Better Rugby Coaching / Better Rugby Coaching / The Huddle / Playing with Width / Latest Posts

RE: Playing with Width

Doc Brown — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:20:29 GMT

I do agree with you, I don't expect it to work throughout the whole match but if it works for the first 2 phases and the boys know we are going with the flow it will be a bonus. Better than the U14's I was with last year who started the first game with 15 in every ruck and maul (a slight exaggeration)

RE: Playing with Width

didds — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:01:14 GMT

WADR to Doc, pod systems are great in theory but unless your players are well discplined, understand the systems very well and (more importantly) have the fitness to follow the concept through then they are a lovely idea that falls down very quickly.

I've been witness to the fact that despite great efforts and training over several years at a level 7 club, a 1st XV players are unable to follow a pod system for any length of time. Unless very talentred and fit, i would be wary of "expecting" twelve year olds to implement it.

Personally I would ensure that all players better understand the op[tions available to them as a support player post 1st phase, and aid them in their decision making process to fulfill that e.g. am I needed to win the ball at the next breakdown? If not, where is the most useful place to support subsequent play?

In fact, I even have the excercises to help you develop that - see dan's youth newletters of a few weeks ago :-)

didds

RE: Playing with Width

Doc Brown — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:20:50 GMT

I have taken over our U13's this year and thought I would be faced with a smiliar challenge, especially as in training they occupy a tiny portion of the pitch but in our first game yesterday we managed to ghet to both wings without difficulty and with support.

We have already introduced the idea of pods for the forwards and it worked reasonably but also some of the forwards were naturally on the 'wrong' side of the pitch i.e. play had moved away from them and they didn't keep up with the pack. Rather than berate them for being slow I encouraged them to stay for the return of the ball so they were there to support the backs as necessary.

My other focus on training is to get rid of the niceness (see aggression in youth players) and concentrate on coaching good rucking and support for all players, some will see it as a bit forward orientated but I believe the backs have to be as aggressive as the forwards.

Steve

Playing with Width

tonyb — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:47:56 GMT

Hi, moving to full pitch this year and want to get the lad's to use the width whilst having enough people to support ball carrier if contact is made or not.I have looked at Brian Ashton's RFU DVD and have been bought into the concept of 3 in the contact area whilst other players move into new areas to support ball carrier i.e 12, 13 etc.

My idea is that we have a large squad of varying abilities and for this year we should be getting into the idea of using width of the filed.

Does anybody have any other methods of teaching a similar or new concepts...

Regards