Scrum time

This session helps your players build a “good binding relationship” for the scrum. It can work with all the players. The principles increase the understanding of the types of binding used. The game situation will challenge all the players because it makes them all have a go in the scrum, though in a safe, non-contested environment.

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

What to think about

Players should never be pigeonholed into specific positions. Who knows what shape they will be in 15 years time? The game is full of props that were backs or back row players at school and vice versa. If you are introducing scrummaging, you need to bear this in mind and ensure all your players experience the different front row positions. Even if they will never play there, the binding and team work skills they will develop through are transferable to other areas of the game. Safety is a big issue with front row play and you need to ensure you control the engage procedure of the scrum carefully. Once players have experienced it a few times they tend to have a certain amount of respect for it. However never force a player into doing anything they are not comfortable with.

set-up

1.  Bind correctly to each other to form a front row.
2.  Bind tightly but not so tightly that movement is restricted.
3.  Work together as a team.

What you get your players to do

Start in groups of three binding up as a front row. Let each player experience each of the three positions. Get the bound front rows to practise jumping and running around to test their binding. Then two front rows practise engaging following the correct sequence “Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage”. Once engaged you can correct body and feet positions of the individual players and the props’ binding onto their opposite man. After the players are safely engaged get them to walk sideways slowly, keeping their formation and binding.