Get players making quick ruck scan
Rugby coaching tips to get players making better, quicker decisions at the ruck.
Ruck decisions are a balance of choosing the right option quickly and making the maximum impact over the ball.
As a coach you need to tell your players to:
- Look at the situation. Then decide whether you are going to drive through, protect or stay put.
- If you are going to enter the ruck, to make a real difference go through the "gate" not in at the side.
I coach my players to make better and quicker ruck decisions using this rugby drill from the Smart Sessions portfolio.
What you get your players to do
- In the middle of a seven metre square box, set out four cones in the shape of a rectangle – three strides wide, by two deep. The cones represent the tackle "gate" and players cannot enter from the sides of the box.
- Place a ball in the middle of the cones.
- Split the players into groups of four and two and put them outside the box. When you shout "GO", both groups try to win the ball.
- The group of four players has to work out how many players to commit to the ruck, to both win the ball quickly and have options afterwards.
Develop the rugby drill
Add players to both sides.
Only put two players from each side in the box and put equal numbers of attackers and defenders outside the box. Think about making the box bigger.
Develop attacks after the ball has been won.
Game situation
Here's how you can practise the rugby skills further under pressure and in a competitive game-like situation.
- Set up a 10 v 10 game (depending on the numbers at training) on half a pitch.
- Condition the game to allow for kicking, have passive five man scrums and, if the ball goes into touch, have contested two man lineouts. For penalty offences, restart using free kicks with the opposition standing only five metres back.
- You may want to adapt the game if the players aren't making a difference at the ruck. For instance, is the player arriving driving back another player?
- You could award points for "making a difference" and take off points for "making no difference" to add to the competitive element.
Smart Sessions Advance Skills are ready-made rugby coaching plans to take straight on to the training pitch. They are ideal for players looking to progress beyond the core rugby skills.
With a new plan sent out each week, Smart Sessions save you time and effort, while ensuring your coaching remains fresh and relevant.
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