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LOGINRugby coaching drill to get players side stepping at close quarters
Footwork & Evasionby Dan Cottrell
What you tell your players the session is about
Develop the drill
Click here for a rugby drill to get attackers side-stepping.
- Simple side steps and swerves.
- Keeping balanced during a change in direction, and accelerating away.
- Attack one side of the cone or player and drive off hard in the next direction.
- Four columns of players stand opposite each other about 10m apart, with a ball carrier at the front.
- Place a diamond shape of cones in the middle (about 1m apart).
- The player at the front of the queue runs to the right of the cone in front of them. They then step or swerve left and accelerate through to the other side.
- After four attempts by each player, change the direction of the step or swerve.
- Start very slowly and build up the pace.
Develop the drill
- Swap the cones for static players.
- Have a feeder at the start so the players receive a pass as in a game.
- Have two players run out together, one with a ball. After they step and accelerate, the ball carrier pops the ball to the other player.
- "Hold the ball in two hands."
- "Accelerate away."
- "Drive off from one foot to change direction."
- "Dip your shoulder one way and move in the opposite direction."
- Players who have difficulty changing direction. They can use smaller steps before changing direction.
- Players who stop or slow down. They can try a smooth change of direction rather than a sharp change.
- How the players can keep their balance while changing direction.
- Using "chin-knee-toe" for side steps. When making the step, the chin, knee and toe of the driving side should all be in line.
- For the swerve move, try getting players to lean over so far one way, they "fall" onto the foot they need to drive off from to move in the new direction.
Click here for a rugby drill to get attackers side-stepping.
Dan Cottrell
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