Rugby: mauls

mauls DRILLS
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Maul Touch

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game, but there will be some light contact. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team, it will be their job to move the ball from the back of the maul and out to an attacking line. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must stop and turn, a maul is then built based on how you have trained your players to Maul. Only four players should be in the maul - but every player should be able to maul - including the backs! When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the maul. They will commit 4 players, but will not do anything more than provide light resistance. Once formed the maul can take four steps before moving the ball. If there is a delay in creating the maul, or the quality of the maul is poor - the ball can be turned over. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! If a team has been in possession for a long time, don't forget to turn the ball over to give the opposition a run. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you.

Warm Up

Maul Touch Warm Up - Rugby Dri...

Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly. This is not a contact game, but there will be some light contact. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defence. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team, it will be their job to move the ball from the back of the maul and out to an attacking line. There is no kicking in this game. Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition. If an attacking player is touched: they must stop and turn, a maul is then built based on how you have trained your players to Maul. Only four players should be in the maul - but every player should be able to maul - including the backs! When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the maul. They will commit 4 players, but will not do anything more than provide light resistance. Once formed the maul can take four steps before moving the ball. If there is a delay in creating the maul, or the quality of the maul is poor - the ball can be turned over. Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made! If a team has been in possession for a long time, don't forget to turn the ball over to give the opposition a run. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you.

General

mauls ANSWERS
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I coach an adult side, what is the best way to defend?

I coach an adult side, what is the best way to defend a rolling maul from lineout

Archived User Coach

Hi Guys Though we all fully enjoyed it, We have just?

Hi Guys Though we all fully enjoyed it, We have just lost a tournament - mainly because the forwards were not offloading in contact and were getting turned over. Does anyone have a forwards type game I can use with the boys to play instead of drills, to strengthen their skills in this area? The team is a under 12 group. And I have 14 forwards. Thanks for you help in advance. Cheers Iain

Iain Hughes Coach, England

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who?

please how do idefine the players in the pitchie. who is the flanker, hooker, fly half etc

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

Position discipline!

I am a coach with an under 10 rugby side. Last season the team found it hard to stay in their positions (acting like a swarm of bees). Can anyone suggest how i can get them to stay in positions, particulary our backs.

Lindsay james Coach, England

Under 9s Rule Changes?

Hi everyone, coaching under 9s this year and I am trying to clarify if the rules have changed for the coming season i.e no ruck, mauls, scrums or lineouts basically a bit more like Rugby League?  I know it was trailed last year in certain areas and think it’s be rolled out nationally but obviously want to make sure. Cheers

Archived User Coach

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

U10s organisation in defence. How to improve?

I have started an under 10s team up, and I would say about 8 from the 13 children I have , did not play rugby until about 6 months ago. Of these players, there seems to be a lot of potential, as we are scoring tries against teams, that very rarely concede tries.the problem I got with them, is that we are very poor at organising our selves in defense when the opposition has the ball, which does result in us conceding quite a few tries. We have some very good tacklers in the team. Can anyone offer some ideas on how I can get them to organise themselves? Thanks . Chris.

christopher jenkins Coach, Wales

How to stop U12s forwards picking the ball up?

My forwards constantly pick and go from the rucks in games and this is starving the backs from any ball. Is there anything I can do, drills etc, which would help them realise there is a time and a place for pick and go, but to do it every time narrows the game and it becomes ineffective and not good teamwork.

Simon Luxton Coach, England

Basic Game Plan - U9

Just wondering if anyone has formed a basic game plan for a 2nd year tackle team (U9) and how it went. I am thinking that the forwards at this age would be quicker to the breakdown if they knew exactly where the play will end up on the field...Thoughts and opinions please

Kelvin McGrath Coach, New Zealand

Interpretation of the maul - f...

I will be coaching under 10 next season and need some guidance on how to interpret the rules for the maul?

Ezra rushen Coach, England

When a scrum is awarded follow...

When a scrum is awarded following an unsuccessful end to a maul, which team throws the ball in?

Arthur Johannes Coach, South Africa

Setting up maul directly from ...

Why don’t teams set up a driving maul directly from a penalty, rather than risk losing a scrum or line out?

Ade Collingham Coach, England

Law no. 16 Maul | Sportplan

When a scrum is awarded following an unsuccessful end to a maul, which team throws the ball in?

Paula Peniasi Coach, Fiji

where is the offside position ...

where is the offside position for attacker during maul

Archived User Coach

maul vs ruck | Sportplan

I want my team to stay up when heading into contact and have support there immediately to form a quick maul and get the ball out quick. Our backs are very fast, and I want them to get the ball as much as possible. Am I right in thinking this way?

Archived User Coach

Unsuccessful end to a maul whe...

Following the TV explanation of a referee's decision on an unsuccessful maul from a kick-off, I looked up the following rule (the latest version on the IRB site).----------------------------------------------------------------------------17.6 UNSUCCESSFUL END TO A MAUL (h) Scrum after a maul when catcher is held. If a player catches the ball direct from an opponent’s kick, except from a kick-off or a drop-out, and the player is immediately held by an opponent, a maul may form. Then if the maul remains stationary, stops moving forward for longer than 5 seconds, or if the ball becomes unplayable, and a scrum is ordered, the team of the ball catcher throws in the ball.---------------------------------------------------------------------------- It states "except from a kick-off or a drop-out", but then nowhere can I find what happens IN the case of a kick-off or a drop-out. Does anyone know the answer?  The referee's decision and the explanation given on Sky was as though the exception above were not there.

Philip Ratcliffe Coach, Italy

Is it legal to lift the leg in...

Is lifting the leg when driving in a ruck or maul legal?? I always thought it wasn't. Is this true of all age groups?

alan gray Coach, England

driving maul | Sportplan

what is the distance that an u11's team can push for, please.

mobile07814520349 Coach, England

ripping in a maul situation | ...

My U12s need to improve there ripping in a maul situation, does anyone know of a good drill to promote this?CheersJamie

Jamie Robertson Coach, England

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