Footwork bumps

Encourage your players to use good footwork in small spaces by avoiding contact. These two fun activities are excellent for warming up body and mind.

Though rugby is a contact game, avoiding it is a core skill. There are no set techniques because each player will have their own style. Let them develop it in these two activities.

1. Put up to six players in a box, with a ball between two and a defender.
2. When you shout go, the defender tries to touch the ball carriers.

1. If a ball carrier is touched, he has to pass.
2. If he bumps into another player, he has to put the ball down on the ground.
3. If the ball is on the ground, another player picks it up. Run for 30 seconds and then swap the defender. You can make it a competition to see how many bumps there are.
4. The bottom picture shows that in the second exercise below, the player has to put his foot inside the box.

1. Put two or more players on each corner, with the front player holding a ball.
2. When you shout “go” the ball carrier in each corner runs forward, putting at least one foot inside the box before continuing to the opposite corner and giving the ball to the next player.
3. Count how many “bumps” there are in 30 seconds.
4. Make it harder by adding in more players and balls.

TECHNIQUE

• Carry the ball in two hands.
• Feel light on the feet, so the head is up.