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Contact

It’s not always easy to get young players to embrace contact which is why we’ve spent so much time devising and testing contact drills that will help your players grow in confidence. Use them alongside our tackling drills to develop a team of players that are comfortable making and taking contact.

Age Groups
U5
U6
U7
U8
U9
U10
U11
U12
U13
U14
U15
U16
U17+
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Ball control out of contact

Ball control out of contact

This practice develops players’ handling skills by forcing them to manipulate the ball with one hand in and around the contact area.
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Winning the support race

Winning the support race

Get over the ball first and there is a chance to prevent turnover of the ball, or win it. This looks at attack and defence support options.
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Flat speed

Flat speed

A player sometimes has to come forward from a standing start and must make best use of the space in front of them to beat defenders and c...
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3v3 chop and turnover

3v3 chop and turnover

Use this game to develop good defensive line speed, with the aim of getting the ball carrier to ground quickly and regaining the ball.
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Risk and reward for jackling

Risk and reward for jackling

Attempting to steal tackle ball can lead to turnovers, but also has a nasty habit of leading to penalties. Balance the pros and the cons.
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Defensive curves

Defensive curves

When a defence is outnumbered, it has to drift with the pass. It still has to go forward, but has to curve out at the same time. This ses...
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Close support, attack and defence

Close support, attack and defence

Develop the roles and skills of the attackers and defenders closest to the tackle area in a tight space. Put players in game-like situati...
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Turn tackling into defence

Turn tackling into defence

Players must work on their individual technique whilst cooperating with their team mates to reduce the options for the attack. This sessi...
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Discover the simple way to become a more effective, more successful rugby coach
Rugby Coach Weekly Issue 187

Latest Issue

Rugby Coach Weekly Issue 187
Issue 187 out now
  • Winning wet lineouts
  • Exploiting space
  • Scanning and attacking
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    Driving to the edges

    Driving to the edges

    Work on attacking the edges of the ruck defence. That means not attacking next to the ruck, but the area often less well defended, two ...
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    Skill zone and game zone core-skill blast

    Skill zone and game zone core-skill blast

    This one-hour session works on skills, using a blend of practice and scaffolding, and guided discovery, and can be part of a longer session.
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    Hack and plunder

    Hack and plunder

    This session thrives on the unusual directions a rugby ball takes when it rolls along the ground and how the players react to it.
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    Pass, run or ruck

    Pass, run or ruck

    Help players make good decisions at the breakdown over whether to pass, run or ruck, depending on how many defenders are threatening the ...
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    Busy bees

    Busy bees

    Avoiding contact isn’t always possible. Retain possession at the ruck, and after it, by keeping the ball carrier active in the tackle.
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    Goal-line D twos

    Goal-line D twos

    With strong goal-line defence comes the need for absolute clarity in the system, particularly the role of the tackler and tackle assist.
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    Skill MOTs: enhancing attacks via 'ABC' skills

    Skill MOTs: enhancing attacks via 'ABC' skills

    Create good habits with a focused programme which reinforces the core skills. By KRIS STAFFORD, rugby development officer at Leeds Beckett U...
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    Thunder rucking

    Thunder rucking

    Once they identify that it is their role, players need to ‘thunder’ into the ruck, powerfully and quickly – any delays in that can mean ...
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    Counter rucking

    Counter rucking

    This fairly simple, but highly effective, activity will make your players much more aware of how and when to counter-ruck.
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    Exit 22

    Exit 22

    Practise exit strategies from your 22m area. You may need to form a couple of rucks to ‘flatten’ the defence before your kickers are in ...
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    Magic threes!

    Magic threes!

    Defence is about teamwork and trust. An effective defence is a simple defence – and nothing could be simpler and more effective than ‘magic ...
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    Be strong in the tackle

    Be strong in the tackle

    Use this session to build players’ understanding of how to keep going forward in the tackle and make life much harder for the defence.
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    Pressure contact

    Pressure contact

    A simple session to begin with, but becomes very intense. This works on reacting quickly to different contact situations and making good ...
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    Mauling corners

    Mauling corners

    This drill will improve the players’ mauling skills so that they can keep going forward in contact and still retain the ball if they are ...
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    Break down the door

    Break down the door

    Attacking the space between two defenders in close proximity means a good chance of a double tackle. Instead, attack one defender and beat ...
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    Dominant ball carry

    Dominant ball carry

    Ensure players use correct footwork to power through the contact area and then manipulate the ball so they can offload or present it ...

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    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.

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