Archive for the ‘Technical’ Category
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
It is very difficult to discuss the ruck without discussing the tackle and vica versa. The tackle usually develops into a ruck and for that reason the events that occur at the tackle have a big impact on the ruck.
The tackled player sets the platform for the ruck in the way they retain and present the ball during contact. Whether or not they win the collision and their body position after going to ground effects how the ball is presented.
The support players arriving at the tackle take up important roles, not just in terms of winning the ruck and retaining possession, but in the speed at which the ball is made available. Every coach knows, regardless of how defensively skilled a team are, even the best teams in the world struggle to defend against quick ruck ball. Hence the production of quick ruck ball is paramount in attack.
For that reason every team in attack aspires to creating quick ball while every team in defense, if they cannot regain possession, at least aspires to slowing it down. On that basis the efficiency of the attacking support players arriving at the tackle will determine the success and efficiency at the ruck.
Each support player arriving at the tackle, and it only requires three, should get to the tackle area as quickly as possible. The general rule is usually – “The nearest 3 players to the tackle go to the ruck”. Each player arriving at the ruck has a specific role to perform to achieve their goal of quick ruck ball.
The first player arriving must remove the opposition threat to the ball. That player is called the “Cleanout”. The threat to the ball is usually the 1st defender who could potentially poach (turnover) or slow down the delivery of the ball. There are different techniques necessary to removing the threat from the tackle area. The required technique is dependent on how the threatening defender presents themselves.
The second support player arriving at the tackle must take the space just in front of where the ball is presented but no further than the ball sitting at their heels. They must also retain a strong body position. That player is called the “Combat”. The space they occupy is called the “Combat Zone”, as occupying that space denies the defense access to the ball and once the defence engages the “Combat” a ruck is formed under law.
The final role is for the 3rd support player who latches onto the Combat and over the ball. This achieves two important objectives. Firstly, it protects the ball so it remains inside the hindmost foot of the ruck. Secondly, it stabilizes the ruck. This player is called the “Firewall”.
Both the Combat and the Firewall must retain intensity and strong body positions throughout the ruck. A weak Combat or Firewall leaves the ruck vulnerable to counter rucking from the defence.
In the next segments on Tackle/Ruck Transition I will discuss the roles of each player in more specific detail.
Eddie
Tags: ruck breakdown skills, ruck transition skills, rucking skills, rugby tackle area skills
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Player, Role, Ruck / Maul, Rucking, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, The Ruck, coaching, rugby development | View Comments
Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Quick ball or the creation of quick ball is one of the most important areas that wins rugby matches.
One of the problem in practicing quick ball drills is that many players, especially young players get carried away with the contact and don’t grasp the concept of creating quick ball.
I am a firm believer that game related skills sessions are a better way to learn.
I will outline a simple drill that will promote creating quick ball, passing, support and also defence.
Like many of the games I like this can start with young children and evolve as your players get older. It can also be used as adults and in addition to the skills practiced it also increases aerobic fitness.
Ruck Touch
Equipment required, market cones, bibs & balls.
Simple use the pitch with existing marker lines; that is make touchlines 15 metre line, 5 metre line and touchline. A tip from me is to mark these lines in different colour cones. Example blue on 15 metre, red on 5 metre and white on touchline; you can now narrow or widen your pitch with a simple instruction.
Split your teams so they are evenly balanced.
The game is played as touch rugby, but when touched the ball carrier goes to ground and places the ball back, the player who makes the touch goes down on one knee either at feet or head of the player he has touched, the next attacker and defender must both win the space over the ball, whoever gets there 1st wins the ball, it is a touch game.
If any team does not commit the players to the ruck area the opposition have 3 seconds in which they can not be touched.
The idea is to promote support runners, for players to follow their pass and for the closest player to the ball carrier to be support player.
Progression
Attacking team have a 3rd player coming directly behind the player securing the ball pushing him forward making a long thin ruck with narrow gate.
Defending team must have left & right guards. If the defending team do not have guards in place then attack can go early
Key Factors
Follow pass
Support Ball Carrier
Win the gap at the contact area
Utilise quick ball
This game will help practice both attacking and defensive skills and emphasises the importance of winning the gap at the tackle or ruck area.
This game can easily be modified for a contact version to practice in more realistic conditions.
Donny
Tags: donnys blog, winning quick ball
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Player, Role, Ruck / Maul, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Saturday, September 17th, 2011
Diamond Running
Diamond Running is the term used for a support system of running where a ball carrier is supported by a player slightly behind to his right, slightly behind to his left and a player sitting deeper directly behind him. This looks like a diamond.
While in this system the ball carrier has many options, he can pass right or left, near or far. He can run knowing he has support close by and if contact is taking there are enough players close by to ruck or maul successfully.
The major benefit from utilising diamond running is the ability to promote continuity in the game; that is keeping the ball alive and fluent in play.
Diamond Running Drill
Equipment
Balls, cones, bibs & players
Set Up
With marker cones set up a channel 10 to metres wide by 24 metres long
Put 4 defenders with bibs on in the channel, 1 behind each other around 6 metres apart
Attackers start at one in end; in groups of 4 with a ball for each group.
Drill
The ball carrier attacks the first defender and looks to beat defender with offload or committing him.
Support players ensure that ball carrier always ahs options left and right.
His carries on through all four defenders so the group has turns at each position and has to practice re-aligning.
This can be repeated a few times, make sure you regularly switch defenders.
The drill should start as a touch drill until the players have gained success then it can be progressed through different stages of contact.
The major issue you will find is players following the ball, at times all 3 support players will be to the right of the ball carrier, be patient, with practice the principal of diamond running will come to your players. What the drill is trying to do is to get your players to look up, read the game and anticipate where the ball or space may be and in addition value the importance of running off the ball.
Coaching Points
Move defender, create space
Sympathy & good technique in the pass
Support Options left & right at all times
Running off the ball
Donny
Tags: donnys blog, lines of support, rugby support play
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Handling, Midi- U11-U12, Role, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Friday, September 16th, 2011
You have to understand dependent on which kick off you receive what your options are in terms of attack. If a team kicks short and high to you in attack they are looking to put you under pressure.
The reality is that if you do not seek to just secure the ball and create a contact area and instead look to move the ball away from the kick off competition zone to the players you have located in the backfield you are putting unnecessary pressure on your 3 or 4 players in the backfield as they will be faced with 7 defenders all on their feet coming towards them. As such on any kick off short you should look to secure possession and engage the defence as quickly as possible to either score or create a positive contact area to then play away. The attacking formation is crucial as you should look to have one man competing to win the kick off and one man to compete to support the man looking to secure possession either through a lift or a grab and rip situation. Your third player in the front field should look to go the other side of the ball as a gamble runner in case the defence are successful in knocking the ball back or trying to secure possession themselves. The catching forward should look to attack straight down the line from which he has caught the ball to either score or create a positive contact situation. As such should then look to secure possession and then move the ball away from the contact and move into your open play stretch plays.
Mike
Tags: coaching rugby sevens, developing sevens attack, mike friday blog, rugby sevens, sevens attacking options, sevens rugby kick offs
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Player, Role, Ruckipedia, Rugby 7's, Site Articles, Tactical, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
Learning to present the rugby ball in a simple way
The first point is to try and land on the ground on your terms so first you need to beat and go beyond the tackler/point of contact.
Land on your front and then twist back to your own try line to present the ball moving the ball away from the opposition.
Practice being on you front with someone holding down you legs and then fighting to present the ball in all directions, this is very good for strengthening your core.
Tags: eddie osullivan blog
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Colts- U18-19, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
Decision making is probably the area that most rugby players need to work on. In particular how to create space, make a miss-match or simple exploit a 2 on 1.
In addition many of our players come back unfit after the summer and dread the thought of the pre-season fitness programme.
I think many of us have experienced endless static 2 on 1, 3 on 1 and 4 on 1 drill; but is that really the best way to learn?
I am a firm believer that game related skills sessions are a better way to learn.
I will outline a simple drill that will promote decision making, passing, support, fitness & also defence.
Aerobic Touch
Equipment required, market cones, bibs & balls.
Simple mark your pitch with lines across the pitch, you can use pre existing lines or colour code the lines. My suggestion would be try lines, half way line and a line halfway between try line and halfway. If you can mark try lines in white, half way line in blue and the other two in red (or any 3 different colours). Coloured cones are a preference of mine when doing new drills or games it helps the players understand what you want them to do. I would suggest using a pitch 50 metres long by 40 metres wide
You then play the game with even sides, the game can be condition to have as many touches before handover as you want, this can be unlimited to start.
Once a player makes a touch he must run back to the next line before he can take part in game. This has the following affects.
1. Make him run further
2. Creates a gap for the attack to exploit, therefore making attack make decisions.
3. Creates gap for defence to defend, they must work harder to cover the gap left.
As the game progresses more gaps appear, the defence line becomes fragmented with the active defenders having to work hard and those who have made the touch working hard to get into the game.
Once a score is made the attack switches to the other side; both sides will quickly tire aerobically putting more pressure on their offensive & defensive decision making.
Variations to Game
1. When a team scores the whole team must touch a pre-defined line (e.g. their try line or half way line before they are active in the game) This makes the scorer think before he scores, does he have time to delay scoring to allow team mates to become active. It also will promote the new defenders to come up in a flat line to defend.
2. Forwards run to closest or furthest touchline; backs run to the next line across the pitch. This will mean that defenders are re-joining the game from the side as well as in front, making this game more match like and promoting decision making.
3. Reduce lines to only half way & try lines, simply makes those not active work more to get back in game and other defenders work harder to compensate for those not active.
As you can see during this game players will have to work very hard to participate in it. This game will stretch their aerobic fitness base in a match related situation. In addition to this it works on the core skills of the game and will make players make decisions under pressure. Most importantly from experience players have found this game fun and will play it without realising they are working on their aerobic endurance, so ideal for those players who are reluctant to fitness activities.
Donny
Tags: coaching children, coaching decision making, Decision Making, rugby coaching tips, rugby development
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Decision Making, Role, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Friday, September 9th, 2011
The philosophy around the sideline press in order to utilise the touchline as your additional defender the purpose being to attract the attack down into a dead end in order that you can spring the aggressive tackles at defenders 2, 3 and 4 dependent on attacking options. To ensure an effective sideline press you must ensure that you are inside the inside shoulders and that your end man is 4-5 degrees to the touchline dropping off from his inside defender offering the attackers the outside. At all times defenders must ensure they are inside the inside shoulders until the attack to commit to attack on the outside channel after which the defensive sideline press can aggressively attack the players in front of them. Recognition of when the attack has committed to the outside and has no options but to engage the defence are crucial to an effective implementation of the sideline press.
Mike
Tags: coaching rugby sevens, mike friday blog, sevens defence, sevens defensive formation, sevens defensive framework
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Defence, Player, Role, Ruckipedia, Rugby 7's, Site Articles, Tackling, Tactical, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
If the ball carrier has considered the possibility of passing before contact or offloading out of the tackle, and neither option becomes available then the priorities of the ball carrier automatically change.
Before discussing the final option available to the ball carrier, it is worth mentioning the reasons the pass before contact or the offload out of the tackle didn’t emerge for the ball carrier is usually down to a number of reasons. Firstly the ball carrier may have provided themselves with every option but the support player was not available to avail of the pass or offload. On the other hand the ball carrier may not have attempted to executed the techniques available to them and in doing so not created the pass or offload. The most important factor to remember is that the ball carrier should attempt to create the pass and offload possibilities even of the options do not eventually arise.
Once the ball carrier recognises the pass or offload options are not possible they should immediately change strategy. More often than not, in these circumstances, the tackler has executed a good smother tackle or had another defender assist in the tackle and tagged the ball. This can often be a problem as players tend to sometimes try to force the offload when it is a low percentage option and as a result turn the ball over frequently. Frequent turnovers, while attempting to offload the ball, is often the factor that dissuades the coach from giving players the option of offloading the ball. But if the coach coaches and the players learn, a tried and trusted system for creating offload opportunities, it will to a large extent eliminate the possibility of turnovers while attempting to offload from the tackle.
The final strategy, once the pass or offload is not possible, like every other option requires a technique. The technique recommended in this situation is the “Leech or Latch Technique”. This technique gives the player the best possibility of still winning the collision and advancing the ball while at the same time giving the support players an opportunity to reach the ball carrier.
The support players reaching the ball carrier are crucial in terms of not allowing the ball carrier to become isolated, which risks a turnover and also ensures the best possibility of quick ball from the ensueing contact situation. The technique to achieve both objectives should be executed as follows:
The ball carrier should, like every other technique, have dragged the defender slightly to one side in order to take the defender from their power position. While keeping the ball wrapped under the arm furthest from the defender they should drop their body into a low position under the defender. Their body position should resemble the ‘Knee Lift Cleanout Technique’. While in this low body position they should drive hard with their legs while keeping their body square (parallel to the goal line). This strong driving position should buy the ball carrier some time on their feet until support arrives.
The first support player to arrive should latch onto the side of the ball carrier, (on the ball side, to further protect the ball), hip to hip in a low body position like the ball carrier. The second support player should latch ono the other side of the ball carrier in the same low body position as the first ball carrier. While binding as tight as possible on the ball carrier, both support players should now retain a low body position while driving hard with their legs. This will keep the ball carrier from going to ground and advance the ball in a very strong fashion. By now it is probable that other defenders have attached to what has under law become a maul and tried to stop the maul advancing. It is necessary for the support players, once they begin to advance the ball carrier, through driving forward, should slide past the ball carrier and bind together in front of the ball carrier. They must achieve this while still driving and keeping a low strong body position. The ball carrier must remain bound to the support players before, during and after they slide forward. The support players have now sealed off and protected the ball from any defenders that have joined what has become a maul under law.
Both the support players and ball carrier should continue to advance the ball in this strong driving position until the defense has committed enough defenders to stop the maul advancing or taken it to ground. At this point the ball carrier should as a final action go to ground and present the ball. As the ball carrier goes to ground, both support players should stop just in front of the ball carrier in the ‘Combat Zone’, hence protecting the ball from the opposition.
The ball should be now availble for the scrum-half to pass away from the breakdown.
Key Factors of Leech (Latch Technique):
- Ball Carrier – Drag the defender and turn their shoulders
- Ball Carrier – Wrap the ball in the outside arm (away from defender)
- Ball Carrier – Get low body position and drive under the defender
- Ball Carrier – Keep hips square (parallel to goal line)
- Ball Carrier – Drive hard with legs (keep your legs alive!)
- Support Player 1 – Latch onto the side of the ball carrier on the ball side asap
- Support Player 2 – Latch into the other side of the ball carrier asap
- Support Players 1 & 2 – Bind onto the ball carrier & each other
- Support Players 1 & 2 – Keep Hips Square (parallel to goal line)
- Support Players 1 & 2 – Drive hard with legs (keep legs alive!)
- Support Players 1 & 2 – Keep the ball carrier on their feet
- Support Players 1 & 2 – Slide past the ball carrier while driving
- Ball Carrier & Support Players – Keep driving until stopped or taken to ground.
- Ball Carrier – Present the ball on going to ground
- Support Players – Stay bound & stop just in front of ball carrier (Combat Zone)
- Support Players – Stay in low strong body position (Combat Position)
Once the ball carrier approaches a defender with the intention of exploiting the possibility of passing before contact or offloading from the tackle and the support players understand the possibilities the ball carrier is attempting to exploit, then the possibility of keeping the ball alive without the ball carrier going to ground with the ball always exists. Even if the pass before contact or the offload fails to ensue the ball carrier can still win the collision, advance the ball and present quick possession from the ground. But if going to ground to present the ball is the first option the ball carrier pursues then the pass or offload is never going to be an option.
Eddie
Tags: Continuity, continuity skills, eddie osullivan blog
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Handling, Offence, Player, Role, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Sunday, September 4th, 2011
Types of Delivery
Off the Top
This is a controlled pass from the jumper at or near the top of his jump. Always practice catching the ball then passing as opposed to just deflecting the ball down. Lifters hold the jumper at the top for a fraction longer. When practicing exaggerate the hold of the jumper in the air Jumpers must be consistent with your palm down. Work with your scrumhalf. The 9’s need to be in the same place each time.
Catch and Give
Catch the ball and land then pop the ball to the scrum half. Lifters should lift then step into the lineout gap to protect the jumper from the oppositio. Make sure the jumper lands safely. Jumpers must catch the ball and bring it down into your chest so it doesn’t get knocked out of your hands. When you are landing look to develop a wide foot base so it’s difficult to pull you over. Only when you land look for the scrum half and pop the ball to him.
Drive
Jumpers and lifters exactly the same set up for catch and give, except with a drive the jumper lands they keep hold of the ball. The lifters stay firmly in place in the gap, if your back is to the opposition look to turn around to face them and get into a low driving position but stay bound to the jumper. The first player to arrive rips the ball from the jumper and stays attached. Players join either of the ripper in a good driving position.
Peel
This can de executed at the front or the back, and there are many ways to perform a peel. A simple way is:
A back peel- The ball is thrown to the tail of the lineout. The jumper catches the ball a the front prop rips the ball and pops it to the players from the front of the lineout who have run round the back of the lineout.
A front peel- The ball is won at the front of the lineout and is ripped and popped to runners attacking the 5m channel.
Drop off
The ball is won at the front of the lineout and caught. The back 3 players drop back and take a pass from the scrum half. They can look tt develop a quick ruck ball. The benefit of this is to take out the opposition back row and make the the pass from 9 to 10 easier. The forwards must remain inside the 15 metre line. This can be done in reverse to attack the front.
Part 4 will look at the tactics of the lineout.
Martin
Tags: lineout delivery skills, lineout throw, rugby lineout skills, Rugby lineout technical
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Player, Role, Ruckipedia, Set Piece, Set Pieces, Site Articles, Tactical, Technical, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011
Equipment Required
Tackle Suits
Rucking Sledge or Tackle Bags (large tubes)
Balls
Whistle
Set Up
Working in groups of 3s
Player 1 wears tackle suit and holds ball.
Each sledge or tackle tube (use tackle tube if you don’t have a sledge) is placed 10 metres in front of player 1 but each of these are 10 metres away from each other.
Player 2 crouches in front of sledge or tackle tube (tube should be length ways)
Player 3 crouches in front of the other sledge or tackle tube(tube should be length ways)
On first whistle player 2 & player 3 drive the sledge or tackle tube.
After 5 seconds the 2nd whistle is blown, player 2 & player 3 then tackle player 1 who is holding the ball.
One of the players should tackle high trapping the ball, the other players should drive player 1 backwards preventing him going to floor or playing the ball.
Key Points
Players to adopt a low strong body position, with straight back and spine in line to drive.
Encourage quick reaction from driving position and into live game
Trapping ball preventing ball carrier playing ball.
Drive ball carrier up and back; but keep him on his feet preventing the ball going to floor and being played.
Donny
Tags: donnys blog, ruck breakdown skills
Posted in A, Adult- Community, Age, Category, Coaches, Colts- U18-19, Midi- U11-U12, Player, Role, Ruck / Maul, Ruckipedia, Site Articles, Technical, Technical, rugby development | View Comments
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