Rugby: overs

Have 3 or more pad holders, this depends on how many rucking units you wish to have and how many players you have at training - but work hard to keep every player busy and active. The 3 pad holder should be about 5 meters back from the rucking units, and they should be holding the pads safely. Players should work in groups of 2, and there will be 1 scrum half. Only one ball is needed as the scrum half will move the ball from unit to unit. Get the players moving quickly, and tell the players the following.... One player carries the ball into contact and presents the ball. The other player provides covers and time for the scrum half to move the ball to the next unit. The scrum half should move the ball from unit to unit, and the units/pads should reposition themselves for the next line of attacks. Keep the action going, and don't forget to change the players on the pads.

Break your players down into groups of 3. In each area there should be 1 player with a tackle shield, 1 player with a tackle bag, and one with nothing. Tell players to do the following..... One player stands five meters from the start of the channel holding up a tackle bag. One player stands at the opposite end of the channel with a tackle shield. One player will be running and making contact at any given time. The Player with nothing in hand runs to the player with the pad and drives them across the grid. On reaching the end they swap roles and the other player runs across the grid to the tackle bag, hits hard, and makes a tackle at the end of the grid. Following the tackle the players swap roles the new player runs across to the player with the pad and the exercise continues.

Condition the drill in favour of 1 team, in this case the blue team. All players lay on their fronts behind the tackle bags. On the coaches whistle, the 2 teams move to contest possession. The blue players can move straight over the bag to contest, but only the 1st red player can do the same. The other 2 red players have to run round the cones before moving in to counter ruck.

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.

With a group of nine, tell two of them they are attackers - for now. The rest will be in defence. Allocate your defenders within the grid, one defender at defenders cone 1, two defenders at defenders cone 2, and three defenders at defenders cone 3. Tell the defenders that they can move side to side, but not forward and back. Also - tell the players on defenders cones 1 and 2, that they will join the attack when they have finished their defensive duties. So after the first 2 v 1, the 1 defender joins the attack to make the next attack 3 v 2, when this attack is over - the two defenders join the attack to make the last attack 5 v 4. Have your demonstration group quickly complete a walk through, then a run through. Now get the other groups working. Don't forget to give the last four defenders a chance in attack.

Tell your players the following....... There should be one group of 4 players between each cone on the four sides of the grid. The ball carrying group will advance - passing the ball down the line. When the ball gets to the last receiver in the attacking line, they will pass the ball to the first receiver in the next attacking line. Simple as that - they should keep going. All four groups must go, in any one cycle of attacks - a cycle is 4 attacks. Progression: Add in one or two defenders, have them work from side to side - rather than closing down space and - don't forget to change the defenders into attack after some time in defence.

The attackers need to get from one end of the grid, a safe zone, to the other end of the grid, another safe zone, without getting touched. You decide if the touch should be two hands or one hand. You decide when Hares can run, the attack begins on your call and each Hare has 10 seconds to start their attack. If a Hare is touched, they become a Hound - joining the defence. The last Hare standing or touched is the winner. The last two Hares in each game, become the first two Hounds. Tell your players the laws of this game, but keep your player briefing, brief!

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 chip 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.

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.

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 kicks the ball on for their team mate to come from an on side position and recovers the ball, taking it at pace. The type of kick used is determined by the coach, who calls out either chip or grubber, at the last possible moment. The player then runs on and hands the ball off the player in the next group. The next group repeats the drill.

Attackers react to the defensive line in a 3 v 2 situationIf defence is compressed - overs - an outside line should be exploited. Can use two or three attackers to attack into the wide spaceIf defence is wide - unders - a tight inside line should be hit by the middle player into the gap between two defenders.

Tell the players the following...... We are going to play a game, the 7 defenders will stay in defence throughout, and the 5 attacking players will remain the attack. If for any reason the ball is lost, it is given back to the attack. The attack scores by scoring a try in the normal way. The defence scores by turning the ball over. That's it, play. As the game develops, increase the size of the playing area. Switch the attackers and defenders.

See the diagram for suggested starting positions. 10 carries the ball forward. 12 run forward, then an over. 13 runs parallel to 12, but cuts a straight line onto the ball. 10 trows a miss pass to 13. 13 gives an inside pass to 12, 12 will be running an over.

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.)

Players work in pairs with 1 ball. Players throw the ball in the air but over the top of the player that has to catch the ball so the player has to run back and track the ball to catch it.

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.)

Players work in pairs with 1 ball. Players throw the ball in the air but over the top of the player that has to catch the ball so the player has to run back and track the ball to catch it.

On GO, the ball carrier sprint across the grid with ball in two hands and pass to front player of opposite group.

Split the players into two teams, giving each team their own set of bibs. Two different colours that clearly define the teams. Keep your player briefing, brief. It's important that you get your players moving as quickly as possible. Tell the players that we will be playing One Touch Ruck, see the laws surrounding this game in the Warm-Ups section of the SportPlan site. Briefly - when an attacking player is touched while carrying the ball: they go to ground and either pop or present the ball for a minimum of two supporting players to ruck over. The defence should behave as they normally would at the ruck, committing two players who will not compete for the ball or go into contact. The defence should employ their normal patterns around the ruck. The attacking team can have three touches in a row between the 15 meter lines, if they move the ball to the either of the 15 meter channels they can have another four touches in that channel before having to move the ball back out. If the attacking team moves quickly from one 15 meter channel to the other (exploiting space), they get a bonus of 4 touches in that zone. If any attacking team exceeds the number of touches they can sustain inside a channel, the ball is turned over. Play with these laws a bit - keeping an eye on what you want to achieve in this session. The normal laws of rugby apply, any law infringements result in a turn over. There is no kicking in this game. Don't forget to give the defence a turn in attack, if for any reason the attacking team is particularly good at retaining the ball. If they are, well done you as a coach!

5 x 5m grid, size can vary according to ability.<br><br>Player at the front of each queue starts with a ball, runs diagonally across square and gives a pop pass to the player at the front of the oppoisite queue.

Four attackers, two defenders in quite a small playing area - trying to find space.The aim is for each team of four to try to score as many 'tries' as they can consecutively. Failure to score means the team of four changes over to the next team.Touch rugby game play.Attacking four players are aiming to touch the ball down on an end line.Defenders are aiming to touch the attackers.

9 10 miss 12 straight to 13 -over line- with 15 also running an over line straight to 14. 14 needs to run into the hole in front of them wherever it is. Needs to 'check / scan'.

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.

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. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. 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 go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack. When you start playing this game make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. 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! Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Split your team into two teams. One team will be up to bat/kick and the other team will field. The fielding team should take up positions that they feel will be advantageous to their game plan - don't worry too much about over coaching this - players can learn as they play. The fielding team should have a pitcher/thrower of the ball. It is his job to stand on the pitching mound and to throw the ball as hard as he can toward the hitter/kicker. The idea is to force the hitter/kicker to struggle to catch the ball. A bad throw is considered wide and three bad throws means the hitter/kicker gets to walk to first base. However, three good throws that are dropped will be considered three strikes and the hitter/kicker will then be out. So the pitcher throws the ball, as hard as he can, to the kicker/hitter -who if they catch it can make a kick to space. The kick must land on the pitch, but can bounce into touch. If the kick is caught then the hitter/kicker is out. If not then they can start running. They need to get from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to 4th and then back to where they started in order to score a home run. They can stop at any base and be considered safe. However, runners can be called out when running between bases if the fielders manage to get the ball grounded at any of the two bases they are between.

2 Teams Ball Tackle Bags 3 Tackle bags are in a break down formation. With one player from the other team opposite them. The tackle bag team is lined up as if they are about to attack. The non tackle bag team must line up as if they are defending.The ball is rolled in the player with no tackle bag on the opposite team must get the ball away from the break down as quickly as possible with the tackle bags putting lots of pressure on. The non takcle bag team then must re-align as quickly as possible aiming to score from the turn over ball.

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.

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. Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary. One team goes to attack, and one to defense. Nominate a Scrum Half for each team. 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 go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.The defence must commit three players to every ruck, or risk an infringement which will see tem pushed back ten meters. The ball must be moved from the ruck within 5 seconds. Make sure that the defense is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck.  Throughout the game the coach call the point of attack e,g, attack RED ZONE or Zone 2. The coach can also call the scoring zone, Score At Zone Yellow or Zone 3. As the game progresses have the players call the point of attack, and the scoring zones - but they must do this early and they must committ to that attack for a period of time. Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck. 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! On a mistake or after a period of time, turn the ball over so that both teams get time in attack and defence. Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Have 3 or more pad holders, this depends on how many rucking units you wish to have and how many players you have at training - but work hard to keep every player busy and active. The 3 pad holder should be about 5 meters back from the rucking units, and they should be holding the pads safely. Players should work in groups of 2, and there will be 1 scrum half. Only one ball is needed as the scrum half will move the ball from unit to unit. Get the players moving quickly, and tell the players the following.... One player carries the ball into contact and presents the ball. The other player provides covers and time for the scrum half to move the ball to the next unit. The scrum half should move the ball from unit to unit, and the units/pads should reposition themselves for the next line of attacks. Keep the action going, and don't forget to change the players on the pads.

The following are the laws for this game: 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. It would be ok to have unlimited touches, changing the defence and attack after a set period of time. 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 run to the furthest in goal area and back before being back to re-join the defensive line. You will find that several defenders will be making their way forward and back at any given time. If an attacking player is touched while in posession of the ball: 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. Tries only, no conversions - keep the game tempo high. There is no kicking.