Dummy or pass

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This session encourages the ball carrier to test a defender’s decision making. Should the defender commit to tackle the ball carrier or move on to the potential receiver? The skills are relatively basic, the decision is tough.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

Making a dummy pass is an individual decision that requires some common skills. Forwards and backs must draw a defender to them by making them think they might pass the ball or carry it forward. Therefore, the ball carrier should take the ball forward in two hands at pace, with his hips facing up the pitch. Since the defender is approaching from the side, the ball carrier should step towards the defender to engage him before passing the ball. He can delay this move by running away from the defender, who may slightly over run. This will unbalance the defencer when the ball carrier goes to dummy or cuts back before passing.

set-up

Attack the defender to make him commit.
Pass hard or dummy and accelerate away.
Take the pass at pace.

What you get your players to do

Set up a feeder and two attackers as in the top picture. Place a defender opposite the feeder. Have the feeder pass the ball to the first attacker and the defender run out towards that attacker. The ball carrier now has to decide whether to dummy or pass to a support runner. Start with a grab tackle only, where the attempt fails if the ball carrier or support runner is grabbed in possession of the ball. Move to full contact if your players are confident enough. Rotate players.

The feeder passes the ball to the first attacker, which is a signal for the defender to move forward.

Development

Add an extra defender as in the bottom picture. Have the feeder run forward and pass the ball. As soon as he passes, the defenders move forward. The feeder and another runner support the ball carrier. This player has to decide whether to dummy the first defender or pass. The attack then has the same decision to make on how to deal with the second defender.

Related Files

Core-177-dummy-or-pass.pdfPDF, 204 KB

The ball carrier has to decide whether to dummy pass. The defender must try to grab the player in possession of the ball.

Game situation

Split your players into six attackers and four defenders. Put two defenders centrally to one side of the box and two at the nearest corner to them. A scrum half with the ball stands outside the box near the central defenders. The other attackers are spread out. When the scrum half passes, the defenders move. Play full contact rugby. The attack has five attempts to score, with an attempt finishing on an infringement, or ruck or maul. Look for attackers running sideways or not engaging defenders. Encourage support players to attack the pass at pace.

The defence moves forward when the first ball carrier passes as he runs over the passing cone.

What to call out

“Carry the ball in two hands”
“Run and pass at pace”
“Eyeball the defender to engage him”

Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

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