Recyle your players not just the ball
Use these rugby coaching tips to get your players to recognise that they don't stop contributing until the ball goes dead.
Last season I made a note of the amazing work rate undertaken by 30-year-old Brian O'Driscoll, when he was playing for Leinster in a Heineken Cup match I was watching.
In one passage of play he carried the ball three times and hit a further two rucks.
On top of that in the final phase of play he got deep enough in support to make the break and give the scoring pass.
Get up, get back into the game
The key factors in this performance were the speed at which he got himself up off the ground, and then in to position to make a difference.
All players should recognise that they don't stop contributing until the ball goes dead. They must learn to "recycle" themselves to be ready to make the next tackle or pass.
Mental recycling
- Condition your players to think like O'Driscoll. If they are on the ground they are out of the game and useless to the team.
- It is your players' responsibility to make sure that every time they are on the ground they get up, and return to the game as quickly as possible.
- The players then need to find themselves in position for the next phase of play.
Physical recycling
There are two key skills which can be improved to speed up your players' performance in this area of the game.
Getting up
- Use rugby drills involving getting up quickly from different starting positions.
- Make these competitive so players have to race to get up and claim a ball on the ground.
- Make sure players get up in a strong position and facing the right way.
Running backwards
- In your rugby warm-up drills practise running backwards while looking forward.
- Add in rugby drills where players have to run backwards, then change direction quickly on your signal.
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