Develop higher rugby standards in handling

I originally come from a rugby league background. Rugby league and rugby union are very different games. It would be wrong to say that rugby league players are more skilful than rugby union players.

However, there are lessons that can be brought over from league that can enhance your players’ skills.

All rugby teams need to set high standards for handling. A passer should be passing, with full control, to where the receiver wants it, not just in his general direction. This is the emphasis in rugby league training.

The ultimate ball security

We took the security of the ball to another stage when I was at the RFU Academy.

Each player was given a ball which they needed to carry around at all times.

If it was dislodged by a coach, then the players were penalised. Penalties ranged from physical exercises to equipment carrying!

The detail of the grip

A player needs to hold the ball properly. It allows him to manipulate the ball in the collision and pass more accurately.

The best players in league can go into a tackle and be secure enough to attempt to pass, and yet still hold onto the ball at the last moment, if the pass is not on. This sucks in the defence and creates the chance for the offload.

To grip the ball properly, the player has to be able to move it around his body effectively without it being disrupted by the opposition.

Young players will tend to tuck the ball under their arm, with the elbow holding the ball in place. From this position, not only is the ball very insecure, it is more difficult and slower to get into the hand.

All players should be secure holding the ball in their hands, in other words, comfortable and confident with their grip.

Grip exercises

• Many of the exercises to enhance grip are simple and transferable from other sports like handball and basketball. These sports concentrate on the way the fingers and palms are used in contact with the ball. Here are some exercises:
• One-handed manipulation exercises: The ball is moved around the body from hand to hand. These can be done standing still or on the move.
• "Drop and carry": The ball is held in one hand at waist height, with the hand over the top of the ball. It is dropped and caught before it reaches the ground. This works on the fingertip control in particular (see picture below).
• Two balls, two hands: The player holds a ball in each hand and runs through areas, perhaps with ladders. Other players try to knock the balls out of their grasp.
• Showing the ball: A player runs through a ladder and you shout which side they must carry the ball. Players on the sides of the ladder try to dislodge the ball.
• These types of exercises are a must as part of the warm-up routine, because they focus on a core skill. They can be developed into training games, where the security of the ball around contact is key.

Spending time with the catcher

The most basic skill for the catcher must be putting his hands up with the fingers pointing towards the ball.

We work with soccer balls to improve catching. They are about the right shape to replicate the shapes for the fingers. Soccer balls can rebound off walls, so the players can work on their own.

When the ball is caught, players should concentrate on spreading their fingers around it. Again we can learn from netball, handball and basketball.

I wouldn't use smaller balls for catching practice. I do use tennis balls for agility work, but their shape is not realistic enough to have a major effect on the players' catching ability.

This article is from International Rugby Coaching.