Timing at the lineout

WHY USE IT

Concentrate on the jump only, with no lifting, ensuring the ball reaches the hands of the receiver at the top of the jump.

set up

Cones, balls and a 20m box with a 10m box inside.

HOW TO PLAY

ACTIVITY: Place a thrower on their knees on the touchline. Line up your jumpers at the side of the normal lineout jumping area, opposite the 5m line. The first player enters the lineout area and jumps to meet a throw.

DEVELOPMENT: Set up a number of receivers out of the line. Place one defender on the 5m line, another 3m behind and a third 3m behind them. One receiver runs into a gap between the defenders to take the throw. At first, defenders can only put their hands up to block; after a period, allow them to jump as well.

GAME: Put two pairs of jumpers in the middle of the box. Each pair has its own thrower and is marked by one defender. Two defenders run around the outside of the 10m box. When you shout “Go!”, each thrower has five seconds to find their jumper. The perimeter defender runs in front of their hooker but can’t jump to defend. The ball must be caught in the air to count.

COACHING POINTS

• Extend the body when jumping, to maintain height.
• Bend the knees to prepare to jump, and then straighten the legs in the air.

ACTIVITY

• Put a thrower on their knees
• Close throws will have a jump-throw at the same time; whereas further back, the jumper will wait for the throw
• Players walk into the lineout at different distances

DEVELOPMENT

• The thrower aims for the gap between the jumpers
• The jumper indicates which gap they are going to

GAME

• The thrower has five seconds to throw when you say “Go!”
• Hooker aims for one of the two jumpers in their group, while a defender jumps to win the ball
• The front defender cannot jump