Backs Move - Decoy & DSM

This backs move combines a decoy 'slice' pass with the DSM (dummy-switch, miss pass) to confuse the defence. The first decoy runner and dummy-switch should commit the inside players, keeping the defensive line narrow. The space out wide is then exploited with the miss pass.

The Dummy Switch - game footage

To develop handling skills

7-man - dummy at back then shift forward

If you can commit a lifting pod at the back of the lineout, it should leave uncontested space in the middle to win the ball.

L2 - Half Back Development

Skill Practice Description • Each player is given a number. • From any tackle point or breakdown, as the attacking team is about to start another attack, the coach calls out a number and the defending player with that allocated number retires three paces before moving forward as the others step up. • This leaves a miss alignment in the defence line. • The fly half is required to notice the opportunity and attack the miss alignment and deliver the ball accordingly. • A progression is for the numbered player to step forward early, creating the opposite miss alignment. • If the forward player is the wing, then the fly half may chose to use a kick to get behind the defence. • The opportunity may appear on the short side and the fly half needs to be aware and communicate to the scrum half. • Now develop the decision making further by even numbers step up and odd numbers retire. Key Coaching Points • Scanning skills. • Attacking an opportunity offered by the defence alignment. • Decision making skills. • Appropriate passing (short, long, flat, deep etc. • Appropriate kicking (grubber through, chip over, cross kick etc.) • Look-Think -Do Process

Dummy - switch - 10 - 14

Handling progression for the lateral running 10

Men's - Strike Moves 4

A great axample of how to use effective passing and dummy runners to attack from scrums. Key factors ; Solid scrum - Accurate spin pass - Load calling from dummy runners - Different angles of running - Wide flat pass - Speed and swerve from the final player

Back Play - Attack From Scrum - Older Youth

It’s not a matter of going through a strike move repertoire. It is more about specific selection from the repertoire in order to attack identified targets according to the opposition and game situation
Attacking the space between the two teams is paramount and attacking the ball when running a support line will assist the offload and turn defenders

Back Play from Set Piece - Back Play Intro

Back Play from Set Piece - Back Play Intro

Broncos 1 - Scramble defence - Tracking back

Use this exercise to replicate a line break with one defender to beat. The attackers need to move the defender and execute a 2 v 1 while the initial defender tracks back to stop the pass. Also works movement at top end speed for the main attacker

Lions 09 strike moves 4

Developing attack moves through the backs

Back Play - Attack From Scrum - Younger Youth

To take advantage of the forwards being grouped and to utilize the space this provides, young players should be encouraged to develop their decision making from a non-prescriptive environment.
It’s not a matter of going through a strike move repertoire. Its a matter of attacking the space between the two teams and running support lines that will assist the ball carrier

Pull back Pass

A clever exercise that keeps the players involved and moving constantly with an emphasis on depth and accurate passing. Players need to concentrate, communicate and be accurate if the drill is to continue. Coaches can add width, more players or in this example another ball to increase difficulty

Back Play from Set Piece - Attack from Scrum

It’s not a matter of going through the strike move repertoire. It is about selecting appropriately from the repertoire according to the opposition and game situation.

Attacking the space between the two teams is paramount and attacking the ball when running support lines will assist the offload and turn defenders.

Back Play from Set Piece - Attack from Line Out

To take advantage of the forwards being grouped and to utilize the space this provides, the appropriate strike call needs to be made and space attached.
Attacking the space between the two teams is paramount and attacking the ball when running support lines will assist the offload and turn defenders.

Lions 09 Strike Moves 3

Developimg attack plays through the backs

Lions 09 strike move 8

Developing play through the backs

Lions Strike Moves 1

Developing attack plays through the backs

Strike move from Lineout

RGS Guildford secure lineout ball and perform a 'circle' ball, with the fly-half looping around the centre who pops the ball back to him. This is to draw in defenders, to create space out wide. The winger is able to exploit this space to complete the try.

Lions 09 Strike Moves 07

Developing attacking plays through the backs

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 4

From a turnover in contact the attackers pass the ball wide one way and then a deep wide pass back in the other direction to pull the defence out of shape and create an opportunity to attack. Key factors : Wide flat pass - Players support from depth - Deep wide pass - Running and swerving past the defender

Lions 09 strike move 11

Developing back play in attack

Back Play - Attack From Line Out - Older Youth

To take advantage of the forwards being grouped and to utilize the space this provides, the appropriate strike call needs to be made and space attacked
It’s not a matter of going through the strike move repertoire. It is about specific selection from the repertoire in order to attack identified areas of the opposition and game situations

Attacking the space between the two teams is paramount and attacking the ball when running a support line will assist the offload and turn defenders

Lions 09 strike move 5

Developing play in backs

Lions 09 strike moves 6

Developing attacking plays through the backs

Scotland New Lineout Move

Scotlands clever score from the line out v Ireland was a great example of coaches or players being innovative and looking at new ways to do things. This clip shows a few slightly different uses for placing your scrum half at the front of the line out. It is just ideas and about pushing the boundaries of the laws

3v2 Warm Up To Switch On

Use this quick warm up drill to switch your players on for the session. It works on defence and attacking decision making as well as handling.

Women's - Strike Moves 1

Women's - Strike Moves 1

The MIss Pass - coaching tips

To develop the Miss Pass

Back To Back Pre Contact Wrestle

Players sit back to back, arms interlocked and knees bent. The coach says left or right. The players must battle to pull their partner to the floor on the said side.

Quins - Out The Back Pass

The deep "Out The Back" pass is a play that is becoming more popular with several options and progressions. In this clip players from Harlequins run through a simple practise to improve their accuracy

Back Play from Set Piece - Intro

Back Play from Set Piece - Intro

Back-to-back Wrestle

Players sit back-to-back and link arms. The coach calls either left or right, and the players try to get the corresponding shoulder to the ground; thus fighting against their partner. A great warm up before going into contact.

Warm-up Back to Back

Preparing players for contact coaches should introduce a range of fun exercises to warm up the major muscle groups. These can be competitive or based upon teamwork

The Miss Pass Key Coaching Points

To review handling Key factors

Back Play from Set Piece - Mini Half Backs

Children should be encouraged to play in all playing positions. Rugby is a late specialist sport and the prop of today may be the scrum half of tomorrow.
If the coach constantly plays the strongest players at half back, this may restrict the development of other, later maturing players.

Back-to-back Wrestle

A good upper body warm-up to get players ready for contact. Can be used with all age groups.

The MIss Pass game footage

to illustrate handling skills

The Miss Pass - common problems

To develop handling

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Dummy Options

Classroom session with Mike Catt - discussing the key points of attacking from a lineout

Attack from short lineout

With the dummy lifting pod moving back, Filton College execute a short lineout to the front lifter. They attack wide before 're-winding' and using the overlap on the nearside to break through for a try.

Drop off touch - start with a game

Chris Kibble of Esher RFC & Whitgift school says to start your sessions with a game. In this clip Chris runs a game called "Drop touch" where the players run back to a line when they make a touch. This is good for fitness and creating wholes to attack

Piggy Back Warm Up

One person in a strong squat position, other player in the piggy back position. Player on the back tries to work round the other players body to the start position without putting their feet on the floor.

The switch - getting started

To develop an understanding of the switch

The switch pass - game footage 1

watch the switch in action

Missed Tackles

Missed tackles can be hugely damaging, particularly in sevens. Here, Filton College benefit from a missed tackle, to run in an easy try.

Defence - 2. Miss Pass

If a miss pass is used, the passer and the player missed, are no longer primary theats

However they may become primary threats again if they take up support lines

The Switch - coaching points

What you need to know to coach the switch

Back Row Defence

Back Row Defence

Line Speed Game

Use this great game to work on your team’s line speed and spacing. Reward the defence for moving the defence back and punish them for passive defence.

Warm Up - Lower Back

Various individual dynamic stretches for the lower back / core. Particularly important for injury prevention before a contact session.

1. Half Back Play

Watch the half backs and assess their effect on the game and the skills required to affect the game

Half Back Play - Under 13 and 14

A scrum half needs good vision, speed and awareness, quick hands and lightning reactions. The scrum half is the key link between the forwards and the back line. A good scrum half will know how to vary the play and take advantage of any opportunity that the opposition may offer
The fly half is the heart beat of the side and should be a key influence on the way the team plays the game. Almost every attack will go through the fly half, so they need to develop tactical awareness, accurate passing, kicking accuracy, vision, leadership and resilience

Pulling the pass back off left hand

Pulling the ball back off both hands is essential to being able to attack at pace

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 1

Men's - Turnover and move the ball

3. Half Back Play Continued

A scrum half needs good vision, speed and awareness, quick hands and lightning reactions. The scrum half is the key link between the forwards and the back line. A good scrum half will know how to vary the play and take advantage of any opportunity that the opposition may offer
The fly half is the heart beat of the side and should be a key influence on the way the team plays the game. Almost every attack will go through the fly half, so they need to develop tactical awareness, accurate passing, kicking accuracy, vision, leadership and resilience

Level 2 - Back Row Example Clip 1

Level 2 - Back Row Example Clip 1

Men's - Strike Moves 3

Men's - Strike Moves 3

Strike Move - Slice

A good 'go to' strike move for all players 1-15 to know. Passing the ball behind a decoy runner can commit and confuse defenders, hopefully creating holes to attack.

L2 Back Play - Exploiting Space

L2 Back Play - Exploiting Space

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball 1

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 4

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 4

Junior - Strike Moves 1

Junior - Strike Moves 1

Back Row Attack Support

Back Row Attack Support

2. Half Back Play

Watch the half backs and assess their effect on the game and the skills required to affect the game

Squat Piggy Back

A good warm up for contact that also gets players thinking about their body position for tackling.

What is a switch pass

Understanding the swith pass and why it is used

Core skills Miss Pass intro

To develop the core passing skills

QBE - Half Back Development

The Miss Pass intro

Develop handling skills

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Back Ball

Classroom session with Mike Catt - discussing the key points of attacking from a lineout

QBE - Back Line Attack From Set Piece

Passing Accuracy

Accuracy of passing can make the difference between finished chances or missed opportunities. In this video, Northampton Saints look at developing passing accuracy through games and focused exercises. Log in to see the full sessions.

Lions 09 - Strike Moves

The Lions drill for developing awareness of attack and defence options

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 2

A turnover from a strong tackle and quick "Jackle" where the defender uses the momentum of the attacking player to swimg up onto his feet and contest the ball, this results in a line break. Key factors : Tackle technique - Urgency to get up to feet - Core strength - Speed

L2 - Back Line Attack from Set Piece

Skill Practice Description • The objective of this game is to score from first phase. • The defence start on the try line and can only advance to the five metre line (gain line). • The attack must start from the 5 metre line if simulating a scrum and vary the starting points i.e. centre field. • If simulating a lineout start, use the 10 metre line to half way. • If the attack can score from the set piece they are awarded five points. • If they score after one phase they are awarded four points. • If they score after two phases they get awarded three points and so on. • If the attack fails to score after four phases they turn around and defend. • Kicking options may be introduced. • Five attacks each team. Key Coaching Points • Appropriate passing (short, long, flat, deep etc.) • Appropriate running lines; decoy / option / creating spaces / accelerating into space. • Support and reaction. • Look-Think -Do Process • Allow the players to self correct before intervention from the coach Relevance to the Game • Accuracy in decision making scanning and decoy / option running lines

Sevens - The Switch

Sevens - Strike Moves 1

A simple but effective attack from a scrum. Three good passes provides the winger to run past his defender to score. Notice how the first reciever is directly behind the scrum and not to the side, (This makes the pass from the scrum easier when under pressure). Key factors : Position of 1st reciever - Run straigh and wide spin pass - Speed of the runner

Sevens - Strike Moves 2

Players can strike from any location on the pitch, in this clip the Red team relax thinking they have the attackers behind their own posts, however a strong scrum, good pass and great step create the gap to go through, the next 95 metres is all about speed and fitnes. Key factors : Space beetween attackers - Good pass - Side step - Speed - Stamina

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 3

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 1

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball 3

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball 2

Lions 09 Backs defence 3

A clip with a progression on defensive systems from the 2009 Lions Tour

Women's - Strike Moves 2

Junior - Strike Moves 2

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 2

Strong defence and a turnover allows two quick passes, (One long pass), and then attack the defence. The two passes have changed the channel of attack by 30 metres.

Key factors : Tackle and stay on your feet - Long quick pass / spin pass - Communicate loudly - Support the ball carrier on his shoulder

Men's - Strike Moves 1

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 3

Men's - Strike Moves 2

Touch rugby - roll ball back

A game for understanding

Pulling the pass back off both sides

A handling drill progression

Lateral passing in 3s with a switch

A core passing exercise for developing the lateral passing drill

Pulling the pass back

A handling drill progression

Level 2 - Back Row Example Clip 4

Level 2 - Back Row Example Clip 3

Level 2 - Back Row Example Clip 2

Full lineout practice - middle then back

Unopposed practice to develop calls and movement patterns

Lions 09 Backs defence 1

A clip from the 2009 on defence systems

Lions 09 Backs defence 2

A clip from the 2009 Lions

Junior - Turnovers and move the ball