Fixing and passing

Set up

A 10m box and two “gates” of cones.

What you get your players to do

Put a ball carrier and supporting player on one corner of the box and a defender on the opposite corner at the other end. Have the ball carrier run out and through the first gate of cones and the support player through the second gate. In the meantime, have the defender run forward to pressurise the ball carrier. The ball carrier needs to get through the gate and pass the ball. The defender aims to touch tackle the ball carrier with two hands. The ball carrier can choose to dummy pass if he wants.

Look for

How does the ball carrier step through the gate – make sure he straightens as he does so he can engage the defender and see where the defender is going. The support player needs to cut back towards the pass to make it easier.

Development

Change the starting points and gates to offer different challenges. Give the defender a ruck pad that he has to “drive” into the ball carrier to put pressure on the ball carrier to make a pass. Try without the gates.

Notes

The set-up of the gates will need to be adjusted to suit the skills of the players. Add another gate just in front of the first gate if the ball carrier is not straightening up. You can condition the defender to target the ball carrier, the interception or just to hold back and force the ball carrier to engage him.