Rugby coaching tips to develop young players fitness skills
All rugby players need to develop an aerobic fitness level before they can train and play effectively. That is, they need to be able to sustain long periods of physical activity. Help your young rugby players improve their fitness levels with these rugby drills, tips and games.
Players, particularly younger players, can develop aerobic fitness levels by playing games and doing rugby related circuits rather than through constant running activities.
Games for warm ups
- Use chasing and evasion games in your rugby warm-up drills. Players will enjoy the competitive nature and won't realize how far they are running.
- Games such as "piggy in the middle" concentrate on one player working intensively for a short period of time.
Big pitch games - Play small-sided rugby games in a relatively large pitch so that everyone gets involved.
- Have rules such as "all the attacking team must touch the ball in every play" and "all the attacking team must be within five metres of the try line to score". Make sure the defending team retires three metres at every breakdown.
- Aerobic touch is an excellent game for developing skills and fitness at the same time. This is where defenders have to return to a cone once they have made a touch tackle and all attackers have to be within five metres of the try line for a try to be awarded.
Rugby skills circuits Use rugby skills circuits where running (short sprints) is mixed with wrestling, press ups, crunches, jumping and other rugby related activities. Work in small groups so players can encourage each other.
Relay races- Relay races are a great way to practise a variety of running and ball skills with a competitive edge.
- As with the circuits, keep the groups small so the players are working hard, and use exercises for the losing team to keep the competitiveness up.
- Make sure you choose the groups so you can match the players by skill and speed to keep the teams even.
Click here to order a copy of the
Rocket Rugby fitness manual which has training programmes to take you through the whole season.
Click here for a rugby warm-up drill to get your players sprinting faster.
Rugby coaching tips
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