Coaching throning the ball

This rugby coaching drill session is about creating safe ball in the contact collision. Coach your players to do this well and your scrum half will have good ball from which to clear.

What you tell your players to do in this rugby drill

The ball carrier should attack the defender in the contact. Once tackled, he should present the ball as far back as possible.
If there is no immediate danger, the support player should present a strong position over the ball. The ball should be presented on the back heel – “throning” the ball.
Any subsequent support player should ensure the ball works its way to his back heel.

What to shout in the drill

“Crunch the neck into the shoulders before contact.”
“Tackled players - push the ball back as far as possible but don’t let go."
“Throning player - keep the knees below your hips."
“Attacking team - keep the ball as far away as possible from any mess.”

What skills to look for in the drill

Players going off their feet at the contact collision. It is essential they stay controlled and strong to ensure the ball is presented effectively.

The throning player being driven off too easily. This player must not only brace himself for contact, but maintain good flex in his knees to cushion the impact before bouncing back.

What to think about

The pace of arrival. If players are too slow, they might not be able to clear anyone or beat an opposition player to the ball.

If they are too fast, the body angles will be compromised and it is less likely that the presentation at the back heel will work. Are your players in a strong enough position to prevent the counter ruck?

What you get your players to do in the drill

In a 5m square, mark a line down the middle to indicate the gain line. Place three attackers with a ball on one side and two defenders in a column on the other.

The ball carrier drives into the front defender, goes to ground and presents the ball. The second attacker then “thrones” the ball. A third attacker passes the ball to another player who is waiting at the side.

You can use the second defender to add pressure at any stage.

Coaching players to throne the ball

Develop the drill skills

After increasing the activity of the defenders from passive to aggressive, add a third defender who arrives after a couple of seconds.
Increase the length of the box, but not the width, with supporting players sometimes starting on the wrong side of the gain line.

How would I put this into a game situation?

Touch/ruck rugby throning - Play a normal game of two-hand touch rugby. After being tackled, the ball carrier has three seconds to pass or go to ground. If not, the ball is turned over to the other side.

If the player goes to ground, the ball can be contested. The objective is to encourage the attacking side to protect the ball in a good position, so as to present it better.

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