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fitnes DRILLS
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7's Fitness Handling

Tell them the following...... The ball carrier will run forward with the ball, their partner will go with them in support. The ball carrier will pass the ball to the supporting player, who is moving forward. The new ball carrier will now pass the ball to the first receiver in the next group of two, who should be chasing - but no too close. And so the exercise continues, with each set of two support the last set of two. The challenge is, as well as good passing, is that the players should be around the 5 meter boxes and sprint back their starting position in order to keep the ball moving without stopping. Remind the players that this must be done at pace.

Sevens

All In Touch

The following are the laws for this game: Equal number of defenders and attackers. Use bibs to identify both teams. Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over. The attacking team gets 8 touches before the ball has to be turned over. Change this to suit your training goals. When an attacker is touched they: stop running, turn and present the ball to a support player who wait for the entire defence to gather in around the defender that made the touch. Following a touch all defenders must gather in and be connected by touching another defender. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence restart the game. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. If the defence does not get in quickly, the attack can gain 10 meters. Judge this depending on your player's fitness. There is no kicking.

Warm Up

Another Defender Bites The Dust

Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over. The attacking team gets unlimited touches. A player is touched only when the defender has made a two handed touch, you can change this to one hand if you wish. Defenders cannot hold the attacker, nor can the attacker use significant force to push through defenders. Defenders who make a touch go to the touchline where an assistant coach will have an activity waiting for them, doesn't have to be fitness related - a passing activity will be fine. They stay there until the attack scores. As each defender leaves the pitch, the attacker has an increasing advantage in terms of numbers and available space. If a player is touched: they stop, set the ball down, stand over it, and the scrum half is allowed to move the ball again to restart the attack. The defence must remain onside following a touch. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence press up on the attack. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. Don't forget to switch the teams around and to count how many defending players are on the pitch when the attack scores. he winning team is the team that can score with the most defenders on the pitch. Tries only, no conversions - keep the game tempo high. There is no kicking.

Warm Up

Defense into rucking

Work this fitness, defensive in line speed, communication, beating the defender and rucking. Even number of players and pads. Pads 5 m in front of players. Each time the coach throws the ball, players go forward (line speed) and make a tackle. When the coach chooses, throw the ball to one of the players, who steps and tries to get through pads. The other 2 players looked clear beyond the ball. Pad holders are active and try to stop the attacker. Defenders must talk and get onside.

School

Depth, Fitness, Warming Up

This exercise is all about getting deep lines of support, speed onto the ball, warming up the entire body, and getting fit for rugby - in this one we're doing lots and achieving more than your players may realize. Using cones, mark out a box - size depends on your coaching goals. Have 4 passing units, 1 on each side of the box. Decide on the numbers that you would like in each unit, depends on the number of players at training and your goals for the training session. Give the first player in one of the units a ball, and the last player in the opposite facing unit a ball. The ball carrier starts on their feet, but the rest of the unit starts laying down on the ground. They can only get up to receive the ball when the ball carrier (who will be passing the ball to them) has advanced 1 meter. When the ball gets to the end of the line, the last receiver passes to the first receiver in the line closest to them. The units that have just finished should quickly change place to that the first runner is different each time, they should set and get ready to go again. Keep the action going.

Warm Up

Rucking with 4 corners

Excellent way to involve large numbers and fitness. Develops understanding of working hard when on the floor, communication and skills in contact. 4 pads 4 balls Groups of 3 1st play hits (Drives and presents), 2nd play clears 3rd picks. 3rd player picks and get back into the middle, they then go to another free pad. Important ball carrier hits low, ball into hands and drive legs. When on floor, vital and he is active As for player should come low to high and drive defended beyond the ball Important players work hard to get off the floor. Do this around 1 min before swapping to build fitness.

School

Seven In Touch

The following are the laws for this game: Equal number of defenders and attackers. Normal laws of sevens rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over. The attacking team gets 8 touches before the ball has to be turned over. Change this to suit your training goals. When an attacker is touched they: stop running, turn and present the ball to a support player who waits for the entire defence to gather in around the defender that made the touch. Following a touch all defenders must gather in and be connected by touching another defender. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence restart the game. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. If the defence does not get in quickly, the attack can gain 10 meters. Judge this depending on your player's fitness. There is no kicking.

Sevens

Tackle Fitness

The runner/tackler starts 10 meters back, runs forward and places the ball down just before the bag, and in the same motion hits the bag making a tackle. They then get to their feet and lift the ball, repeating the same skills at the opposite tackle bag. This repeats for 1 minute at pace. Switch the runner/tacklers with a player at the bags.

Sevens

Target 3:15

Tell the players that they have to run and hit every line on the pitch, but before proceeding to the next line they need to return to and touch the try line. For example a player would run to the 5 meter line and back to the try line, then to the 22 and back and so on. The players should aim for a target time to complete the exercise e.g. 3 minutes 15 seconds, but you should change this to suit your players fitness levels. Time your players and record their times, use the recorded times as time to beat when you next use this exercise.

Sevens

Three Blind Mice - Tag Warm-Up

Tell the players that one group is the Mice and that mice have tails, their tags. The other group is not happy with the Mice, they are the Farmers Wives and - they need to chop the tails of the Mice off! The tails are the tags. The Farmers wives can run anywhere, in all directions, within the playing area - as can the Mice. The Farmers Wives can work together to hunt a Mouse. When a Mouse has their tail chopped off, they have to go to the chop zone (there might be some light fitness work there for them, your call. With older players you might have more interesting fitness work or challenges in the Chop Zone). You might decide that one tail is enough to be sent to the chop zone, or maybe they have a second chance and the Farmers Wives need to get both tails. Don't forget to change over after a period of time, counting the number of Mice in the chop zone. The winning team is the team with fewer Mice in the chop zone at the end of their playing time. You might decide on about five minutes a half. Have a bit of fun with this and let us know what variations worked for you!

Warm Up

Tackle Fitness Sevens - Rugby ...

The runner/tackler starts 10 meters back, runs forward and places the ball down just before the bag, and in the same motion hits the bag making a tackle. They then get to their feet and lift the ball, repeating the same skills at the opposite tackle bag. This repeats for 1 minute at pace. Switch the runner/tacklers with a player at the bags.

General

Rugby League: Fitness Passing ...

Players stand on 4 corners of the grid with Player A in the middle. Players B, C & D have a ball each. Player A faces C and as he/she runs towards C, he/she catches a pass from B and passes to E. When A is a couple of meters from C, C passes to A who immediately returns the ball, turns and runs back towards D, while catching and passing a ball from E to B. The exercise can last for a set time, or a set number of loops.  

General

7's Fitness Handling Sevens - ...

Tell them the following...... The ball carrier will run forward with the ball, their partner will go with them in support. The ball carrier will pass the ball to the supporting player, who is moving forward. The new ball carrier will now pass the ball to the first receiver in the next group of two, who should be chasing - but no too close. And so the exercise continues, with each set of two support the last set of two. The challenge is, as well as good passing, is that the players should be around the 5 meter boxes and sprint back their starting position in order to keep the ball moving without stopping. Remind the players that this must be done at pace.

General

Depth, Fitness, Warming Up War...

This exercise is all about getting deep lines of support, speed onto the ball, warming up the entire body, and getting fit for rugby - in this one we're doing lots and achieving more than your players may realize. Using cones, mark out a box - size depends on your coaching goals. Have 4 passing units, 1 on each side of the box. Decide on the numbers that you would like in each unit, depends on the number of players at training and your goals for the training session. Give the first player in one of the units a ball, and the last player in the opposite facing unit a ball. The ball carrier starts on their feet, but the rest of the unit starts laying down on the ground. They can only get up to receive the ball when the ball carrier (who will be passing the ball to them) has advanced 1 meter. When the ball gets to the end of the line, the last receiver passes to the first receiver in the line closest to them. The units that have just finished should quickly change place to that the first runner is different each time, they should set and get ready to go again. Keep the action going.

General

Rugby: Continuous Ruck Support...

Groups of 4 and two groups of defenders with contact pads. 1 ball per group. The ball carrier drives into the contact pads and presents ball backwards. Player 2 binds on, face to face and secures ball, player 3 binds on the other side to form a front row. All attackers bind together and drive defenders back 2-3 metres. Player 4 takes ball out at back and runs back around cone with players 1-3 in support. Repeat going back the other way until all attackers have practised each role.

General

Bag Slams | Contact Conditioni...

This is the second exercise in a series of three that can be put together to form a contact conditioning circuit. The circuit can be sets of 30 seconds of hard work followed by 30 seconds of rest. Swap in this circuit for your usual fitness routine to give the players something a bit more interesting and transferable to a game. Alternatively, this would be a great exercise to include as part of a warm up.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Players work individually, picking up a tackle sausage and driving it into the ground. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Repeat for the whole 30 seconds.This exercise will develop your players core strength, which is immensely important in most areas of the game.Moreover, this exercise simulates how players will have to maintain power in a game. For example when going from making a tackle to then contesting the ruck.0.40 - What is the purpose of these conditioning circuits?

General

Agility Fitness Drill Warm up ...

Set up the practice as shown above. 40m x 20m Grid. Groups of 4 Player start in the bottom right corner and on the command sprint as a group before doing 5 press ups. They then side step left to the next set of cones to do 5 sit ups before sprinting to do press ups. The group follow this routine until the end before the next group go.

General

Rugby: Tackle Conditioning - S...

This is a simply set up game designed to test players' ability to continuously make tackles, especially when fatigued.Each area should be about 10m long and 5m wide - 1 tackle tube required.Starting from one end, a player runs to the other end where the tube is standing up, and the player tackles the tube to the floor.That player must then pick the tube up and run back to the original position and place the tackle tube there, stood up.The other player in the pair runs from their end, and tackles the tube to the floor, before picking the tube up and carrying it back to thetheir end.Continue this for one minute.

General

Pass and run Passing - Rugby D...

Tell the players the following.... Player 1 starts with the ball. Player 1 passes the ball to player 2 and then quickly moves off their cone and runs to the cone where player 2 is and back to their cone. Player 2 then passes to player 3, follows the pass to the position of player 3 and back to their starting position. Change your passing hand each time The aim is to for the players to be back in their starting position before the ball returns back, but main thing is that they provide a good pass to the receiving player.

General

Tabata Touch Tag Rugby - Rugby...

You can play any version of touch you like, I'm going to suggest One Touch Off-Load - but you can change this to suit your training goals for the session ahead. Mark out your training area for the game, but include one or more Tabata training zones for your players (these zones don't have to be very big). If you only have one other person helping you - you might have only one zone, but if you have more assistant coaches or helpers standing around, create more zones - you'll find they will be used. Split your players into two teams, giving them bibs if needed. Keep your law briefing, brief - telling the players the laws of the version of touch you have decided to play. Tell them that as an addition to the normal laws, we now have a sin binning for mistakes e.g. you may decide that all mistakes are sent to the sin bin (The Tabata Zone), you might just focus on forward passes, or penalties. My point is that you can tailor this to suit your coaching goals. Players sent to the sin bin will be there unit sent back by the supervising coach. Don't forget to swap the defense and the attack. Also you can focus the sin binning on the defence for not meeting your defensive goals. Using the Tabata Zones Small areas with one coach/helper. The Tatbata protocol is often 8 periods of intense 20 second activity - with 10 seconds of rest in between (sound simple - try it!). Tell the sin binned player they have 20 seconds to complete as many press-ups as they can, then give them 10 seconds to rest. Repeat 8 times, or reduce to a number of repetitions that work for you and your players. When the player has completed their reps - return them to the game. What you could do in the zones: Press ups, Lunges, Burpees, Sit ups, Etc.

General

Pod-Ruck Ruck - Rugby Drills, ...

On the shout of &quot;GO&quot; the scrum half passes to the player on the first cone, who attacks the 1st bag. Once the bag is attacked and cleared out, the scrum half then passes to the player at the 2nd cone.<br /><br />Once the player at the 2nd cone has attacked their back, the scrum half then passes the ball to the person on the 3rd cone who repeats the exercise.<br /><br />Once the last bag is attacked the exercise is repeated.

General

Traffic Lights Game Passing - ...

Brief your players one what you would like the to do by telling them the following.... One of the players will stand outside the grid, they are the traffic light. The rest of the players will be inside the grid passing one ball. When the traffic light player shouts GREEN, they turn and face away from the grid (they can decide for how long). The players within the grid and continue to pass the ball, as fast as they can - they don't want to be the player holding the ball when the Traffic Light shouts RED. On the call of RED the Traffic Light player turns around to see who is holding the ball. On the RED call the players must stop passing the ball right away. The player holding the ball becomes the new traffic light, and the old traffic light enters the grid as a passer.

General

3 Second 3 Player Touch Sevens...

Tell your players the following..... This game is about support and ensuring that support is close to the ball carrier. This is a non contact game. When the ball carrier is touch, they must stop and set the ball down. Two attacking player must touch the ball carrier within 3 second. If they make their target - any of the two supporting players can move the ball to continue the attack. If the ball carrier is not touch by two other attacking players within 3 seconds - then the ball is turned over. There is no set number of touches. The ball will be turned over when the attacking team makes a mistake or do not meet their support target. The defence must act within the laws of the game.

General

Rugby: Lineout Throw - Heavy B...

The aim of the exercise is to develop core activation buy pulling your core in and at the same time fire your glutes forward and squeeze them tight, this is the activation movement we are looking for when we throw the ball this will then keep you in a strong position.

General

Rugby Cricket Fielding Passing...

Coach stands in the middle of a semi circle of 6-10 players, holding a ball.One player throws a ball at the coach, who bats it away using the ball they are holding. This will send the ball off at a strange angle and make it difficult to catch. The person nearest to the ball should catch it.If they drop the ball then they move to the right hand side of the semi circle. The person at the far left of the semi circle at the end wins.

General

Union Jack Agility & Running S...

Divide the players so that they are spread equally between 8 points (4 corners of a square, and 4 more at the midpoints. Each ball carrier runs across the square to the opposite point and passes the ball to the next waiting player

General

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fitnes SESSIONS
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Performing when tired - Endurance Running session

Find out if your team can drive out a difficult win! Work your team hard and test their match-skills when tired!

Fitness Testing Session

Put some responsibility onto your players and make sure that they?re up to the standard they should be after pre-season. Test their levels with this session.

Developing young players confidence in tackling and contact

After building up some preseason contact resilience, it?s time to refine players tackling techniques to build their confidence as players go into contact. Focus on the technique and develop their willingness to go into tackles properly to improve success rate and reduce chances of injury.

Pre Season: Contact Conditioning and Skills

As the start of the season nears, continue to build your players resilience to contact and ensure they?re up to speed with their physical conditioning with this demanding session.

Pre-season Contact Build-Up

After a long off season period it's important to carefully ease your players back into contact - use this session to get your players tackling again in a safe and injury-free environment

Pre-season Burner 2

Get the team excited to be back together again. Pre-season?s going to be a battle, but go and make it fun with this burner!

Pre-season Burner

Are you up to it physically yet? Really feel the burn with this session and push your team hard! You will really feel the benefits after!

Position Specific Speed Training

Get your team the fastest and most agile out there. As the season deepens, we all need to stay on top of our game; make sure every position is covered with this intense drill.

Defensive Dominance!

With this high intensity session, improve your team's defensive skills, whilst also working on their fitness

Rugby Fitness, Strength and Endurance

Make sure your players don't run out of steam with this Rugby Fitness session, working on their strength and endurance

Rugby Fitness Drills and Games

Fitness is a vital part of getting to the line for the full 80. Work on your teams skills and technique whilst putting them under fatigue with a gruelling fitness session.

Handling and Passing - working under pressure

Fast hands and a cool head will be needed in this physically testing pressure passing session - are your players up to the challenge?

Fitness and Handling Skills - Refresher Session

Work on their speed and stamina in this passing and receiving recap session - designed to get your players spreading their fingers for maximum passing control

Defensive blowout - Fitness games session

Banish dull fitness exercises with.this competitive and physically demanding session - working on tacking, fitness and players' ability to close down space

Continuity Play - Passing your way out of the tackle

Help your side avoid the breakdown by focusing on their continuity skills - keeping the ball moving and starting to work on contact!

Pre-Season: Skills Foundation Session

Get your team playing together again after the break, working on their handling, passing and match fitness in this fun attacking session, finishing with an exciting game of waterfall attack!
fitnes ANSWERS
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Forwards fitness U12's - Sport...

Hi, I have a large pack, some new to rugby, and they are really passionate and impactful, but some are really struggling with helping get them on top of their fitness and aerobic exercise. One prop in particular is only 11 yrs old, but deperate to convert osme weight to focus on fitness. Any tips or exercise routines that I can use to get a heavy forward pack to work on their fitness training outside of the once a week rugby training session we have as a team?

Mark Zimmermann Coach, Australia

under 16's conditioning and fi...

I coach an under16s Rugby League squad who are at premier division level, some of whom are lets say not very fit. Does anyone have a good pre-season conditioning plan/session we could slot in once or twice a week to get the lads fitter ?

Archived User Coach

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

Beep test - suggested levels o...

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

Resistance Training for U14 - ...

I am curently helping coach an U14 team, my focus being on forward play and conditioning. As a general rule, for conditioning I only get the lads to work against body weight for resistance training. Some players (and parent?)are eager to get into the gym and start to use weights as means of resistance. Obviously at this age the level of physical maturity of players is vast, boys to men, hence each individual must be assessed. I have done some reseaech which would indicate that the use of weights for 14-15 year old is to be encouraged (Irish RFU), but I am keen not to get the lads into the gym to early. Does any one have and ideas on this subject or can point me to any research to support either idea.

Archived User Coach

I need ideas for fun team buil...

I need ideas for fun team building activities and any fun games to help towards team building. Has anyone got any ideas on what to do? Anything to spice up rugby training sessions in the dark, cold winter nights.

Archived User Coach

I'm about to begin coaching fo...

I'm about to begin coaching forwards at the college level, any drills, conditioning, tips, or any suggestions from my more experienced ruggers will be greatly appreciated

Archived User Coach

Under 9`s rugby, fear of tackl...

I coach under 9`s rugby and a lot of the kids have a bad fear of tackling, they lack the confidence to get stuck in. What is the best thing to help them overcome this?

Archived User Coach

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