Rugby coaching tips to develop the five core skills
There are five core skills that all rugby players need to practise regularly.
1. Passing
- Whatever position a player ends up playing, passing will be a core part of their role. There is no excuse for any player not being able to deliver a variety of passes effectively or selecting the best pass to use in different situations.
- All players should be competent at delivering clearing passes, spin passes, orthodox passes and pop passes, and in both directions.
- In training, you must put players under pressure to deliver passes and condition games so players have to select different passes to suit different situations.
2. Running
Focus on the key running skills common to all players – acceleration, changing pace, changing direction and running efficiently sideways and backwards. Impress on the players the need to be balanced when they are running, especially just before contact situations.
Incorporate multi-directional running into all your warm-ups and work on all the running skills every week.
3. Support play
All your players need to understand their supporting roles in the game. Insist that they come from a deep position behind the ball carrier and accelerate onto the pass. They must communicate accurately with the ball carrier to tell him exactly where they are and when they want the pass.
4. Tackling
Players need to be able to execute a variety of tackles in different situations, and to make these tackles efficiently. Your team's target should be that all players are competent tackling in one-on-one situations.
Work on individual technique and include tackling drills and games in every training session. Expose your players to different situations where they have to make different tackles.
5. Decision making
Some players are natural decision-makers, but it's important that all your players learn how to make good decisions under pressure the majority of the time.
As with most complex skills, decision making can only be developed by making real time decisions repeatedly.
Click here to subscribe to Rugby Coach Weekly.
Click here for a multi-skills training game to develop your rugby players' core skills.
Rugby coaching tips
Improve your rugby training skills. Sign up for a FREE weekly email, full of simple proven tips, advice and drills.
"Just wanted to let you know that I find your emails interesting and very helpful! Thanks very much!"
Jules Hydleman, Coach, England
|