Defending in 3s

Set-up

Working within the 22m area, place two cones five metres out from the posts. Place another cone on the intersection between the 22m and the 15m line – doing the same on the other side of the field.

What you get your players to do

Place three players between the posts facing towards the 22m line. Place a ball carrier directly opposite them on the 22m line (see picture 1). When you shout “GO”, the player runs left or right along the 22m until here aches the cone. He then straightens up and tries to score (see picture 2). While the ball carrier is doing this, the three defenders must run out to the cones in front of them and slide across the field ensuring that the three players stay as a unit allowing one of them a good position to tackle the ball carrier. Once a tackle is made, one of the defenders stays to become the ball carrier and another three players line up ready for you to start the activity again.

Look for

Good communication between the three defenders. Good tackle technique.

Development

You can place the cones along the 22m line closer or further out to allow defenders to set up earlier, to allow the ball carrier more field to run in or to make the defending line “chase” the ball carrier across the field as in a scramble defence. You can increase the numbers on the 22m line to ensure the defence has to cover two or more attackers as they run (see picture 3).

Notes

Send half of the team to the other end of the field and set up there.