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LOGINDon’t break the chain
Use this practice to improve your players’ awareness of how to move together as a defensive line, with good cover and communication.
WHY USE IT
A defensive line needs to know who is covering who and then double up if they can to make a tackle.
set up
A 15m by 10m box, with cones to mark a centre line, and one ball.
HOW TO PLAY
ACTIVITY: Put three defenders across the middle of the box. They can only move from side to side. Two attackers start at one end, with another at the other end. The first attacker comes forward and aims to get past the defending ‘chain’. If they do, they run to the other attacker, give them the ball and this attacker advances. If they are grabbed (held for at least a second by the shorts), they go back to their team-mate and give them the ball. Run through six times before swapping attack and defence.
DEVELOPMENT: Develop by running a group of three players at the chain. They are allowed to pass before being grabbed.
COACHING POINTS
- Keep your spacing no more than fingertips’ distance apart.
- Communicate and look to see where your team-mate is moving.
- A ball carrier aims to get across the middle line without being grabbed
- Three defenders stand on the middle line. They can only move to the side
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- If the ball carrier is grabbed, then they return to the start line to give the ball to the next player
- If the ball carrier is not grabbed, they carry on through and give the ball to this player to repeat
- The defenders look to shift to cover the ball carrier
- Three attackers aim to break the line (passing now allowed). A successful ball carrier swaps with the player on the far side; otherwise, with a support player
- The defenders can still only move side to side
Dan Cottrell
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