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LOGINCounter with purpose
Make more of poor opposition kicks with this activity. Also, work on what your defence might do when you make a poor kicking decision.
WHY USE IT
Most matches feature poor kicks. Use these training scenarios to practise your team’s reactions and decision making to them.
set up
Two 10m boxes, about 10m apart. See middle illustration for the game set-up.
HOW TO PLAY
ACTIVITY: Two players start inside one of the squares. Throw the ball into the square. One player calls and catches it. They then pass to the other player who has to kick so that the ball lands in the other box.
DEVELOPMENT: Add an attacker and defender. The defender starts in the other box. They chase and pressure the catch. The in-possession team either kicks to the box or runs the ball back to it.
GAME: Start five defenders in the scoring zone and five attackers in each box (see middle illustration). Throw the ball high into one of the boxes – this group score by either running or kicking the ball into the scoring zone. The defence moves forward as soon as you throw the ball up. Use full or touch tackling. Finish if a ruck or maul forms. Swap defenders and attackers and repeat.
COACHING POINTS
- In attack, when you receive the kick, pass to a player on the move and then support.
- Get onside to make a difference to the ball carrier and communicate.
- In defence, come up as a line. Make sure you have coverage behind this line, too.
- Throw the ball to the first player – add height for a more realistic outcome
- Set up a target area – this might represent a space on the pitch or a touchline
- The catcher takes the ball and passes it for a team-mate to clear
- Development: add defenders and attackers
Related Files
- Put five defenders in the scoring zone
- Two groups of attackers are ready to go – throw the ball to one group
- The defenders chase the kick or cover a kick into the scoring zone
- The attackers aim to score with a kick into the scoring zone or running and passing into the scoring zone
Dan Cottrell
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