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PRE season with out the ball Expand / Collapse
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Posted 01/07/2009 18:01:44
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In short , I will be responsible for a pre season my first official one, for the seniors of the club, now I am for as much ball handling or ball familarisation as possible but there seems to be a school of thought of almost 6 weeks there should be no ball contact , which for me would seem a waste , I planned 2 weeks fitness then drills with fitness using a ball for the rest, so my question is , is there a wrong or right to not use rugby balls in pre season.

Lets look forward to a good hard CLEAN game on Saturday.

Saludos

gettingthere.

Post #2037
Posted 02/07/2009 13:16:46
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I guess it depends on factors like the level of your team and how much time you have ... but for me, players can never have too much ball contact. They need to develop that instinctive "feel" for the ball and its characteristics, so the more ball-in-hand time the better IMO.

I don't know about any other schools of thought. There are always lots of opinions going around. What matters is what you think is right for your team. I think your schedule is fine.

And I share your wishes for Saturday!

Cheers - Ferret

U14s Backs Coach

"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England" (Sir Winston Churchill)

Post #2038
Posted 02/07/2009 18:57:37
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I would say it depends on what level you are playing at and what type of game you are going to play. However at any level you need to consider what players are (or if you persuade them, can) do on their own, so training can complement this. As a final thought, I think the most important aspect of any training is motivation, so, whatever you decide, make sure the playes buy into it and enjoy coming to traning.
Post #2039
Posted 02/07/2009 22:49:25
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There is a school of thought that pre-season training is to get the players fitness to an acceptable standard before the season starts.  Sometimes the focus on fitness detracts from what pre-season really should be, and that is preparing players for the coming season - that means ball-handling, decision making, improving communication skills and individual and unit skills.  I would suggest that the challenge for any coach is to develop sessions that encompass all these and also develops fitness.  Conditioned games that adhere to the coaching principles of Active, Purposeful, Enjoyable & Safe will ensure that the players will enjoy the sessions and be back next week.  Thrashing people with various fitness drills that have little or no relation to the actual game we play will just mean numbers will dwindle.  Get the ball in their hands, get them active, get them thinking, get them making decisions....the fitness is "hidden" and the benefits to the players, individually and collectively are massive.
Post #2040
Posted 08/07/2009 15:23:07


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Pre-season = BALLS OUT of the sack & in the hand at EVERY opportunity!   If ppl wanted to get 'fit' they'd join the gym or go to bootcamp classes! 

Rugbia floreat ubique
Post #2047
Posted 10/07/2009 17:51:31
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Total agreement! Use the balls from pre-season session #1 and the players will stay interested. Use different types of ball as well, as its good proprioception for hand-eye work. (Tennis balls work well for this).

Plan your programme over say 8 weeks and split into 2x4 week sets, with different emphasis each week. For mine probably sessions 3 and 6 will be the most intense in fitness terms. Rugby is a stop/start game - so use Tabatas and other interval work and be as creative as you like. You can do a full tabata in four minutes and incorporate ball work within it, and it will be very effective.

Pre-season is a re-awakening of fitness, strength, individual skills, team skills. More individual skills work in weeks 1-4, team stuff in the second half. Hide the fitness work (which is the least interesting) inside the other activities and the players will thank you.

Post #2061
Posted 10/07/2009 17:57:46


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A man after my own heart! ;-)

Rugbia floreat ubique
Post #2062
Posted 12/07/2009 22:17:12
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R&B is spot on.

My biggest bug bear with senior training, at least at amateur levels, is players say they don't want "fitness" at practice (which I heartily endorse because our time is limited and can be made better use of) but then do stuff all about getting any outside of club practice.

If aged 46 years, ex prop, I can run 12 miles a week minimum people half my age can!!

didds

Post #2069
Posted 24/07/2009 13:22:09
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I agree with GourouxPete. More balls the better. I use tennis balls, footballs, deflated footballs (try and spin one of them!) and beanbags. We even had fun with eggs the other week.

I think it's simple, there's two options.

1- fitness. players end up running 2/3/4 miles in a session and walk home calling you all the names going.

2- Ball skills. Player do a range of ball work and drills, end up running 2/3/4 miles and enjoy it!

Slimadey

Post #2104
Posted 24/07/2009 15:23:40


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There is a theory that you keep players hungry for the ball. Give them too much rugby and they burn out.

Also some players never touch the ball in the game let alone in pre season.

Just food for thought...

Post #2105
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