Smash, run, pass

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The kick and chase challenges both attack and defence. This is mainly because, whilst the ball is in the air, either team could end up as the attack or the defence. Though we need to work on what happens as the ball is caught, we also should consider the roles of the players straight afterwards.

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

What to think about

The chasing player has to decide whether:

He challenges for the ball in the air.
He waits for the catcher to take the ball and then tackles him.
He slows down, so that if the catcher has time to take the ball and look up, the chaser does not get side stepped.

The catcher’s closest support player should also judge whether he needs to get close to the catcher if the chaser is going to tackle him. If not, then he should get into a position to take a pass away from the danger area. The other chasers should aim to anticipate the supporter’s move.

set-up

Catcher: Make sure you catch the ball first and then consider what to do.
Closest support player: Consider the threats and get in position to best support the catcher.
Chaser: Pressurise the catcher.
Other chasers: Look at the catcher’s options and close down the threats.

What you get your players to do

Put a chaser at one end of the channel and a catcher and supporter at the other. Stand near the chaser’s end and throw the ball up and towards the catcher. Once in the air, have the players move forward and play until the ball goes dead, either from an infringement or because the ball is run to the end of the channel. Throw the ball up at different heights and angles to challenge the catcher.

The chaser aims to disrupt the catcher and win the ball. The catcher and supporter aim to score at the other end.

Development

Stand three chasers by three cones spread up the middle of the channel. Put a catcher and supporter at one end of the channel. Tell one of the chasers to target the catcher and another to cover the support player. At the same time throw the ball up to the catcher. The other defender remains on his cone. Once the ball is in the air, have the players move forward. Play until the ball goes dead, either from an infringement or because the ball is run to the end of the channel.

Related Files

Advanced-207-smash-run-pass.pdfPDF, 145 KB

You say which chaser does what and then throw the ball to the catcher.

Game situation

Set up a 6 v 4 (overloading the kicking team). The kicking team put 2 players in a press up position opposite 2 from the other side. Put the other players from each team behind their own try lines. Get the kicking team to kick down the 10m channel and the game commences with normal rugby laws. The receiving team scores 1 point for running with the ball over the side line nearest the kick, 2 points over the other side line and 4 points for a try. The kicking team scores 4 points for a try.

4 points for a try for either team. 1 point to the receiving team for running the ball into the closest side line and 2 points for the other side line.

What to call out

“Turn your body when catching the ball”
“Tell your team mates where you are and where the threats are”

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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