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LOGINSpot the space
Exploiting gaps in the defence is a major part of rugby. However, players can find it difficult to spot the opportunities and then communicate this information to the rest of the team. This session will help your players develop their ability to spot the space.
Warm up time: 7-10
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7-10
What to think about
In this session, with the defender or defenders running away from the attackers to begin with, spotting the space and deciding where to attack will quickly become obvious to them. However, you must reinforce the points that the defender still has to be beaten by using running and passing skills. To do this effectively the attacking players must communicate. If for some reason there is little or no space, the attack must decide that the best option is to flood an area with attackers to create a mismatch.set-up
- Look where the defender is running to and attack the space he has left.
- Communicate the point of attack both verbally and with signals.
What you get your players to do
Organise the players into groups of two attackers and one defender. Start all three in the same place. Have the defender run to any point at the far side of the box (put cones out for him to run to if necessary). Once he has run about 10 metres, have the two attackers begin, aiming at a space away from where the defender is running. Once the defender has touched the far side, he turns to defend. Use touch tackling to start with.Development
- Add three more defenders and two more attackers making the exercise four versus four.
- Increase or decrease the size of the practice area to suit the age or ability of your players.
- Vary the starting points for the attackers, so they have to adapt, change and communicate the point of attack.
- Stand inside the box and pass the ball to an attacker, so it is not always the same player starting with the ball and dictating the attack.
Related Files
Game situation
Split into teams of eight players. Play touch rugby with the following rules. Every time a player is touch tackled they must place the ball on the ground for the other team. His entire team must run back to their own try line, touch it and only then defend. Meanwhile the other team starts their attack with a pass, spotting the space to attack through running, passing and communicating. Once players get to know the game, add the rule that the team must retreat to their own line if they drop the ball.
What to call out
- “Don’t plan – react to the defenders”
- “Run with the ball into space”
- “Pass to a player who can run into space”
- “Call out or signal for the ball”
- “Organise on the run”
Dan Cottrell
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