Games for coaching Contact

The coaches use a variety of conditions for both the attackers and defenders to reinforce the coaching points. Small sided games enable players to learn in a live environment similar to actual match conditions

British Bulldogs - Defence game

The classic schoolyard game. Played full contact but with tackle pads. Attackers must get to the other side of the field without dropping their ball or being pinned to the ground by defenders with tackle pads.

Conditioned Game

A full-contact game to finish the session. The condition is that breakdowns only allow one player from each side, putting more focus on open play to practice the running and tackling skills covered in the session.

Broncos 6 - Attack to Defence 8 v 5

A combination of skills are tested, both technical and tactical with the defenders moving from a passing activity to defending 8 attackers. The coach can change the attack with different starting points and number of attackers

Broncos 5 - 2 Ball touch to test the defence

This exercise tests the defenders ability to keep a peripheral view of where the next threat might be coming from and to keep communicating with colleagues. Attackers are always looking for the next opportunity an so should defenders

Chapter 1 - Playing Tag Rugby

Introduction to TAG

Colour touch game

A great game to play to develop spacial awareness and scanning techniques of players under pressure. Defensive players are allocated colours; which when called out require defenders to touch a nearby cone. Thus creating space for the attackers to exploit.

Conor O Shea - is gamesense important

Conor O Shea discuss how using games is a big part of coaching at all levels

Tag Game - Piggy in the Middle

A TAG variation to keep challenging decision-making

Tag Game - Mis-Match Tag

A TAG progression to identify attacking opportunities

Tag Game - Keep Ball Tag

Tag Game - Any Direction Tag Clip

Helps to identify space and works vision and decision making skills

One touch turnover

An advanced game for developing spacial awareness

One handed passing touch

Here the aim is for the player to pass the ball one-handed to support once they are touched.

Touch rugby with offload after touch

A game for understanding the importance of support.

Offload off floor touchrugby

A game for support running and lifting the ball off the floor after the tackle

8 v 4 Overload touch

A game for developing advanced understanding of decision making

Paramatta Touch

An advanced game for understanding the decision making under pressure with repeated 4v3 opportunities - this is also a great conditioning drill

Conor O Shea - Managing officials

Conor O Shea discusses the importance of how it is important manage officials during a game

Attacking a Drift defence game

An advanced game for fixing defenders trying to drift