Rugby: kickiing

The aim of the drill is to develop the Bomb 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!

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.

Drill to practice catching high kicks.Set up a grid roughly 15m long and 10m wide.Get a line of players on one side of the grid, and a coach or kicker on the other side.The coach kicks the ball high into the air, the player at the front of the line runs into the grid and tries to catch the kick. Once they have caught the kick they pass the ball back to the coach and join the back of the line.The coach then kicks the ball for the next player in line to catch.PROGRESSION:Encourage players to jump as they catch the ballAdd in a defender to put pressure on the player catching the ball.

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 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.

3 grids: 10x30 Number of players: (up to 14) Number of balls: start with 2 (add balls depending on age and ability of players). Each team in a 10x10 grid with a grid in between them. Punt ball into other teams area. Ball must aim to land inside area. If team defending kick drop the ball - other team get a point.

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.

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.

Kicking from hands requires the player to kick the ball before it bounces, unlike a drop kick. 1 ball, cones to give areas for scoring games etc.

Number of players: 5 working with 1 ball. Markers: 4 Grid size: 20x20 Practice grubber kick and punt. 4 players on each corner of the grid kick the ball to each other. Player in the middle attempts to intercept the ball. If kick is intercepted kicker becomes the chaser.

1 player in a group of players kicks the ball into the air for the single player to catch the ball all player have to run and support the catcher and run towards the end of the grid passing the ball to each other.

The aim of the drill is to perfect the hand to foot process.

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.

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.

The box kick is a very dangerous tactic for attack and defense. When attacking it can apply immense pressure on a team by putting the ball behind them. It also isolates the receiver making them vulnerable to turnover. It can also be dangerous if not executed correctly as you can end up giving away possession.

Can be practiced with all players but specifically for the kickers of the team for start off kicking and tactical point scoring. 1 ball, cones to set up target zones etc.

The box kick is a very dangerous tactic for attack and defense. When attacking it can apply immense pressure on a team by putting the ball behind them. It also isolates the receiver making them vulnerable to turnover. It can also be dangerous if not executed correctly as you can end up giving away possession.

2 players and 1 ball. Players stand opposite ach other in a coned area 10 yards apart. Player A kicks the ball out of their hands to player B to catch. Drill is repeated and continuous. Drill can be developed by awarding a point for each completed kick and catch, and how many were completed within a certain time i.e 1 minute.

2 teams, 1 ball with 2 grids diagonally across from each other. Each team is made out of 3 pairs and one float support player. Each pair is a catcher and a support player. When the kick comes over the nearest pair with the floating support player have have to lift the player and catch the ball. After which they kick the ball into the oppositions grid. Points are scored when a team fails to have 2 players lifting the catcher to receive the ball.

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.

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).

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.