Pass quickly - not longer

Faster passing shifts the ball to where the defence is not whereas long passes are easier to defend because the ball is in the air. Defences find quick passing more challenging because their focus is constantly changing.

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

What to think about

My players are struggling to catch the ball away from the body. One excellent strategy is to use mini rugby balls (such as souvenir balls), tennis balls or golf balls to develop the ability to catch the ball cleanly. Smaller balls are harder to catch into the chest and easier to catch in the hands. Flat or deep starts? This exercise works really well if the players start in a flat line and time their runs onto the ball. The second player waits until the first player has moved forward a metre or so before starting. The third player waits for the second player and so on.

set-up

1. Focus on catching the ball cleanly and away from the body (see picture 1).
2. Keep the ball away from the body as you pass.
3. Use wrists to control the accuracy of the pass.

What you get your players to do

Groups of three run across the 5m square, passing the ball as fast as they can. The player in the middle should aim to take and give the pass in one movement. When they reach the other group they pop the ball and the exercise continues. Keep changing the player in the middle and make sure players practise passing in both directions.