Whisky chasers

LOGIN

Subscribe today to access over 2000+ drills, 350+ ready made practice plans, and more.

Offer a measure of realism in kick chasing situations where defenders are often accused of taking a cheap shot when blocking. The kicker will be challenged to be accurate while chasers need to work on downing defenders as a unit to gather the ball or challenge opposition catchers. These should be your last orders as Teachers...

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

What to think about

What makes this slightly different from a normal kick chase exercise is the introduction of “nuisance” defenders in front of the chasers. You should brief them to nudge the players who go past them or run in front of them to make the chase that more difficult. Whether we like it or not, this is a very likely scenario in a match.

set-up

Chasers: Beat the defenders in front of you before concentrating on the kick.
Work together to win the ball, either by challenging in the air for it and then offloading OR by reducing the time and space for the opposition to run back.

What you get your players to do

Put a kicker and two chasers at one end of a 20m x 15m box. Put a defender in front of the two chasers (see picture 1, fig 1). Get the kicker to aim into the target area - preferably with a kick that can be caught – and it must travel at least 10m. The two chasers have to retrieve the ball cleanly, while the defender can disrupt the runs of the chasers before trying to chase down the ball carrier (see picture 1, fig 2).

Two chasers aim to retrieve the ball from a kick that has travelled at least 10m. The defender is a “nuisance” to the chasers before turning to defend.

Development

Put three chasers and one defender in front of them at one end of the box. Put three defenders at least 15m away. Get a kicker to punt the ball at least 15m for his chasing team to retrieve or challenge the catching team for (see picture 2). Finish if the chasing team wins the ball. However if the defence takes the ball, it runs it back to try and score at the kicker’s end. Use grab tackling.

Combining a chasing player with three defenders 15m away. The kicker now has to kick the ball at least 15m, with the chasers aiming to win the ball or prevent the defence running it back.

Game situation

Put four chasers with two defenders in front of them at one end of a 40m x 25m box. Put three defenders at least 25m away. The kicker punts the ball at least 25m (see picture 3). The chasing team has to prevent the opposition team running the ball back. Use grab or full tackling.

With two blocking defenders now in front of four chasers. Three other defenders wait for a kick which must travel at least 25m. The chasing team aims to prevent the defence running the ball back.

What to call out

“Defenders: Do your best to block the runners”
“Run hard to where the ball is going to land before looking for it”
“Get in the air to catch the ball”
“Put your hands high to catch so they have less chance of being impeded”

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.

Editor's Picks

Wicked warm-ups

Being authentic, player relationships and 'why?'

Challenging players of differing abilities

Behind the scenes with: England U18s

Saracens Academy: Behind the scenes with the Wolfpack

Practice Plans

Go forward from the lineout

The session looks at running and support lines from the back of the lineout. There is a run up of around 10-15m for the ball carrier before ...

Long pass plays

Develop long passing for specific plays. This session works on running lines and timing as well as improving accuracy of passing in match-...

Four-man contact pods

This session works on players taking the ball into contact in groups of four. This is most likely in a game when you know the opposition is ...

Increase your options for 10

The fly half (10) has a controlling position to launch his team away from the opposition and into open spaces. He needs to be comfortable ...

Newsletter Sign Up

Join over 75k coaches that are saving time searching for fresh coaching ideas with our free email newsletter: ✔ New drills ✔ New games ✔ New warm-ups. Delivered direct to your email inbox

Bounce out

The main focus is on the support players and the lines they run; but also look for the defenders and attackers to get their heads up.

Second touch support

The passer is often the closest support player and they can become an extra receiver by changing their running angle. This session helps ...

Fielding the high ball

The principles of ‘fielding’ include being aware of your support players and then deciding on what to do next. This session builds on those ...

Get your kicks

This small-sided game allows kicking, but, by using the rules below, it allows for better and more accurate outcomes that relate to ...

Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

Be a more effective, more successful rugby coach

In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Rugby Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.

SUBSCRIBE

Get Weekly Inspiration

All the latest techniques and approaches

Rugby Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use rugby drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.

We've been at the cutting edge of rugby coaching since we launched in 2005, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.