - Passing, Ev...

Refresh your players' basics with this fun selection of core skill drills and mini-games

6 Ways to Improve Evasion and ...

Develop a team of untouchables! Improve your players ability to swerve and sidestep past opponents with this evasion and agility footwork skills plan
evade ANSWERS
View All

Our under tens when they go into a ruck situation often go straight over the ball leaving it in the open. A is this ball then available to be played by any player from both teams and B if this ball is out how can we teach them to secure the ball.

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

Archived User Coach

ANYBODY GOT ANY DRILL FOR UNDER 6 RUGBY AS AN INTRODUCTION?

ANYBODY GOT ANY DRILL FOR UNDER 6 RUGBY AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME?

Garry Windle Coach, Wales

just signed up to coaching under 6s,would like to hear?

just signed up to coaching under 6s,would like to hear what exercises / "drills" work best aside from making sure they all have a laugh?

Archived User Coach

Any drills / moves to counteract a blitz defence, this?

Any drills / back moves to counteract a blitz defence, this is for youth level. Mark

Archived User Coach

Looking for day 0 skills to teach children?

I am looking for a Day 0 type of session for American children who may have never held a rugby ball. If I move forward with a rugby exhibition/team creation in the neighborhood, I want to make sure I know how/what to teach Day 0. I'm hoping that interest is growing for touch and flag rugby due to the recent in Philadelphia between the USA Eagles and the Maori All Blacks. I was there. It was fantastic. Tickets sold out so fast, I think there will be more of these in the area. Thanks.

Doug Jones Coach, United States of America

ANYBODY GOT ANY DRILL FOR UNDE...

ANYBODY GOT ANY DRILL FOR UNDER 6 RUGBY AS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME?

Garry Windle Coach, Wales

just signed up to coaching und...

just signed up to coaching under 6s,would like to hear what exercises / "drills" work best aside from making sure they all have a laugh?

Archived User Coach

When can I start teaching tack...

I coach under 8's and next season they will start contact. When am I allowed to start teaching them tackling skills? I sit january during their under 8 season or at the start of the under 9 season ?

brian mills Coach, England

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

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

in more ways than one

sportplan_rugby
LATEST FROM THE BLOG
Set Yourself Up For Success This Year

Set Yourself Up For Success This Year

Create a resolution to develop your coaching confidence by seizing the opportunity to discover new drills, turn ideas into action and seek advice from the coaching community.

December 31st, 2023
|
Archie Dunnill
Should Aaron Smith's World Cup Final try have stood?

Should Aaron Smith's World Cup Final try have stood?

World Rugby has reportedly conceded Aaron Smith's disallowed try in the World Cup final should have stood.

November 14th, 2023
|
Archie Dunnill
Sportplan Spotlight: Vary Your Sessions

Sportplan Spotlight: Vary Your Sessions

"It is not only useful for staff who are experienced but a valuable tool for those subject staff who have to take teams."

January 25th, 2023
|
Archie Dunnill
VISIT THE BLOG TO READ MORE
Rugby POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
lines of runningunder 8touchruckingtouch rugbymaultacklerucktacklingsevensscrumtag rugbyjunior backline drillspassingfitnessdefence7warm uptaglineout

What our users have been saying...

Coaches from around the world look to Sportplan for coaching confidence.

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the game!

Heather Weston Rugby Coach, United States

I am so pleased with all of the drills and advice on rugby. I am a player for my local club and we don't have a coach at the moment so I, as a senior player, am filling that gap. With your help, the team has been able to improve our skills.

Mokie Tau Rugby Coach, Papua New Guinea

Your tips and session ideas have really brought some interest back to our rugby training. The players and I now really enjoy our training sessions.

Eifion Highes Rugby Coach, United Kingdom

Wow what a great website, I have found sportplan an important tool for me when planning my netball sessions with my netball team. There are alot of very helpful tips/ideas/skills that I can learn and teach to my team. Thank you sportplan I hope to continue to use your helpful tips and to learn more about improving my teams netball skills. Thanks again....keep it up....

Monique New Zealand

I have been using Sportplan now for 3 years and can honestly say that I have never repeated the same session twice. My girls are always focused and are improving every year. Thanks Sportplan.

Debbie Cross Australia

What a fantastic tool. The Chalkboard and session tools make an unbelievable difference in making training plans in both time and organization. I will be instructing all of my assistant coaches that this tool must be used for all sessions during the season, so that we may build a club coaching resource library.

Wes Campbell Rugby Coach Canada

I can't get enough of the Sportplan, It has given me back the enthusiasm i was starting to lose. My girls are so keen and are ready at 14 to take the next up in their game. Sportplan will help no end.

Cornel Basketball Coach, South Africa

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

Sportplan App

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

SPORTPLAN USES COOKIES

Sportspeople like cookies too! By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More info

Privacy Policy
We are committed to privacy and support current industry initiatives to preserve individual privacy rights on the Internet. Protecting your privacy on-line is an evolving area and this website will constantly evolve to meet these demands.


Cookies
Some of our web pages utilise "cookies". A "cookie" is a small text file that may be used, forexample, to collect information about web site activity. Some cookies and other technologies may serve to recallPersonal Information previously indicated by a web user. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, includingwhether or not to accept them and how to remove them.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of our website, if you choose to block them some aspects of the site may not work for you. Non necessary cookies are only set when you have given your explicit consent to their use. Such cookies included those set by our statistics package Google Analytics.

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.

More info
Rugby POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
3 v 2 7 counter rucking defence defense fitness football forward drills junior  backline drills lesson plans line out lineout lineout drills lines of running maul passing ruck rucking rugby scrum scrum machine search sevens tackle tackling tag tag rugby touch under 8 warm up
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