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

Rainier — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:13:00 GMT

This problem might not only be a loosehead problem. Remember that the front row works as a unit, and I would like to know what the hooker and tighthead looks like, physically, before offering my 2c worth.

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

Tobes6 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:13:45 GMT

At the risk of stating the obvious for me the key is always thinking about my hips & lowering them - I find the best way to coach this is to use the analogy of sitting down on the toilet, or otherwise try Sumo, then they must bend at the waist to get the upper body angle right (ir not too upright, level back or very slight incline upwards from hips to waist (no more than 10 degrees).

I saw them demonstrated very well on the London Coaching Conference this summer & must apologise but I can't recall the guys name, but ISTR he coaches the England Women's scrum, Graham Smith is it?

Anyway he did a whole 90 minute session called "The Tower of Strength" using mostly 1 on 1 practice, after working on individual body positions, using broom handles across the shoulders & along the spine to demonstrate to the other players & coaches the correct angles.

I have found this works really well with my own players & have built on it by using a digital camera to show them instantly what their own body position looks like relative to the other players.

What your tall leggy prop needs is a key thought that you can remind him of as he sets up to engage, especially when he is tired & reverting to his default natural position which is in a too higher plane.

Hope it works - I just shout SUMO or SH*T (sounds like SIT)!

Tobes6

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

enjoythegame — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:17:39 GMT

I would suggest widening his stance and therefore reducing his height. Remembering good technique of being parallel with touch and square with goal lines.

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

Angus — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:17:54 GMT

I've been thinking about this and I believe kernowrob mentioned what I was thinking

With bigger props it is not just about technique and strength it is about confidence as well - he may not realise how low he can go without collapsing

For example if you get 2 guys to bind on each other 1 v 1 then ask them to go as low as they can they will generally start to fold at the waste and lose it or they will go down no more than 6 inches then stop cos they feel that is as far as they can go without collapsing

As kernowrob says get them to start on their knees then push against each other until they start to rise but only let them do this until their knees leave the ground - get them to hold then go back to their knees

Do this a couple of times then get them to go back to the first exercise and look to see how much further they are prepared to drop now

They just need the confidence to see they can be low and still stable

Next step is to repeat this with 2 front rows and you can even build it to 2 full packs

Angus

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

didds — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:35:54 GMT

[quote][b]d4zzler (24/10/2008)[/b][hr]Also within Hampshire we run a Front Row Mentoring scheme where we concentrate on the development of front row players, were we show playersto understand their body positions and how the various parts of the body effect their body positioning. [/quote]

Would that be "Prop idol" dazzler?

We are just about to roll this out in Wiltshire following the success in Hants (AIUI) - see you all in windon on the 19th Nov :-)

didds

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

Angus — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:11:32 GMT

How about trying him at tight head?

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

d4zzler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:21:44 GMT

Also within Hampshire we run a Front Row Mentoring scheme where we concentrate on the development of front row players, were we show players to understand their body positions and how the various parts of the body effect their body positioning.

There are various exercises you can do to build core stability as well as strength, with the use of items such as a swiss ball and even a rugby ball.

If you are interested in further information, send me a message and I can forward on some ideas to you.

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

d4zzler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:47:49 GMT

Also within Hampshire we run a Front Row Mentoring scheme where we concentrate on the development of front row players, were we players are shown how to understand their body positions and how the various parts of the body effect their body positioning.

There are various exercises you can do to build core stability as well as strength, with the use of items such as a swiss ball and even a rugby ball.

If you are interested in further information, send me a message and I can forward on some ideas to you.

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

d4zzler — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:45:46 GMT

Marc,

Have you tried getting the hooker to set the height of the front row, which will 'force' your props to get low everytime?

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

Red & Black fan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:39:24 GMT

Core stability & stength is MASSIVELY important- thereafter, the speed on engagement, width of the feet apart & the 'shape' (head up, back flat, shoulders higher than hips) will determine how it goes. Sounds like your prop just needs time with a conditioning coach...

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

kernowrob — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:51:21 GMT

One of the things I have used with all my forwards but particularly the front rows is to really work their core stability, so they can take a strong low position.

We have used a number of things to do this - getting into a nice low crouch againts a park fence - holding then rising and lowering for a number of reps; one on one scrummaging/rucking - starting on knees up to a full engage position then back down; using a swiss ball to get into a low crouch and hold; getting into the brace (press up position) balancing with hands on a rugby ball etc...

These are really challenging (try for yourself) and need lots of control - and careful coaching - but they are really effective.

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

Ferret — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:52:28 GMT

If its tiredness is it fatigue in the thigh muscles preventing him crouching low enough? ...what about finding some exercises to strengthen him in that area?

Probably as simple as holding the position repeatedly for 20 second bursts, but I'm no expert - it could give him the "muscle memory" or whatever its called, in other words the muscles "know" the position so adopt it readily... sorry about my terminology but you get the drift. I'm sure any decent personal trainer could help with that.

Cheers Ferret

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.