Support the ball carrier in contact

U13–U16 | CONTACT 8

Have the supporting player communicate the best options in contact for the ball carrier

1. Mark out three 5m x 2m boxes each 1m from the next and staggered by 3m. Put a ruck pad holder in each box and a pair of players with a ball about 2m in front of the ruck pad holders.
2. Starting with “Pick”, the ball carrier goes into the ruck pad, goes to ground, the supporting player shouts “My pick” and swoops down to pick up the ball (see below). The players recover and move to the next ruck pad.
3. At the next ruck pad, the ball carrier steps into the ruck pad and pops the ball to his team mate as he bounces off. The support player shouts “My pop”.

4. At the last pad, the ball carrier steps into the ruck pad, turns and the support player shouts “My rip” and drives himself into the ball carrier and rips down and away with the ball.
5. The players cycle through each one. You can have the players working on the same skill at all three, or mix up the skills.
6. Develop by taking away the ruck pads, and also by working in threes. The players cycle through each one. You can have the players working on the same skill at all three, or mix up the skills.

You will need

• Three 5m x 2m boxes
• 1 ball per pair
• Cones
• 3 ruck pads

Got more players?

Line up lots of pairs to run through the boxes, or set up more boxes alongside.

What to tell your players

“Swoop early to pick up the ball”
“Hands up to receive pop pass”
“Get the shoulder into the ball to rip and drive”