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5 vs 5 Touch Rugby

Touch Rugby in teams of 5 3 Touches and change possession. When a player with the ball is touched, tackler stays in passive contact. Ball carrier slides to the ground and presents the ball, with the nearest supporting player comes in and acts as a scrum half.

Match Related

Introduction to ruck

In small teams, play a modified game where if the ball carrier is touched on the shorts with both hands of a defender, the ball carrier must go to ground and present the ball to a support player who passes the ball from the ground unopposed Change possession once a try has been scored.

Ruck

Kick Tennis - Moving net

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.

Kicking

Leave No Man Behind

Players start in the bottom right corner and on the command sprint as a group before doing 5 press ups. They advance as a defensive line, moving as fast as the slowest player. They never leave a player behind. They then side step (push as a defensive line) 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.

Agility & Running Skills

Non-Stop Rugby

Play 5 v 3. The aim of the game is for teams with unequal number of players to defend and attack. Possesion is changed if one of the following :- A try is scored, there is an interception or three people are tagged. Players must ensure that they replace tags when they are removed. If at any stage the ball goes loose any team can pick up the ball.

Tag Rugby

Passing in Traffic

Tell the players the following...... Runners move forward towards the cone opposite to their location. There will be one ball carrier and one reciever in every set of runners, 3 sets of runners at any one time. The ball carrier must make a legal pass to the player approaching, avoiding traffic. That's it - lets get going.

Passing

Rugby Blank

Coaching tool

Rugby Rounders

Split group into 2 - Batters and fielders. Setup as shown above. Each batsman will either pass or throw the ball into the fielding area and run around the bases immediately to score. Nobody can be caught out. To get a batter out, fielders must get the ball to a player standing in the bowling area whilst the batter is running between the bases. If a batter reaches the safety of a base, before the ball reaches the bowling area, that player cannot run again until the ball is passed by the next batter.

Tag Rugby

Tag Maul Game

Groups of 10. 5 v 5 Match. Players start the game and after each touch the touched player must simulate a MAUL by turning and setting up the ball. Allow 1 player to drive in on the ball.

Maul

Touch Rugby with mini-maul

Touch rugby in teams of 5. Once a team has been touched three times change possession. When a player is touched, the tackler stays in passive contact until the nearest attacker comes in and supports their players by mauling the ball away to continue the game.

Match Related

Chasing The Pass Passing - Rug...

Keep your player briefing short, and get the ball moving around the circle as quickly as possible. First have the players move the ball - clockwise around the circle, passing off their right hand. Then switch it, and have the ball move anti-clockwise around the circle, with the players passing off their left hand. Once the players have gotten into a rhythm of passing the ball, tell the players the following. The player holding the ball will become a runner, their job is to pass the ball and then to set-off in the direction the ball will be traveling, trying to get to their starting position before the ball does. They win if they make it back before the ball. The players win if they can get the ball back before the runner. The passers cannot miss-pass, the ball must travel through every set of hands. Each player in the group should have the chance to become a runner. Change the direction of the runner and the ball half way through. You might decide that the runner has to do a press-up or two, if they don't make it back ahead of the ball. And you may also decide that all the other players need to do the same if they do not get the ball back before the runner. You can further develop this game by making the circle bigger. This will push the runner and will increase the length of the pass required between each player. Just ask all of the players to take one or two steps back.

General

Alcatraz: Jail Break Warm Up -...

This is a great warm-up for defensive and evasion sessions, or it might even be a warm-up that helps you reinforce coaching points made during a previous session. The best bit is that it's fun and relevant to all ages. If you're coaching tag rugby, change the warm-up exercise from contact to tags. One team runs clockwise round the inside of the circle with the other team running anti-clockwise around the outside of the circle. The circle in this case is marked out using blue cones, but you can use whatever colour you like. When the coach shouts 'Jailbreak' the players inside the inner circle try to 'escape' to outside the 10m x 10m square (yellow cones). The size of the square and distance from the circle is a suggestion, play with it a little and let us know your variations! The inside team scores a point for each 'jailbreaker' - swap over. If you have an odd number of players give the defenders the extra man.

General

Ruck, Setup, Steal Ruck - Rugb...

Player 1 runs out with ball but player 2 has stepped up to meet them halfway. Player 1 drives into player 2 - goes two steps before then going to ground. Player 2 steps over the player on the ground, picks up the ball and runs on to be met by player 3 who takes the next contact. Repeat.

General

Rugby: Passing & Evasion - Sev...

Tell your players the following..... Trackers will pass the ball and tag the evades. Evade simply avoid getting tagged with the ball. If tagged, a player must join the tracking team. They must remove their bib. That's it - play.

General

The Beginners Rugby Manual Rug...

General

Closed Leg Pass Passing - Rugb...

The aim of the exercise is to develop 1 Step Closed leg pass to encourage the attacker to keep square.

General

Rugby: Hold, Press, Push - Sev...

Tell your players the following..... The first should of 3 will PUSH, drifting across and HIT the pads together. They will then advance and do the same at the next 2 sets of pads before returning to their start position to go again. The second group of defenders can go when they feel there is enough space between them and the first group. That's it - lets get to work. Don't forget to change the defenders and bag holders.

General

L With Defenders Passing - Rug...

Keep your player briefing, brief! It's important to get your players working as quickly as possible. Lets get the ball and the players moving with lateral passing through the hands. Each training area only needs one ball, and that ball should be with any of most players. Tell players to move forward, passing the ball down the line - they do not need to wait on any call by you. When the ball gets to the last receiver, that player will pass it to the first receiver in the next line - they should advance without delay. Allow the players to moving the ball along the lines. After you feel the players are comfortable, tell them that they can be as creative as they like with respect to passing e.g. miss passes, switches etc. Introduce one defender, let the defender drift - but they must start from around 10 meters back. When you are happy with one defender, add two, and finally three defenders. Keep the same defenders in place for a about 10 attacks, then rotate. Allow the players to discover, though questioning, the best possible way to respond to what they see in terms of moving the ball. Players should change positions in the line after each run. Don't forget to change out the defenders.

General

Touch The Runner Warm Up - Rug...

Put a group of 7 inside inside one of your grids. Tell them the following laws: The player not wearing a bib (the runner) is trying stay away from the ball - because if you touch that player with the ball they have to do 10 press-ups etc. (amend depending of players age etc.). Give one of the 3 man teams the ball; the hunters, it's their job to pass the ball to each other hunting the runner, trying to touch the runner with the ball. The other team of three is there to try and intercept the ball as it is passed between the hunters (they are interceptors). Ball carriers can run with the ball. The ball cannot be thrown at the runner. Passes can be in any direction. If the ball is intercepted by the other team, they now hunt the runner and the opposing team has to try and intercept the ball to get it back. Don't forget to change the runner by swapping them with a member of of the two teams in the grid. If a team has been good at keeping the ball, swap the ball over when you feel the time is right. If the ball is dropped or a pass goes outside the grid, it's turned over to the other team who then become the hunters. The team trying to intercept cannot push or have any contact with the hunters (ball carriers). <em>Law Change:</em> After a little time you can change the law to: the ball carrier cannot move with the ball or the ball carrier only take 2/3 steps upon catching the ball.

General

123 Play Divots Warm Up - Rugb...

 The Moles want to turn the cones onto their head, and the Green-keepers want the cones the right way up. Let the kids play, you can start the game by shouting '123 Play Divots!'. After playing for some time, lets find out who is winning - but don't take too long counting. Now tell the players that they must do one press-up before turning a cone - let the game start again. Play for another minute or two.

General

Drop Kick Kicking skills - Rug...

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.

General

Static Drop Kick Kicking - Rug...

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

General

Rugby: 2 Hand Passing Stomach ...

The aim of the drill is to develop players wrist strength.

General

3 v 2 into 2 v 1 Passing - Rug...

Drill to practice overlap situations.Set up a grid roughly 10m x 10m, with another grid roughly 5m x 5m adjacent to it (see diagram - red cones and green cones).In the bigger grid have two defenders (red) and in the smaller grid have one defender (red).Three attackers (blue) attack the 2 defenders in the first grid. Once they have completed the 3 v 2 situation the player with the ball and one other support player run around the cone and attack the one defender in the smaller grid.Swap the attack and defence after 3-5 repetitions. PROGRESSION:The ball starts on the opposite side to practice passing in both directions.A coach/other player feeds the ball to the three attackers so the drill can start in any position. The coach/other player can kick or roll the ball to the attack to start the drill.

General

Rugby: Passing Width and Pace ...

The aim of the drill is to develop wide passing.

General

Rugby: Switch Back Flick - Sev...

The ball carrier advances, running diagonally across the grid with the player on the other cone doing the same, but with a delay. The ball carrier can then switch or back flick the ball to the supporting runner. The supporting runner passes the ball back to the nearest player waiting from the next group, when they get the ball, they go. That's it, play.

General

Rugby: Tackle - Ball Presentat...

General

Rugby: SH Passing Skills - Sev...

The passer passes the first ball, from the ground, to the catcher, who sets the ball down. the passer then run around the first cone to the second set of balls, passing the next ball from the ground to the catcher. They then repeat this until all of the ball are passed. The catcher can time the exercise, and rate the accuracy and distance of each pass. The catcher and passer switch roles at the end of the exercise, and all balls are reset.

General

Rugby: Passing Under Pressure ...

Set out a square grid, at one end of the grid, separate four cones evenly - red, blue, blue, red.One defender stands on each of these cones.Three attackers stand at the other end of the grid.The coach initiates the game by passing to the end player in the grid, and shouting a colour (blue or red).The two defenders on those cones run out to defend, leaving the other colour on the line. A 3 v 2 situation plays out.The attackers must try to get past the defenders to reach the other side of the grid.

General

Rugby: Kick Off Targets - Spor...

The aim of the drill improve kick offs and accuracy.

General

Pull Back Passing Passing - Ru...

Passing in groups of 4.Have two lines set up parallel about 3-5m apart: in this case Yellow and Orange.Have players stand on yellow (back) lines in rows of 4.The first player in the row has a ball. They jog up the orange (front) line and pass back to the next player on yellow line, who then jogs forwards to the orange line and passes back etc. The passer re-organises back to the yellow line ready to receive a pass when the direction changes. When they reach the end of the row, do the same in the other direction.

General

Rugby: Fan Out and Pass - Spor...

Keep your player briefing, brief! You may decide to have a demonstration grid. On your call, all players fan out to receive a pass. Players initially attack half the space in the grid, that way the lines do not cross into each others space, as you can see in the animation. Players should then attack the full width of the grid, there will be intersection and some confusion. Players stay within the grid. When they finish an attack (the ball is moved down the line), the last player to recieve the ball should score a try just outside the grid - and the line should get set in their new location to go again. Player initially rotate in a clockwise direction. Change this after a period of time. Make sure that players change position in the attacking line.

General

Press Up Position Sevens - Rug...

Tell the players the following...... They should advance in 2's. Hit in on the bag with their shoulder, driving forward and placing their hands on the ground in a press-up position over the ball. They then clear the area, and the pads reset for the next hit.

General

3v2 School - Rugby Drills, Rug...

Set up two lines of 3 cones, about 10 meters apart, with players on each of the three cones. On the coach's whistle players play out a 3v2 (always 3 attackers and 2 defenders). Defenders should look initially to defend the first 2 attackers.

General

1v1 Tackle Grid Tackling - Rug...

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.

General

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rug DRILL CATEGORIES
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Backs Moves Drills
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Sevens Drills
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Tag Rugby Drills
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Backs Moves Drills
Contact Skills
Handling Drills
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Practices for Juniors
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rug 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!

Quick Ruck for Quick Ball

Quick rucking that produces quick ball is the first step towards a dangerous attacking side. Use this session to get your team rucking quickly, efficiently and effectively!

Developing Invasive Attacking Skills!

Improve your players decision making to help them recognise where the space will develop and how they can maximise their success when they create the space, either by going into contact and offloading, or passing before the tackle.

Using the Overlap

Make sure your players support their team-mates with this session, by using the overlap in attack

Confidence in Contact: part 2

Continue to improve your player's confidence when using contact, with the second of our Confidence in Contact sessions

Confidence in Contact: part 1

Help your players get over their fears and watch them gain confidence in contact!

Guard the Ruck - Organisation in Defence

High tempo defending and handling plan. Improve your rugby players' communication, organisation and line speed for a more solid backline

Forwards and Backs Skills

Make sure your forwards and backs have the skills needed in Rugby with this session, improving areas such as the punt kick and scrum!

Improving your Passing Skills

Get your players passing accurately and with variety in this session

Phase Play and Continuity

Continue to build the phases in your play and get your team working as an unit to offer support with this session!

Developing Handling Skills

Get your players handling skills super sharp so that no loose balls are given up. Gradually build up pressure to test their handling ability when confronted with defence.

Contact: Rucking technical session

Master the ?Smash? and the ?Roll? rucking technique so that when the pressure is on and a clear decision needs to be made, clearing the ruck becomes second nature to your players.

Developing reactions and decision making skills to dominate support play

A player needs to make hundreds of decisions on the pitch. Get them making the right ones when in attack to utilise the support to sustain attacking pressure on the opposition.

Attacking - Part 2

Work on your players composure when going into contact to be able to provide the offload to create scoring chances even when under pressure.

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.

Attacking part 1

It?s all about points scoring with this session. Encourage your players to continually offer support to develop fine techniques to attack with crisp plays.
rug ANSWERS
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when do i pick and go?

rugby forwards , pick and go from rug

Archived User Coach

when do i pick and go? - Sport...

rugby forwards , pick and go from rug

Archived User Coach

Top Tips for Girls U12 Tag Rug...

About to start a Girls U12 Tag Rugby team (hopefully) to run over the Summer months. Has anyone any particular top tips?

Gary D Coach, Northern Ireland

Swearing and Coaching Kids Rug...

Can anyone (because I am maxxed at work and am struggling to find time to verify myself) advise me where in the RFU rules and regs and especially Reg 15 it states anything about the use of swearing or abusive language whilst coaching youngsters please?

Ian G Coach, England

Scrum half kicking in U13s rug...

are scrum halves allowed to kick from the scrum in U13s rugby, or do they have to pass/run?

John Stackelberg Coach, England

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