Rugby: grubber 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!

Drill to warm up/practice different types of kick. Players form two lines in the 15m channels with all the balls starting on one side. The player with the ball at the front of the line runs out and does a cross-field punt to a partner on the opposite side of the pitch - kick labelled 1. The partner catches the ball, and does a chip kick which they chase and gather themselves - kick labelled 2. Once they have gathered their chip kick they perform a grubber kick to their partner who has continued their run. Aiming to kick the ball between the posts for their partner to gather and score - kick labelled 3. Players jog back to join the back of the opposite line. Once the first pair have performed the chip kick, the next pair in line can go.

5 players working with 1 ball in a grid 20 by 20 meters, working on their grubber kicks and punts. One player stands on each corner of the grid. Players must kick the ball to each other whilst the player in the middle attempts to intercept the ball. If the kick is intercepted the kicker becomes the chaser.

Grid: 10 x 20 or 30 (depending on age) with up to 4 balls, depending on age/ability of players. Players kick from one group to the other. Keep as many balls in the air as possible to sharpen kicking/calling and catching skills. Catchers must identify ball they intend to catch. Lose points for dropped balls or inaccurate kicks (i.e. too far or too short.)

Split the group into two teams. One player from each team goes to the oppositions end and starts in the end zone. The aim of the game is for each team to kick a grubber kick through to their team mate the other end of the grid in the end zone. When a ball gets through to a player in the end zone the player that kicks the ball goes to join them. The winner is the first team to get all their players in the end zone.

5 players in a group line up within touching distance of one another, and stand facing the coach who has a ball in his hand. The coach then calls turnover and the Players quickly get width, but are not allowed to work backwards to get depth. Once the players get depth the coach lets the first man off the mark by popping the ball in the air, as it is popped he moves off the mark and accelerates onto the ball and forward.

Drill to practice skills and creating space. Set up a pitch (roughly 25m x 20m depending on age and number of players) with two scoring zones at each end (green cones). Split the players into two even teams and give each team different colour bibs. Teams are aiming to score points by passing the ball to a team mate who is standing in the scoring zone (see diagram). Each time a player catches the ball on the full from a pass from a team mate in the scoring zone their team scores one point, and they turn and attack back the other way. Players cannot run while holding the ball, they must be standing still when they pass. The defending team cannot get closer than 2m to the player with the ball, and can only gain possession by intercepting a pass or if the attacking team drop the ball or give a poor pass which goes to ground. PROGRESSION: Players can only have possession of the ball for 2 seconds. If they hold the ball for longer than two seconds then possession is turned over. This means that the defending team can gain possession if they cut down the attacking players passing options. Players can run when in possession of the ball, but still can only have possession of the ball for 2 seconds. Passes must be over head. Passes must be below waist height. Chip kick / grubber kick instead of pass. Passes must be out of the back of the hand. Passes must be behind the back. Defenders can touch the attacking player in possession of the ball. If the defending team makes two touches on the attacking team then possession is turned over.

4 teams of 2 players, with 2 teams at each end. One player from the 1st team starts with the ball. The player with the ball runs forward and grubber kicks the ball on for their team mate to come from an on side position and recovers the ball, taking it at pace. The player then runs on and hands the ball off the player in the next group. The next group repeats the drill.

Two teams of 2. 1 team attacking and the other team defenders. Attacking team starts with a ball. Aim of the game is for the attacking team to reach the opposite try line by either using a chip or grubber kick to penetrate the defensive line. The aim of the defence is to advance in a tight defensive line and prevent the attacking team from scoring.

5 players in a group, line up within touching distance of one another, facing the coach who has a ball in his hand. The coach then calls "turnover" and the Players quickly get width, but are not allowed to work backwards to get depth. Once the players get depth the coach lets the first man off the mark by popping the ball in the air, as it is popped he moves off the mark and accelerates onto the ball and moves forward.

4 teams of 2 players, with 2 teams at each end. One player from the 1st team starts with the ball. The player with the ball runs forward and grubber kicks the ball on for their team mate to come from an on side position and recovers the ball, taking it at pace. The player then runs on and hands the ball off the player in the next group. The next group repeats the drill.

Drill to practice grubber kicking (a kick that bounces along the ground, bouncing no more than 1m away from the kicker) to a team mate to score.Set up a grid 15m x 10m, with three attackers (blue) and three defenders (red).The attack are trying to score by getting behind the defenders (red) using a grubber kick.The first attacker runs out and passes to the second attacker. The second attacker performs a grubber kick for the third attacker to gather and scorePROGRESSION:Start from the other sidePerform the kick with the players weaker foot1 can kick to 2 or 32 can kick to 3 or back to 1Any player can perform the grubber kick - coach passes the ball into the drill to select which player performs the kick.

Two team of 4.40m x 20m area.The aim of the game is to kick / punt the ball into the oppositions half. If the ball bounces on the ground or is knocked on (from a grubber-kick) then you get 1 point. If the ball is caught cleanly then no points are scored.

4 teams of 2 players, with 2 teams at each end. One player from the 1st team starts with the ball. The player with the ball runs forward and grubber kicks the ball on for their team mate to come from an on side position and recovers the ball, taking it at pace. The player then runs on and hands the ball off the player in the next group. The next group repeats the drill.

Practice short kicks while attacking forward (not standing still).The attackers are aiming to land their kick in the target area (yellow cones). Adapt the size based on their ability (e.g. senior players 5m x 5m, junior players 10m x 10m).Set up two cones (red) to simulate the area of a ruck/scrum/line out and give a defensive offside line. Two defenders (red) position themselves on the offside line opposite two attackers (blue).One attacker (1) acts a scrum half and passes the ball to the first receiver (2). The first receiver (2) catches the ball and tries to perform a chip or grubber kick into the target area . The second attacker (3) chases the kick and tries to regather it.The two defenders aim to put pressure on the kicker.Once the attack have gathered the kick they should return it to the feeder and join the back of the line to start again.PROGRESSION:Defenders to start passive and increase pressure as attackers gain confidenceStart with a chip kick and progress to grubber or vice versa.

The aim of the drill is to develop reactive short kicking game.

Two teams of 2. 1 team attacking and the other team defenders. Attacking team starts with a ball. Aim of the game is for the attacking team to reach the opposite try line by either using a chip or grubber kick to penetrate the defensive line. The aim of the defence is to advance in a tight defensive line and prevent the attacking team from scoring.

Game to practice controlling the ball.Set up two goals (roughly 2m wide) opposite each other about 5m away (red cones - see digram).Each player has to defend their goal while the other player tries to score by grubber kicking the ball through the goal. The player in goal tries to gather the ball, and then kick it back to try and score.PROGRESSIONS:Pass the ball instead of grubber kicking it. Make the passes low and difficult to catchMake the goals wider so there is more space to defendThe player in goal should face away from the player with the ball, when the player with the ball shouts the goal-keeper must turn around and try to defend their goal.

One player starts with ball and runs to first cone, where he kicks the ball across to the other cone. The other player must time his run to collect the ball. He should be collecting the ball as near to full pace as he can. Either a grubber or a chip kick can be used. With a chip kick, the receiving player should try to catch the ball on the full.

The aim of the drill is to develop kickers footwork and body position into kick. The goal is to execute the full kicking motion and control the balls trajectory (aiming for the coaches chest).

Drill to warm up/practice different types of kick.Players form two lines in the 15m channels with all the balls starting on one side.The player with the ball at the front of the line runs out and does a cross-field punt to a partner on the opposite side of the pitch - kick labelled 1.The partner catches the ball, and does a chip kick which they chase and gather themselves - kick labelled 2. Once they have gathered their chip kick they perform a grubber kick to their partner who has continued their run. Aiming to kick the ball between the posts for their partner to gather and score - kick labelled 3.Players jog back to join the back of the opposite line.Once the first pair have performed the chip kick, the next pair in line can go.

Drill to practice short kicks to an attacking player.Set up a square roughly 10m x 10m, with an even number of players behind each cone (see diagram).One player starts with the ball and runs out a few metres before kicking the ball to the player on his right for them to run on to. Once he has performed the kick he keeps running and joins the back of the line opposite him.This player runs on to the ball and gathers it, before continuing running in a straight line and passing the ball to the first person in the line opposite. He then joins the back of the line.Progression:Start with chip kicks, and then move on to grubber kicks.Introduce a second ballChange the direction the drill is being run (i.e. kick to the left instead of the right)Change the foot which the player is kicking the ball with.

One player starts with ball and runs to first cone, where he kicks the ball across to the other cone. The other player must time his run to collect the ball. He should be collecting the ball as near to full pace as he can. Either a grubber or a chip kick can be used. With a chip kick, the receiving player should try to catch the ball on the full.

Two teams of 2. 1 team attacking and the other team defenders. Attacking team starts with a ball. Aim of the game is for the attacking team to reach the opposite try line by either using a chip or grubber kick to penetrate the defensive line. The aim of the defence is to advance in a tight defensive line and prevent the attacking team from scoring.

The aim of the drill improve kick offs and accuracy.

Split the group into three teams. One team starts in the middle of the grid along the line. The idea of the game is to kick the ball over the middle team and try to land the ball in the oppositions area. If the ball is caught then no points are scored, if the ball bounces in the oppositions area then 1 point is scored. If one of the players in the middle catches the ball (they gain 1 point) then they swap positions with the team that kicked the ball.

Players dropkick the ball, aiming to land the ball inside the area and then follow their kick. They then pick up the ball, run around the cone and rejoin the back of the line.Ball held, with hands evenly on each sideLocate the target; then, eyes on the ballBall held over knee of kicking leg at approx 45 degrees to groundStep on to non-kicking foot; guide ball to ground; kick ball at the instant it touches the ground.Follow through with kicking leg.

2 players working together, about 4m apart. One player punt kicks the ball to the hands of the other.<br>Create a competitive edge by having teams of 2 compete against each other for the most kicks in a minute, this increases pressure on technique.Alternately 10 kicks from one distance and take a step back - if a mis kick given, start from the beginning.

Two teams with one team in the middle.Each player has to kick the ball over the the middle team for a member of the other team to catch. The catcher then gives a pop pass for the next member of the team to kick over.If one of the middle team intercepts the ball they swap over with the team that kicked the ball.

Set up a pitch area (green cones) based on the age of the players (depending on how far they can kick) with fielders spread out around the pitch. (E.g. senior players may need half a pitch whereas 20m x 20m may be big enough for a beginner).Set up a diamond by setting up cones roughly 10m apart (blue) similar to a baseball pitch, with kickers lined up on one side.One player/coach is the feeder in the middle of the diamond. He stands on the white cone and passes the ball to the kicker who catches it and then almost immediately kicks the ball, aiming for space.Once he has kicked the ball he tries to run around the diamond to score points.The kicker is out:Caught - their kick is caught on the full.Stumped - a fielder touches the ball on the cone that the kicker is running to.Out of bounds - if their kick goes out of the area of the pitch on the full.PROGRESSION:Make the feed harder (roll or a difficult pass to catch)Widen the cone diamond so the kicker has to run furtherKicker has to do a press up on each cone before continuing to the next oneEncourage defenders to work off the ball - they must pass the ball three times before stumping someone out.

Split the group into two teams. One player from each team goes to the oppositions end and starts in the end zone. The aim of the game is for each team to kick a grubber kick through to their team mate the other end of the grid in the end zone. When a ball gets through to a player in the end zone the player that kicks the ball goes to join them. The winner is the first team to get all their players in the end zone.

Players start with the ball, a few steps back from the crossbar.They must attempt to get the lift from the tight angle and flight the ball over the crossbar.After each success they can move a meter closer to the crossbar and repeat.On each occasion the ball is to land within the target zone as specified by the coach.Start the target zone quite large and then reduce it in size as the kicker grows more confident.

Game for scrum halves to practice their box kicking skills.Set out a coned, rectangular/square area between the 22 and the 10 metre lines. This is the target zone for the kicker.The kicker has three kicking stations: the try line, the 5 metre line, and between the 5 and 22.Two balls for each station, aim to kick into the same target zone.