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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 09:42:37
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| How can I make my props avoid contact? 1. Practise the ABCs: Agility Before Contact. 2. Make props imagine that they are aiming for the "branches" of a tree and not its "trunk" when they are carrying the ball. Even the smallest step can reduce the impact of contact. 3. Practise close quarter pop passing under extreme pressure. For instance, work in pairs in a narrow channel, with defenders who are only allowed to go for the ball. 4. Make avoiding contact a positive outcome in training. Again in a narrow channel (say 5m wide), get a prop to work his way to the end without being bumped into touch by a variety of defenders. 5. Get the prop to carry the ball in two hands.
Toby Curthoys
Publisher, Better Rugby Coaching www.betterrugbycoaching.com
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Supreme Being
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to which Toby I would add second rows and inside centres! (and I am not being facetious!)
cheers
didds
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 11/12/2008 15:27:11
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| As Toby says, agility and footwork are very important. Still hard to get away from the fact that props love the biff. For some good examples of frighteningly hard running, great footwork, agility and balance from a huge man, great power, power steps etc take a look at this clip of Barrie MacDermott at work.http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6rZGLMfrUzo
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 11/12/2008 10:38:10
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cjp (30/10/2008)
As Toby says, agility and footwork are very important. Still hard to get away from the fact that props love the biff. For some good examples of frighteningly hard running, great footwork, agility and balance from a huge man, great power, power steps etc take a look at this clip of Barrie MacDermott at work.http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6rZGLMfrUzo
With the greatest respect to Barrie McDermott, if he had to undertake 10-20 proper scrums, lift 19st locks in the lineout and hit a few rucks, he'd be breathing out of his ar*e and unable to take those hit ups. And that is without factoring in the fact that he will not have an interchange to help him when he feels knackered!
With regard to getting players to eschew contact and hit space, you first have to get them to play with their heads up. Then do lots of footwork drills - spins, ladders, speed variation etc
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Supreme Being
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I understand that Barrie McDermott was, in his playing days, just about one of the fittest around. The work loads props put in are quite staggering as those who know league will attest. I was told that Leeds did their bleep tests from lying down - start lying down, get up run to line, lie down on your belly, get up, run etc. He regularly got to some staggering level, the sort of thing most mortals (inc professional players) cannot do just running.
Sure he has more space to work in on the RL field, the point is more that good footwork etc is well worth having whoever you are and whatever footballing code you play.
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Forum Member
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As far as current ball handling props go I don't believe you can go past Tom Smith of Northampton
In each of their games I have seen so far this season (we don't get them all in Aus lol) he has made at least 2 superb passes which generally included a step away from the receiver to draw the defender and create extra space for the receiver
I have been seriously impressed.
As Toby infers it is not enough to simply teach them to avoid direct contact if possible eg branches v trunk you have to also equip them with the ability and confidence to distribute the ball once they do and this all comes back to handling - make that a part of every warm up for the forwards introduce tennis balls or as Dan suggested in one of his recent articles water bottles (which is something I am dying to give a go in the pre season - thinking of having them filled completely sometimes and half full at others) while in a circle and encouraging fast passes in any direction
As handling the ball becomes more second nature to them they will grow in confidence to distribute the ball and in turn have the confidence that seeking contact is not the only option open to them
This way you can attack the problem from 2 angles - ball confidence combined with Toby's points 1 and 2
Cheers
Angus
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