Better Rugby Coaching / Better Rugby Coaching / The Huddle

Fitness training for 13yr olds

james@lions — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:58:33 GMT

Can anyone give any advice or recommend any books on fitness training for 13yr olds . Were looking to create a preseason training program for next seasons under 14's, but are wary of pushing them too hard in fitness work.

NSW Watatahs Coaching Resource

Jonesy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:52 GMT

Hi there all - Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all!

I am really looking forward to the 6 Nations in 2009 - a third Grand Slam is a possibility!!!!:):)

On a coaching front I have recently stumbled on some great coaching papers included on the Waratahs Website - Caoching Resources - There are 10 papers on various subjects. 2 are on the mechanics and tactics of Scrum - if you have never played in the front row before they give an excellent insight into the dark arts! See link below.

http://www.coaches.nswrugby.com.au/NSWRugbyCoaches/CoachingArticles/CoachingArticles-HomePage/CoachingArticles-HomePage.aspx

Jonesy:P

100 Q&A: How do I deal with the worst parent/spectator of the year?

DanC — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:31:56 GMT

In response to a question from Paul Toleman, here is what I would do if I was refereeing a game and one of the parent/spectators became abusive...

Quietly approach the offender and ask them to kindly refrain from “interfering” in the game. Be non-aggressive, clear and concise. No need to justify your actions. If they have any problems, they can approach you AFTER the game has finished.
If they continue, then approach the coach and ask the coach to deal with the matter. You can state the NGO (like the RFU) guidelines on parental behaviour.
If they continue, then approach the coach again and ask the spectator/parent to be removed from the field of play. Ask one of your parents/coaches to come over with you when you do this.
After the game note down any actions you have taken. If you have reached point 3, then endeavour to get the name of the parent. If you are approached, make sure there is someone else with you, though also make sure it does not seem like a 2 v 1 situation. Perhaps ask the parent if they want the coach to be with them as well.
At no point do you need to justify your “fairness” or your “suitability”. Just listen, say thank you for the views. If it becomes aggressive or abusive, then say you will be writing to the governing body and the chair of their club. And do it!

Lineouts under the ELVs

Angus — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:12:38 GMT

I am in the process of preparing our season plan for the coming season - competition starts 7th March (Brisbane)

We are to be playing under the Super 14 / Tri Nations flavour of the ELVs and this will be our first experience of them

In relation to the removal of the limitation of numbers in lineout I have been watching a lot of the European games so far this season and see very varied approaches to numbers in the lineout while a team is defending

Fro example against a team who put 4 into their own lineout I have defensive numbers ranging from matching the numbers of the team throwing in 4 v 4, to having a couple more eg 6 v 4 to keeping their full lineout 7 v 4

For those who have been playing this new law what have your experiences and approaches been and what has worked for you and what hasn't?

Thanks
Angus

Wing Play

Jonathan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:08:38 GMT

Hi everyone

Playing on the wing can be a pretty frustrating job sometimes,and I'm not going to lie, if your team fails to give you the ball, it gets even worse - Everyone has heard the saying "Good wings look for work" , but to be fair, what exactly does that mean? Often I have "looked for work", by involving myself in a backline move, just to find a simple knock on or turnover resulting in an overlap on the right side (Where I was meant to be positioned)

I'm a 7's rugby player, so I tend to enjoy roaming on the field, but with the 15's season coming up, work needs to be done

Wings are critical positions I feel, and can only be filled by certain players . . . What exactly can I do to improve my play - or - to become more involved without neglecting my basic duites??

sealing at the ruck ?

salopsaint — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:01:28 GMT

We have recently had a coaching session from a 1st team forward for a U12 team in the North Mids Area. They told the kids to " seal" the ruck by binding on to the tackled player on the ground. Often called the " jockey postion". Then the next players the bind on to him.

In two recent games against staffordshire based sides their coaches have complained and stated they have been told by Staffordshire refs that what we are doing is illegal and bridging.

Then i refed a U13 game recently with two North Mids sides one of which were using this technquie and approached the team`s coach and they stated that it was ok in North mids

I am confused....

drop punt v spiral/screw

JDink — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:06:42 GMT

Can someone explain to me the difference between drop-punt kick and the spiral/screw kick? How is the technique different?

Thanks

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ciprianis-kicking-woes-lead-wasps-to-change-training-1592964.html

100 Q&A: What is meant by a game plan?

DanC — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:11:20 GMT

How is my team going to win this game?

If you wrote down just three ways of winning the game, then that is a good start to a game plan.

1. Attack

What plays and moves are we going to use and where?

Are we going to go wide, down the middle or close to the breakdown?

Where are we going to kick?

How many players are going to commit to the ruck?

2. Defence

What defence are we going to use from set pieces and broken play?

How many players are going to commit to the breakdown?

What are we going to do with the ball in our own 22m area?

3. External forces

What are the opposition's strengths and weaknesses?

What are the weather and pitch conditions?

What is referee going to be like and the adjustments we might need to make?

Once you have answered these questions and the players are aware of them then you need to decide on who changes the plan on the pitch if things are not working.

Finally the game plan should be wrapped up in one or two sentences, a mission for the match.

For instance: "We are going to take them on up front" or "We are going to run them off the park" or "We will keep the game in their half for the first 20 minutes" or "We will concentrate on aggressive defence for the first 20 minutes" or "We are going to attack around 10 and then attack wide" or "We will speed up the game with quick taps, throw ins" or "We will slow the game down by walking to the set piece" or "We are going to tackle to ground to win the turnovers" or "We are going to drive them back in the tackle"...

Northern Hemisphere Inferiority

iolo — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:07:40 GMT

Why do the northern hemisphere sides seem inferior to the southern hemisphere sides? How is it possible that Wales, for example, can lose to Fiji?

wingers

JDink — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:34:46 GMT

What determines what side of the field you put a winger on? What if you have a right handed/footed winger and left handed/footed winger?

Thanks!

About Back row play

slinna2006 — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:18:45 GMT

hey people i just woundering what everyones veiw on a openside flanker is

Basically what do u like to see your players doing

always at the breakdown competeing for the ball .if not cometed to break down putting presure on #10 or 1st recivers

always putting body on line

always wanting to win

if there is anything else you wanta add pm this blog page

100 Q&A: How do I cope with the worst referee we have seen this season

DanC — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:40:55 GMT

How to cope with the frustration of poor refereeing decisions...

1. Act in a mature fashion. Ranting and raving on the sideline will incense the players sending them the wrong signals. The referee is unlikely to respond positively either and might even over compensate against you.

2. Use a mental coping strategy. A referee's decision is final, so you cannot change the past. Some people "wipe away" the decision with a physical action, like throwing imaginary salt over their shoulder, or clicking their fingers. Others laugh at it, make it a joke and move one. Another way is to put it in the context of a wider "global" picture, saying they could be in a far worse place than this.

3. Use a half time "sweetener" to help your team in the second half. There is no point in telling the referee where he went wrong in the first half, but you might want to avoid making "errors" in his eyes in the second half. Ask him if he could clarify why some decisions were made so you don't make the same mistakes in the second half. Don't be sarcastic, be positive.

4. Know that some days you are going to get the referee from hell. It will happen sometime in the season. So don't get overly concerned.

And finally

5. Don't approach the referee after the game about his decisions. You know you will find it hard to maintain the right sort of level of conversation, so what's the point.

I write this knowing how difficult it is to referee and that sometimes as a referee you do make mistakes. However we coaches also make mistakes and the players more so. One referee will rarely ruin a season.

100 Q&A: What are the best tactics to use when playing into the wind?

DanC — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:29:50 GMT

What are the best tactics to use when playing into the wind?

Here are some possible tactics to employ, though of course it depends on your resources and the strength of the wind.

1. Winning the toss: against or with the wind

Play with the wind in the first half. The weather may change, you are attacking when you are freshest, you can "win" the game in the first half and slow the game in the second half, the opposition team are working out how to play against the wind and you can learn what can work.
Play against the wind in the first half. The oppositon may not exploit their advantage, you can atttack when they are tired, you can judge the strength of the wind, you turn around with the wind.
On balance: A fitter, more confident side plays against the wind in the first half.

2. Kicking

Kick low and at angles.
Don't kick in the opposition half.
Box kick out of the 22m (see possession below)

3. Possession

Keep possession for as long as possible by multiple phases, playing from 0-15m from the set piece, breakdown.
Play inside the tramlines, so you don't open up the field if you lose possession.
Kick for retreival not for touch: make every kick a 50:50 possession battle with a good chase.
Throw to the front of the lineout.

4. Positioning and retreval

Wingers stay deep and wind. Invite them to run.
Run straight from receiving the ball, not sideways. Make ground rather than look for gaps.

Scrum half offside at scrum

mikemycroft — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:24:27 GMT

Under the ELVs the scrum half offside line is either

-the ball in the scrum if he follows it round or
-the back foot if he stays close to the scrum or
- the 5m offside line behind the scrum if he moves away from the scrum.

at least I think thats what it is, but in the "Rugby coachV6_5", there is an article saying that the scrum half can go out into midfield and mark one of the attacking backs, provided he stays behind the back foot.

That isnt right is it, or have I missed something?

100 Q& A: What do I do when my front row is struggling in the first half

DanC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:41:12 GMT

Here are some suggestions on ways of sorting out the front row if they have been struggling in the first half of the game.

1. Ball in on "JER" of "Engage"

Your scrum half puts the ball as soon as the scrums engage. There is no signal from the hooker, he just expects it.

2. Ask the other side

Not the other team, but if one prop is struggling, he can ask the other prop about some solutions. The tight head will know how to make a loose head "hurt" so he might be able to offer some solutions. Say the tight head is struggling to find his bind, the loose head might give him a tip from his point of view.

3. Sit lower

The higher the prop engages, the easy it is for the opposition to manipulate him. The whole front row can try to engage six inches lower than previously. The signal comes from the hooker. When the props have bound, he sits a little lower, bringing the props down with him. They all target a lower point on their opposite number.

4. Swap sides

A tired prop could swap sides of the scrum. A bit unusual but a change for a couple of scrums could make a difference. Of course your players need to be comfortable with this idea.

5. Target scrums

Though all scrums are important, choose a couple of scrums in which an all out effort will be made. Inside 22m areas at both ends would be a good start.

Forwards attacking high ball

AM — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:06:09 GMT

Hi guys, can anyone suggest any nifty drills to get forwards attacking high kick from 10m working with catcher and 2 wave attack??????

Making use of fast wingers???????

AM — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:24:09 GMT

Hi guys, open to suggestions here, I have 2 very fast strong wingers, who when get the ball inevitably take the 5 points, I'm trying to figure how I can take advantage of these pair during play from line outs and scrums?????????????????

I started thinking along the lines of ball from back pod of line out, quick ball to 10 who draws opposition 10 and 12 runs to outside should of 12 at last min, attacking 12 runs to inside should of 13, attacking 10 does miss pass to 13, 15 bursting thorough to take ball on switch from 13, 14 running straight and hopefully over?????????????????? Haven't tried it on the guys yet and would welcome.....................Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Scared of winning?

Derek in Paris — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:58:41 GMT

I coach an adult team in France which has talent and wants to win but seems to be scared of winning. Whenever anyone gets in a scoring position, I get knock-ons, or overlaps wasted. We can get out of our 22, into the opponents 22 with skill and intelligence and then everything closes down in the last five yards.

Any ideas on how to change the mind set because we're losing games every week by small margins? Please don't suggest not coaching Frenchmen - that I can't change!

junior rugby law variation

dragonslayer — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:43:31 GMT

on friday night an under 15 dewar-shield game took place in my local town so i thought i would have a look. during the game the ref made 2 very strange decisions. if he was correct then all good and he did the right thing but i have feeling he made some extremely poor calls.

early in the 2nd half 1 team were attacking in between half-way and oppositions 10m line. a ruck was formed and a defender came in from the side and killed the ball. fair enough a talking to and possible yellow card, however he showed the player a straight red!! with this the team who had the penalty called a scrum to try and use the advantage at scrum. however, the ref told the team that their number 8 had to leave he scrum. when asked if the 6 could move out the ref stated he couldn't and it had to be the 8 to create a 3 - 4 formation. is this a rule? from this in my opinion the red card did nothing for the home team and the number 8 waho was a very good dynamic ball-carrier couldn't be in the scrum and couldn't pick and go (something he had done all night with great success). further due to their not being a player in the 8 position the ball kept flying out from the second-rows feet and created huge problems for the attack. can anyone state if this is actually a rule?

anyhow further, the ref then sent-off another player from the same team for killing the ball in exactly the same position. no warning or even a yellow prior. be interested to hear your views? i'm all for punishing offenders but surely at u15 level explanations and even yellow cards should suffice?

Jonah Lumo

sneakypete — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:16:54 GMT

Who can tell me the name of the scotland player (i have forgot his name) that got tangled up in Lumo's laces and brought him to ground. This was a game not long after he used the england side as skittles - esp mr underwood.

Playing with an immobile pack

JBUS_rugby — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:38:26 GMT

Our pack is huge..but slow, with (genrally) the pace of a clapped out JCB

Although I have some ideas as to how to play around this (as well as tackling the problem head on.....), I was wondering if people had some ideas they'd like to share as to how to play with a big, strong, but glacially slow set of forwards..

Difference Rules between club and school rugby

kronfeld7 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:55:50 GMT

Being a PE teacher and a Rugby Coach to both an under 12 and a senior side and having played rugby for far too many years. I am becoming more and more frustrated about the different rules applied in different areas and different competitions.(Nothing to do with ELV's)

Namely, under 12 rugby at school level is a 15 a side game, with hand offs allowed, as well as some or all of the new ELV's being applied including dragging down the mauls. (scrums 8 man, number 8 being allowed to pick up , scrag tackles allowed etc). This is also played a full size pitch

Yet at club rugby, where you have the boys who wish to play rugby voluntarily, the game is 13 a side (6 man scrums, no number 8 pick up) etc. Being religiously applied. And the fact that it is played on half a pitch.

There has to be some consistency in the rules, as many of my players are confused about what they can and can't do. Why are schools not governed by the Rugby Continuum, especially when numerous schools we have played the teachers always state that they can not referee as they are not confident enough to do this, but have coached/ taught the students at their school.

My boys come to me on Sunday morning, saying the are allowed to lift legs in mauls, collaspe mauls by dragging it down, and hand off to chest. I then spend the first half hour of training breaking these bad habits, so that when we play 'club' rugby we are not penalised off the park.

The boys I coach do not play at private/ public schools but at local comprehensives. Pleased don't get me wrong it is vitally important that the boys play rugby at school and at clubs, but there does need to be uniformity in the rules.

Junior training sessions and the restrictions on time available.

Duncan Parker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:13:52 GMT

This may have been highlighted previously, but could some one give me a particular reason why we are restricted to coaching our kids, U7 & U8, for only 60 minutes per session?

In these times of kids becoming obese and watching too much television and playing too many computer games, we are being stopped from spending more than 60 minutes on a coaching session. Our kids want & need more than this on a Sunday morning. And we are willing to coach them, so what is the reason?

Local football teams are not allowed to play competitive matches but they can train for 2 hours. Rugby League kids, with full contact train for 2 hours. Cricket coaching for a full afternoon and yet tag rugby so NO CONTACT is restricted to 60 minutes.

I understand about too much can be bad, but also not enough can be a waste of time. Next year we go into full contact without any training during the U8 season. We will have to fit in correct tackle training, correct maul training, correct ruck, scrum and lineout training and I would like to know how we manage this along with anything else that we need to do in one 60 minute training session?

Am I being pedantic or our we overly protecting these kids?

Is there some other option such as holding two training sessions on the same day seperated by a whole 10 minute break and by using two different coaches? ;)

Any advice which will help us to provide the kids with the level of training that they want and also that we feel they need would be very gratefully received.

Duncan - new level 1 coach.

When is a ruck not a ruck?

kronfeld7 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:10:23 GMT

With referees making the tackled player move away from the ball on the ground, if all of the defending team stepped away from a ruck, thereby their being no physical contact with an oppponent, does this constitute that the ruck is over.

If so, then there is no offside line, defending team could offlicially move around the ruck and take the ball.

The Italians used to do this at Maul time, especially at line outs.

Am I correct or am I missing some laws to stop this happening?

100 Q&A: Why does my kicker miss touch from penalties?

DanC — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:37:33 GMT

Kickers miss touch from penalties because of poor technique and the wrong mental rehearsal.

Here are some routines for your kicker

Technical:

1. Focus on a point on the touchline.

2. Turn the body to face that point.

3. Hold and drop the ball down the middle of the body.

4. Kick through the ball, with the leg and foot driving towards that point on the touchline.

Mental:

1. Control breathing.

2. Look at the ball and turn it the hands to make it feel "light".

3. Pick a point on the touchline that you know you will make.

4. Rehearse the technical routine in your mind (has to be quick, so just trigger words)

5. Make the kick.

U13 Rugby Law Variations

engelsman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:51:26 GMT

Can anyone help here.

Uncontested scrum, when I did my ELRA I was told no No.8 pickup at Junior Level.

Yesterday I witnessed pickups by an U13 No 8 from an uncontested scrum.

As I thought I knew what I was talking about ( MY ELRA course finished a few weeks ago) I reminded the referee after the game about no picking up from an uncontested scrum at junior level.

I was told I was speaking rubbish, so what I have now is one Society ref saying 'NO' and a ref from a different society saying 'YES'. I cannot find anything printed in any of the supplementary law variation print outs.

Can anyone enlighten me, please.

Engelsman

coaching clothing

coops — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:37:43 GMT

Hi ya ,

At the junior club i am currently coaching at we have a sponsor willing to provide the coaching teams with new kit, anyone know of were we can get hold of waterproof jacket and bottoms, or let me know what you guys have found best ..... thanks

The Bajada - a thing of beauty!

Rainier — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:30:23 GMT

Ah yes, the "Bajada". Invented by Fransisco Ocampo in the 1960's the "bajada" was the defining characteristic of Puma Rugby for many years. Strangely enough at World Cup 2007 the Pumas got annihilated by France in the scrums in the opening match and they did not dominate the Georgians in their second match, but they won both matches. Go figure!

The most obvious characteristic of the Bajada is that second-rowers bind with their external arms around the prop's hip rather than between their legs. But, as explained by Springbok coach Jake White, one defining characteristic of the method is that "all the power is directed into the hooker. In other words, they scrum along an imaginary arrow drawn pointing inwards from either side of the No 8, which means all the power is directed towards the hooker."

The other defining characteristic is the "Empuje Coordinado" or "Coordinated Push." "The scrumhalf gives a three part call after the "engage". On "pressure" all members of the pack tighten their binds and fill their lungs with air. On the call "one" everyone sinks; the legs at this point should be at 90 degrees. On "two" the pack comes straight forward while violently expelling the air from their lungs. A key note is that nobody moves their feet until forward momentum is established. If the first drive is insufficient the scrumhalf begins the call again and the opposing pack is usually caught off guard and pushed back."

Empuje Coordinado is the resultant of a lot of little details in the way that the props place their feet, the locks bind,and the flankers and the number-eight bind and push too. The eight players push at the same time and in three movements, put all the power to the center of the front row.

To have a successful scrum with all eight forwards pushing in a coordinated way, the players' obligations are:

to respect individual techniques;
to respect group techniques;
to not initiate individual confrontations;
to stay in place before the opponent and focus on the task to be carried out; and
to undertake physical training appropriate to the demands of their position.

Individual skills

Backs to be straight
Heads lifted up
Hips lower than shoulders
Knees flexed to 90 degrees
All eight forwards must bind strongly and there must be no space between players
Feet placement must not change when the scrum is formed
All players must be able to see the ball at every moment in the scrum
Feet placement must be shoulder width

Correct body position

Front row

Props bind strongly on the hooker below the armpits, and the hooker binds on the props in the same way
Hooker's feet in line
Props' internal foot in line with the hooker's feet, and external foot a little bit backward
Hooker determines the right distance between packs
At referee's signal to engage crouch and drive forward
Never enter diagonally or across the opponent
Heads should be in contact with the chest of the opponent
The push must be FORWARD

Second row

They bind on the other second-rower around their back
They bind on the prop with their external arm around prop's hip and strongly pull together the front row
Before engagement must have the knee of their internal leg resting on the ground
Internal foot a little bit backward
The shorter second-rower binds under the taller one
Heads below props' and hooker's buttocks

Back Row

Flankers bind on the second-rower below the other second-rower's arm
Flankers' external hands on ground
Number-eight binds around the second-rowers' hips
All must have feet in line
Flankers put shoulders below prop's buttocks
Number-eight puts head between the second-rowers' buttocks

Pack Technique

After referee's command: "Engage"
First command by the scrum half: "Pressure" - on this command the eight players must grip strongly with their arms and fill up lungs with air
Second command by the scrum half: "One" - at this time all eight players must flex their knees to 90 degrees
Third command by the scrum half: "Two" - the scrum half puts the ball into the scrum, or his opponent puts the ball in, and the players must expel the air in their lungs while pushing violently FORWARD, never up or down, nor to the side
With this all the force is transmitted to the hooker
Players must never move their feet off the ground until they overcome their opponents and have positive inertia - it is very important that the hooker respects this even though he has the ball under his feet
It is not necessary to hook the ball, but in my club we use hooking when the ball is put in by us, and all players push when the ball is put by the opponents.

The scrum should never only be a way to get the ball back into play - dominating the scrum tires the opposing pack, keep their loose forwards tied down and gives you the mental edge.

2nd row - front row bind

Redcoat — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:24:16 GMT

Just chatting to my co-coach who is up in the world of coach coaching etc. I explained my way of getting the loose head to bind to the hooker first and then the 2nd row bind through the legs and then as close to their ear as possible...and then he stopped me.

He said why does everyone get the loose head to 'walkaround,' the hooker first with a tight bind in essence pulling the no.2 around so he is angled towards the tight head - and not the other way i.e facing the loose head side of the scrum, making it easier to hook.

And secondly - the 2nd row bind through the legs on the props waistband surely adds to the props problems by pulling him down. Wouldn't it be better, he argued if the 2nd row actually bound around the prop's shorts or through the legs and then as far as possible outwards (though hard on the triceps). Hence pulling the prop around square - spines in line basically.

First post so be gentle!!!

;)

Loose Head prop too high, How can I get him to lower his possition.

Marc7 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:21:42 GMT

I have a big leggy loose head prop who has problems with smaller tight head's ( which is most of them) driving up under him. We have worked endlessly on getting his position lower and not over extending in the engage which all works fine in training, but as soon as we are in a game and he get's a little tired we go back to square one and the problems start. Any idea's or should I just move him back from the front row and look at other options.

100 Q&A: Coaching the vision to see a gap

DanC — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:16:08 GMT

How do I coach the vision to see a gap?

1. Play lots of games, and not just rugby, but touch, netball even soccer.

2. Practise at least 50% of your passing exercises with live defenders.

3. Set up game situations and let players work through them finding their own solutions (with only a little guidance from you)

4. Work on super speed games and exercises where players are placed under undue pressure in terms of time, space and defence. They will then find a normal game situation easier.

5. Use realistic starts to an exercise, so players can work on the right triggers to move off, and scan ahead.

6. Before the start of a practice, talk through the possible scenarios that might occur and ask players on how they might deal with. They must be very descriptive in their answers. For instance: "I can see there is a slower player in the outside centre channel, so we need to miss pass the ball to a faster player in that channel."

100 Q&A: Health & safety

Toby — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:55:20 GMT

Who do I need to talk to about health and safety?

1. The club coaching coordinator. This might be the director of rugby, a specifically appointed manager or the section manager.

2. The union’s constituent body, for instance in England the RFU, or Australia the ARU.

3. Other coaches in the club who have been coaching for a number of years. They can give you a good idea of what has happened in the past.

Flash Back

Toby — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:41:56 GMT

Below is a clip from Merthyr (whites) v Newbridge (blues) on October 25th, 2008, playing in the Welsh Division 1 East league. Although Merthyr won the game 23-13, after about 1.18 minutes of the clip there's a good example of "Flash Back", a sequence of play to enable Newbridge to score.

"Flash Back": Starting from the ruck on the far side, Newbridge use the "10-12 Switch" backs moves to draw defenders back into the middle of the pitch. At the subsequent ruck Newbridge now have numbers out wide on the far side, so the quick pass left gives them a relatively straight forward foot race to score over the line.

"Flash Back", "10-12 Switch" and 25 other moves and sequences are included in our Rugby Attack! manual. Containing backs moves, ruck/maul moves, penalty moves and back row moves - as well as sequences of play to tie them in together - Rugby Attack! is a unique guide to the core attacking plays every team needs.

Click here to read more and to order you copy today.

A great lineout move

Toby — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:12:29 GMT

There's a great lineout move in this clip after about 3 minutes. Not only does it highlight the need for pre-set lineout moves, but also the benefit of having mobile forwards to take the opportunities as they arise.

At about 4 minutes there's also a neat side step by England's hooker, Mears. This shows the benefit of all players developing basic skills.

Looking to develop your own moves from lineouts? Want to boost your player's lineout skills? Then you might like to know that The Lineout and How to Win It covers 48 lineout moves, including:

Front, middle and back balls
Full lineouts and split lineouts
6-man, 5-man and 4-man lineouts
Options for bringing an extra player into the line
Defensive lineouts.

However, all lineouts are underpinned by the core skills of each player. So The Lineout and How to Win It also includes 15 Skill Development Practices to help you boost your player and unit skills.

Click here to read more.

Grab and Twist

Toby — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:07:45 GMT

Grab and twist is a new technique, adapted from wrestling, to drive out opponents sealed over your ball after the tackle. We featured it in Rugby Coach in November 2007.

The author of the article is Mark Calverley, a highly qualified coach based in New Zealand. He also has produced a short film demonstrating the technique in action. You can download it from here, to open in your own movie player.

http://www.rugby-coach.com/grabandtwist.avi

Exeter - A Great Backs Move

DanC — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:23:00 GMT

Here's a great backs move in action, which I call "Exeter". It's from the England v Barbarians match at Twickenham in June 2008.

I particularly enjoyed Will Greenwood's commentary about the move being straight from the ACT Brumbie's playbook.

This next clip shows you how to coach your players to perform the move. I have taken it from my Power Plays DVD.

Click here to read more about Power Plays and to order your copy today.

What is the Best/Easiest way to coach a Hooker to Throw In??

JBUS_rugby — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:28:31 GMT

Well? I've been asked to help out at school, as a de facto forwards coach, and one of the few things I don't feel confident withis coachiiing the throw in..

Need scrum half to assert himself

Redcoat — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:20:48 GMT

Hi,

our u14's sh is very capable. has a great off the floor pass and has a great scanning rugby brain. However when it comes to bossing his big forwards and peers about, pulling them here and screaming at them there he is too backward. Any tips as to how and get the bullying no.9 out of him?

100 Q&A: Faster rucking

Toby — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:15:00 GMT

What are the key points to winning a fast ruck?

1. Good ball presentation by the tackled player.

2. The first player into the ruck going over the ball.

3. Taking short, dynamic steps before the ruck, allowing the player to stay on their feet.

4. Aiming at a target in the ruck, so keeping the eyes open.

5. Getting the hips and the shoulders lower than any opposition player.

Tap Moves

Angus — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:58:00 GMT

When I was younger,, no weekly training session was complete without running through at least one Tap Penalty move and we always used to really look forward to using them in a game (ex forward here)

Nowadays they seem to have completely disappeared from the game unless as a quick tap by a half back and then an offload to a surprised forward when the 9 realises he can't score himself

With the advent of the ELVs there is a significant increase in the number of Free Kicks being awarded (I believe this may not be the situation in the Nth due to a different punishment allocation)

What are your options with a free kick?

- you can't kick into touch directly and get the feed so that is generally out
- you can pump the ball high and chase it down to try and regather
- you can kick in play and get move up to encourage a return kick while having counter attackers already positioned to run i tback
- you can take a quick tap but this ends in problems as often as it is successful but still one of the best options
- you can select to take a scrum

However what happens if you aren't that good in scrums? You are basically selecting an option which at best could mean scrappy ball and at worst losing the thing altogether

Why not a return to the set tap move?

Angus