Hammer time for continuity

I am keen to have more game sense sessions. Therefore I use the “Hammer” game for pick-and-go continuity.

I find that this approach quite often covers more than one priority skill in the same game drill. Players with obvious difficulty in not knowing what they should be doing are taken to one side by another coach, but the leading group is encouraged to find their own solutions. I will assist with this by questioning or probing.

Indeed, we may adopt a solution that none of us had even thought of in the first instance.

HAMMER RULES

• Set up the players as in the picture.
• Start with a pass to the front attacker (A1). They deliberately attack the first defender (D1).
• Once contact is made, defenders D2 and D3, plus the defending scrum half (D9) start to defend. The attacking 9 (A9) and the other attackers also join in.
• If the attack gets past this set of defenders, the next set (D4 and D5) join in. The defenders D2 and D3 remain part of the game.
• The last defender (D6) waits until the attack has beaten D4 and D5 before joining in. 

The attackers are given an allotted time, say two minutes, to play the game. If the ball is lost or dropped, the attackers have to start again from the beginning.  After the game, feedback before swapping the players’ roles.

DEVELOPMENTS

• Vary the level of defence. For instance, whether they can or cannot compete for the ball on the ground. 
• Adjust the number of defenders and the distance between the defending lines.
• Vary the width and depth of the area, though keep it narrow to encourage close pick and goes from the back of rucks.

KEY POINTS TO PROBE

1. Look for good contact by ball carriers and then good ball presentation. The ball carrier should either place the ball away from the tackler or use “squeeze ball” (age specific).
2. The first and second attackers should look to clear out. Then possibly the second, but certainly the third and fourth attackers must protect the ball.
3. The attacking set-up for the pick-and-go or the “hammer ball”. That is, the attacker first gets support to their side and immediately behind them before picking the ball up. They are then “hammered” home by their supporters as they pick and drive.
4. The ball carrier should stay on their feet whilst driving, with the support players there to clear and protect.
5. The first defender in the contact area should get to their feet and compete for the ball.
6. The defending 9 should cover attacks through the middle of the ruck, whilst defenders not in the ruck should cover the edges. 
7. All defenders should cut down the space by first moving forward.