Drills to improve vision coordination skills

Get your players to practise rugby drills focusing on “vision coordination” skills to help them make better decisions in attack and defence.

Players need to play what is in front of them as much as possible to make the best decisions. However too often they are looking at the ball or, worse still, are not looking carefully enough. Therefore better visual coordination means:

Looking up and ahead.
Recognising what is front of you quickly. Like everything, your player’s visual and scanning skills can be improved through rugby specific training drills.

Vision test drill

In this drill, three players set up in a defensive line between two cones marking out one half of a box. When set, they turn and run back round another cone, to then move forward towards you as a group.

As they move towards you, hold up some fingers in front of your chest. As the players get into another defensive line in front of you, they must shout out how many fingers you are holding up.

You can improve your players' scanning skills by changing your position in the channel. The players will then have to turn their heads to look at you.

As they improve, start to change the number of fingers you hold up as they move through the box. Each time they have to call out the number. If there are particular individuals who you think are not looking, nominate them to shout out the number.

You can also use this drill to develop visual skills in attacking play. The first player to reach the back cone must pick up a ball and run forward passing within the group. Again all the players have to shout out how many fingers you are holding up.

Add defenders as the players improve. They have to beat the defenders while still recognising how many fingers you are holding up.

vision drill