Footwork and Evasion

In rugby, footwork and evasion skills are the "fine arts" - ways to run with the ball and beat players with skill, pace and panache. These articles include ways to coach players to have "rugby speed" not just "pace", and evade contact with nifty footwork.

Rugby drills to maximise player pace - It is said that a good "big un" will always beat a good "small un". The same is true of a good fast "un," so it's worth spending time on rugby drills and games that will boost players' speed and acceleration skills.

Rugby drills using tyres - Using tyres can offer a fun alternative to the usual training props, to boost core skills and fitness.

Rugby coaching tips to make footwork drills fun - The following rugby coaching tips and tactics will help if your players are tired of working on the usual core skills footwork drills.

Coaching the side step - Picture this - the truth and the "lie." The following rugby coaching tips focus on training players to use the side step and lying to fool their opponent.

Rugby warm-up drill to teach spatial awareness - I used to teach netball! I reckon it's better than basketball as a means of teaching spatial awareness, footwork and go forward. So you might like to try this fun warm-up drill which uses netball principles.

Rugby footwork drills to boost passing on the run - This set of seven rugby drills will help your players practise passing on the run by encouraging them to use fast feet with some off-balance challenges.

Try Savers, Try Scorers - Preventing and scoring tries close to the try line.

Seven Uses of Funny Feet to Improve Your Team's Passing - Games to develop passing skills, particularly when unbalanced.

Prepare for Speed - Two warm up sessions to help your players cover the ground faster during the match.

Rugby Quidditch - Teaching younger players about space and evasion skills.

Stop Slow Ball Killing Your Game - Four key ways to speed up your game.

The Honey Trap - Five games to improve your players evasion and footwork skills.

Christmas Cheer - A calorie busting skills session I particularly like to use to refocus my players after the Christmas break.

No Mistake Touch Rugby - A no tackle game requiring constant movement.

Attack Doors Not Walls - Avoiding contact can be the key to rugby success.

Scrum Half Foot Positions - A great technique to increase the speed of the scrum half's pass.

1v1 Tracking Square - A great Ford Academy training tip. Please search the site for more clips of coaching drills in action.

4 v 3 Moving Defenders - A great Ford Academy training tip. Please search the site for more clips of coaching drills in action.

One Session Wonder - Building a session from one element - footwork before contact.

ABC - Agility Before Contact - This session is on players avoiding or engaging a defender on their own terms.

Offload Touch - "Offload touch" develops footwork, handling and offloading skills, as well as support play, while boosting your players' fitness levels.

Rugby drills putting the focus on feet - Balance is a key component in all sports and it is especially important in rugby – whether for passing, tackling, scrummaging, lifting in a lineout, kicking or side stepping. The following training drills will improve your players' footwork and, therefore, balance.

Rugby drills to develop leg muscles - As going to the gym is not a suitable way for young players to build up their leg muscles, these rugby drills, skills and tips will help improve players’ leg drive using safe and fun workouts.

Evasion skills game for young rugby players - This fun chasing game is aimed at helping young players improve their evasion skills and tag and touch tackling, while encouraging them to run with the ball in two hands.

Rugby footwork drill for a good step into contact - If the ball carrier is powerful in the contact area, they can offload or maintain possession more effectively but less experienced and younger players have a tendency to fall over or crumple unless they practise good body positions and use a strong step into contact. The following "big step" rugby drill concentrates on improving these footwork skills.

Rugby drills to work on wingers' speed and attack skills - In today's game your winger needs to be more than just the fastest man on the field, you need to work on their attack skills, too. Use the following rugby drills and coaching tips to coach your wingers to become effective attacking weapons.

Rugby drill to improve your players' side-stepping skills - The ability to change direction sharply gives attackers a great chance to make devastating breaks. Getting your players side-stepping will drag defenders out of position, opening up the defensive line. Use this rugby drill, which I've called "Flat Foot", to coach the skills your players need.

Fast-feet rugby drill without ladders - This is a good rugby warm-up drill to use if you don't want to use ladders in your rugby training sessions but would like a fast-feet alternative workout.

Rugby drill to get players spinning out of a tackle - Spinning out of a tackle is an important rugby skill and players should be encouraged to practise this skill from as young an age as possible.

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