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

Quins - Two touch Game

This conditioned game allows attackers two touches so that they can isolate one defender, the game encourages good support play and can be used to improve fitness

Number Touch Game

Number Touch Game

Quins - Support Touch Game

The coaches use games to teach techniques and allow players to experiment in game situations. The coach can set the parameters for the game dependent on the skill sets of the players

Game - Tackle Touch

Whether you're introducing tackling to young players for the first time, or re-introducing it to senior players after a summer away, this is a great game to play to ease back into it. It isolates the 1v1 tackle and puts emphasis on technique without the high speed impact of a full contact game.

Game - Defence Touch

Another conditioned game that will test your players' fitness. This requires all defenders to perform a 'down-up' after each touch, before re-aligning. As players become tired, more gaps will appear, testing the defence even more.

CCRU Game - Ball Touch

Aim of the game: Touch as many players as possible with the ball in one minute. The ball must be held in both hands at all times

Breakout Touch Rugby Game

Breakout Touch Rugby Game

Touch games for mini's

Using games is becoming more popular and important when coaching young players. This clip shows a a simple touch game and format to include coaches, have fun and develop skills

Group Touch Game

Group Touch Game

Small-side game - Ruck Touch

There are many versions of ruck touch with the support players needing to recognise the needs of the tackled player.

The defence should be conditioned to provide increasing pressure to the tackle area. This will develop the situation recognision of the attacking players who must play accordingly. Robotics in rucking regardles of the situation should be discouraged and the option of picking upthe ball and going forward should be an option

Ball Presentation Touch Game

Ball Presentation Touch

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.

CCRU Game - Chaos Touch

Aim of the game: Teams of three or four players attempt to score points by passing the ball to team mates when they are in one of the scoring zones. Defenders attempt to prevent the attack from scoring by intercepting passes. There is no contact between attack and defence. Passes can be made in any direction and players are encouraged to recognise and move into space to receive a pass. If the defence intercepts the ball they can attack. Coaches can involve the players to devise a scoring system i.e. first to five points and so on

Touch Game variation

Here after a touch the defence do an immediate pressup - thus creating space and an chaotic environment for the attack

8v4 one touch rugby game

In attack Looking to develop creation and identification of space and ability to keep the ball - defensively looking to work hard on the overloaded situation

Bear Crawl Touch

During pre-season, it's a great idea to keep training fun, but with emphasis on building fitness. Conditioned games are an excellent way to do this. In this game, defenders who make a touch must run back to their own try line and complete a bear crawl before rejoining the game. This gives opportunities to the attacking team.

L2 - Chaos Touch

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play touch with the rules as stipulated by the coach. • At any time during the game, the coach may blow the whistle. • The ball is passed to the coach and players run around whichever corner cone they are closest to, although it must be of their own try line. This ensures all players come back into the game at different times. • The coach can reintroduce the ball to either side and play resumes. Key Coaching Points • Looking for space on the pitch. • Ability to make intuitive decisions. • Innovative economy of movement in order to preserve energy. • Competitive spirit and team commitment. Relevance to the Game • This is primarily pre-season conditioning game. • The demand on the players is to scan for opportunity or danger while under the pressure of fatigue. • The game also tests team spirit and commitment to each other

L2 - Chaos Touch

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play touch with the rules as stipulated by the coach. • At any time during the game, the coach may blow the whistle. • The ball is passed to the coach and players run around whichever corner cone they are closest to, although it must be of their own try line. This ensures all players come back into the game at different times. • The coach can reintroduce the ball to either side and play resumes. Key Coaching Points • Looking for space on the pitch. • Ability to make intuitive decisions. • Innovative economy of movement in order to preserve energy. • Competitive spirit and team commitment. Relevance to the Game • This is primarily pre-season conditioning game. • The demand on the players is to scan for opportunity or danger while under the pressure of fatigue. • The game also tests team spirit and commitment to each other

Conditioned Touch - Tackler drops to Knee

The condition in this game is for those making the 'tackle' (or touch) to drop to their knee for four seconds before re-joining the game. This should give more space for the attackers to exploit. A good game if you have been working on 2v1 or 3v2 handling exercises.

Military fitness for games - Pre season

Pre season fitness can be tedious and repetitive however you can integrate the latest fitness drills into games of touch or other conditioned games to make your training more challenging

L2 - Numbers Touch

Skill Practice Description • Players are given numbers (1-6 for Example). • At any time during the game, the coach calls a number and the defender with that number kneels. • Once the attack has gone behind the kneeling defender, they may get back into the game. • The attack should identify the opportunity quickly and take advantage of the space created. • With larger numbers in a game the coach may give numbers 1 - 3 for example so several defenders will have the same number. This results in several opportunities arising at any one time. • Play is continuous. Key Coaching Points • Spatial awareness. • Listening and cooperation. • Intuitive decision making. Relevance to the Game • This game will develop the intuitive decision making and clinical attacking skills

L2 - Colours Touch

Skill Practice Description • Each player is given a colour. • The coach will call out a colour at any time during the game. • The defender/s who have been given that colour need to leave the defence line, run round the nearest cone of that colour and rejoin the defence. • The attack should identify where the spatial opportunity has appeared and take immediate advantage. • The frequency of the call depends on how much the coach wants to work the players. • The coach may call for all players, both defence and attack, to run around an allotted cone colour. • Coach should have two rugby balls to ensure a fast game and a change of defence to attack at times. Key Coaching Points • Visual Acuity-Looking for space • Spatial awareness • Communication - highlighting spaces and mismatches • Evasion skills and footwork • Decision making Relevance to the Game • Spaces are created by the leaving defenders, which the attack has to identify, decide on the appropriate action and attack accordingly. • By using the second ball, the coach can also develop counter attack

Pre-Season Offload Touch For Fitness

This Pre-Season touch game is based upon offloading however there are other conditions which make it an ideal practise to combine skills and fitness

L2 - Anxiety Touch

Skill Practice Description Two teams play normal rules touch or contact. • Separate to either team are two rogue players to whom the rules do not apply. • These two players may be anywhere at any time including from set piece and their role is to disrupt the attack or the defence in any way they can. • A progression may be for the defence to be allowed to be a metre off side at every tackle and set piece. • These actions will place players under an exaggerated state of pressure they will not be under in a match. • Therefore the match may appear more manageable when the laws of the game are applied as normal.

Defensive Game with Coaching Points

A touch game conditioned to develop the drift defence. Worcester Warriors Community Coach Tamara Taylor explains the objectives of the conditions, gives feedback and adjusts them when necessary.

Drop touch

Drop touch is perfect for Pre-Season and as a coach you can set a wide variety of conditions just based on this simple game. Add extra fitness drills and set challenges for the attackers, its your choice

One touch - touch rugby

a game for understanding space & time

Touch rugby - one touch on forwards

A game for understanding

Touch rugby with offload after touch

A game for understanding the importance of support.

Offside Touch

Try this offside touch game from London Scottish. Gets your players working hard whilst developing their technical skills.

Warm Up - Touch

A game of touch in a shortened pitch to keep the game moving quicker and keep all players active. Split players into separate games to ensure everyone is involved. Coaches are free to call turnovers and add any conditions to make it more dynamic.

Breakdown Touch

This is a game which can be used to introduce contact gradually into pre-season training. With each touch, one player from each side must compete at a controlled breakdown situation. It is important for players to maintain good technique when they are fatigued, and for the coach to manage this.

Kicking in Training Games

Community Coach Tamara Taylor explains the challenges and benefits of allowing kicks in conditioned touch games at training.

L2 - Scatter Defence Game

Skill Practice Description • Ideal practice for when defences break up later in games or with counter attack decision making. • Attackers stand in front of a numbered cone and ball. • The coach calls a number and all attackers must run around their own numbered cone but whichever number was called, that ball becomes active. • At the same time a colour is called for the defenders and all defenders must turn and run around a cone of that colour. They must however choose different cones. • If a touch is made, the teams swap over roles. • If a try is scored, the attackers stay the same. • First to five tries wins. Key Coaching Points • Spatial awareness • Communication • Quickness of attack at a disorganised defence • Skills to attack space • Footwork and evasion skills • Scanning skills • Decision making • Importance of getting behind defenders Relevance to the Game • Great for coaching counter attacking disorganised defences from different angles. • Any player can be ball carrier and communication is vital as is decision making in identifying space and the best way to attack it successfully • Cones can be placed to shape different types of defence. Organised or scattered

Offside Touch - Heads Up Rugby

Use this game of offside touch to force your players to play with their heads up to identify space. One player per side can play in an offside position and players are allowed to kick.

L2 - Penetrating Defence Game

Skill Practice Description • The playing area is marked out in 5m channels. • When defending, players must stay within their channel throughout the game. • The attack must look to penetrate the defence by creating and preserving space. • The defence must use a two handed touch. • There is a 5 tackle turnover rule and once possession is turned over, the defence must get into a channel as the opposition can attack immediately. Key Coaching Points • Support players to hold their opposite number as long as possible before cutting a line to take the pass. • The defender can close the space as far as the edge of their own channel. • If the support player cuts too early or the ball carrier does not move their defender enough, the support player will be touched/tackled. Relevance to the Game • This game will help develop the footwork and running lines to effectively move defenders in order to penetrate the tackle line.

Breakdown - Using games to coach

Academy coaches use conditioned games with strict rules around the tackle / touch activity to teach the skills required for contact and clearing defenders away. Questioning is used as the main style of coaching

Reptile Touch

Another great conditioned game for pre-season training. With the addition of 'reptile crawls' for players who have made a touch, you incorporate an excellent core strength exercise that requires concentration under fatigue.

American Football Touch

Creating new games challenges and motivates players. This game is about getting players to scan and use space

CCRU Game - Capture the Aliens

Description of activity: Two players start with one ball between them, as humans and the rest are aliens. The humans capture the aliens by holding the ball in two hands and touching the alien with the ball. Once an alien has been touched they are turned into a human and can help. When a human has the ball, they cannot move but if they don’t have the ball they can run anywhere inside the grid

Ruck Touch Rugby

Coaches can use games to introduce all skills for your age group. If you are very specific about the conditions you apply then players will learn these skills in a fun and enjoyable game

Two Touch With Tackle Practice

This game has multiple conditions for both attackers and defenders. Dropping defenders to practise their tackling while working on support lines and groundwork for the attackers. Great for the first half an hour of your session

6v4 Touch (2)

A simple game of touch rugby with more players on the attacking team, and the defenders are required to retreat 5m after each touch. This should give more opportunities to the attackers and promote quick decision-making.

Parramatta Touch

A conditioned game for support and continuity

5-a-side Touch

To put the passing and support drills into practice, end with a game of 5 v 5 touch. Few players on each team will mean more time with the ball for each.

Colour Touch

In this game, defenders in coloured bibs are called back to touch their try line, creating space and opportunities for the attack to exploit.

Ruck touch - Focus on rolling players away

A key technique at the breakdown is the ability to roll players away, this applies when your opponent already has a good body position over the ball. Danny Wild from Leeds carnegie uses a game and breakout sessions to deliver his session

L2 - Bozo Touch

Skill Practice Description • There are to be three teams. • Two teams play while one wait by the touch line. • When a score is made, the defence pick up the ball and attack immediately. • The scoring team leave the pitch while the waiting team run on and defend. • Turnover of possession is via a score, a forward pass, dropped ball, intercept etc. • The rules may also stipulate a six touch turnover for example. • The coach to observe how the waiting players spread when in the off pitch area in order to cover space when called onto the pitch. It may not be the team in possession at that time that scores. Key Coaching Points • Speed in scanning and communicating the spatial opportunity. • Development of foundation skills, passing and running. • Innovation in positioning when planning to enter the pitch from outside. • Develop team work and commitment to each other. Relevance to the Game • Develop the understanding of inviting multiple defenders into a tackle area in order to create space elsewhere.

6v4 Touch

A simple game of touch rugby with more players on the attacking team, and the defenders are required to retreat 5m after each touch. This should give more opportunities to the attackers and promote quick decision-making.

Conditioned Touch - 1sec Offload

This game of touch is conditioned to encourage both close support in attack, and a proactive defence. Attacking players can offload immediately after a touch is made.

Conditioned Touch - Linked defenders

In this game, two defenders must link up, slowing them down and creating more opportunities for the attacking side. This can create the overlap necessary to put 2 v 1 and 3 v 2 techniques into practice.

Lineout Game - Target Games

This practice is a safe and enjoyable activity to develop the movement of the lifting pod and the accuracy of the throw

Touch rugby - ball presentation

A game for understanding how the presentation of the ball can affect the speed of the game and the ability to attack space

CCRU Game - Statues

Aim of the game: The chasers try to turn all the other players into statues in the shortest possible time. The players are put into pairs and each pair will have an opportunity to be the chasers. A player who is touched must stand still and hold their ball in two hands above the head. The chasers continue turning the other players into statues until everyone has been caught

Conditioned game for offloads

A basic game of offload touch with constraints on how much time the ball carrier has. coaches can vary the rules to get more success / make it easier for the attackers

Drop touch - Full pitch

In this game, defenders are randomly selected to sprint back to their try line before re-joining the game. This creates spaces for the attacking side to spot and exploit.

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - Choice Touch

This small sided game is design to develop intuitive decision making.

The players need to recognise the situation and react accordingly.

Practice through a conditioned game is the most effective way to develop the necessary skills to recognise a situation as it unfolds and to react appropriately and without hesitation

L2 - Tactical Scoring Game

Skill Practice Description • Play 7v7 in the game area but mark different scoring zones along the try lines (use coloured cones). • Mark 5 metres in from each try line with red markers and if a try is scored in either of these areas then it will be worth 8pts. • The next two 5 metre zones moving inwards would be worth 5 pts and the rest of the try line worth 3pts. • This should challenge the ability to outflank or penetrate in order to build a score. • It may be that the defenders primarily defend in the outside channels leaving the middle with more space. • The attack can then take advantage of this new situation, scoring in the middle zone. • Thus identifying the weaknesses of the defence. Key Coaching Points • Spatial awareness • Communication • Quickness of attack at a disorganised defence • Skills to attack space • Footwork and evasion skills • Scanning skills • Decision making Relevance to the Game • This game challenges the decision making of both attack and defence. • If for example a turn over occurs, which score area does the attack target? • Which area does the defence cover and defend first?

Agility Games for contact warm up

Saracens community coach uses games and competitive activities to introduce the contact elements of rugby. This builds confidence in players prior to actual contact skills

Ball Presentation Game

Use this game to practice great ball presentation. Ensure the tackling player is bouncing back to their feet so that this mentality carries over to game day.

Coaching the breakdown with games

The challenge of using games to coach contact is a tricky one for many coaches. This clip shows the Leeds carnegie academy coach explaining how to integrate games into his coaching and the different styles of delivery

Players First - Circle & Caterpillar Game

A great fun game to get training started and integrate new players into your squad. Lots of progressions and a variety of skills on show

Games for Juniors - 10's & over

The Sale sharks community coach delivers a "Game based" warm up with progressions that will lead onto to contact skills. The coach uses examples and questioning to support learning

Rugby-Football Game

A great fun game that combines rugby and football, that also tests the players skills for catch & pass, awareness and support play. This can be played with age groups from 13 / 14 upwards

Pop Off The Ground Touch

Pop Off The Ground Touch

Quins - Using Games In Training

Elite coaches explain how they translate their desired playing philosophy and principles into practical hands-on coaching approaches, drills and games

Games or drills ?

The coaches explain why they use games and provide examples of how they deliver a session using games with technical skills as the basis for learning

12. Kneel Touch

10. Number Touch

Using Games to Improve Support Play

Great tries are often the result of great support play. Coaches are now using more games in their training with set constraints put in to dictate what the coach wants to work on

Games for Coaching - Examples

Coaches often request ideas to help them plan sessions. Here are some examples of the conditions that coaches can apply to make training more challenging and enjoyable

Warm-up with Games and Handling (Rugby ready)

A rugby ready style warm up with games and handling as they focus prior to moving on to more technical skills. The game centres around the teams trying to make 10 passes

Coaching Contact Skills With Games - U 11's

Using games to coach can be a challenge for junior coaches. In this clip the Sale sharks community coach delivers a session to develop contact skills at the breakdown by using games, questioning and challenging the players. This can be used for all Junior age groups

Overload Attack Game

This game allows your attack to experiment whilst working on communication, reloading for depth and handling skills. With an attacking overload this will also work on your defence communication and organisation in phase play.

Multi-direction Game

In this game, the coach can change which try line the attacking team are aiming for. This means both teams have to react quickly and re-organise.

End ball game for warm ups

A fun but competitive warm-up game that get's players switched on and ready to train.

Coaching with Games is the Future

Elite coaches use conditioned games to teach the basic skills and change the conditions for progressions and increase the intensity

Defensive Line Game

Defensive Line Game

Using Games to Develop Passing and Support

Using games to coach is how most Premiership coaches improve skills and especially decision making. In this clip Jon Curry uses some clever rules to encourage supporting lines to help keep the ball alive

L2 - Drop-off Touch

Skill Practice Description • The teams play touch with the ball being passed back through the legs when touched. • The defender/s who make the touch, turn (drop off) immediately and run to their own try line. • These drop off defenders need to realign with the defence as soon as possible. • The attack should seek to take advantage of the space created by the drop off defender/s. • To get maximum effort from the players, it is advised the pitch is not so long that players do not make the effort to realign in defence. • The coach may observe the attacking players moving the ball away from the space opportunity left by the drop off player. It may be that the defence close the space left by the drop off, however this will create space elsewhere. Can the attack find the appropriate space to utilise? Key Coaching Points • Speed in scanning and communicating the spatial opportunity. • Defensive effort to drop off a realign so the defence can cover the primary threat.

Colour Touch

This game develops the ability of the attack to play against a broken field that is different everytime.

Touch rugby - roll ball back

A game for understanding

One touch rugby

A game for understanding space

Touch rugby with an immediate pass to support

A game for developing understanding of space and support.

Touch rugby with press up variation

A game for understanding space & movement

Team Patterns - Warm up touch rugby

Using games with a purpose is great preparation for the session

Paramatta Touch

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

One touch turnover

An advanced game for developing spacial awareness

Kneel Touch

An excellent game for developing

8 v 4 Overload touch

A game for developing advanced understanding of decision making

Bulldog games with progressions

Playing bulldogs is fun and is a great way to emphasise the importance of working together as a defensive unit. Coaches can change the conditions from touch to TAG, Grab or tackle

Kick Out Touch

This game simulates a counter-attack situation. The attacking side must gather the ball, look up to assess the defensive line, and attack the right areas. Start with fewer defenders, adding one on each attempt to increase difficulty. Progression: Defensive lines should vary between a wide or narrow alignment, to test the decision-making of the attackers.

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

Drift Defence Game

Practice being overloaded in defence. This game teaches your players when to be patient in defence and when to go for the tackle.

Sharks and Fish Game

Sharks and Fish Game

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.

L2 - Outflanking Game

Skill Practice Description The objective of this game is to develop the ability to execute the 2 v 1 with consistent efficiency. • The attacking team initially has at least one extra players in order to create an advantage. • There is a channel on each wing in which only 1 defender and 2 attackers may enter at any time. • The attack works the play to get the ball into the outside channel then execute the 2 v 1. • With the extra players, the attack can also develop opportunities to penetrate the defence and so the game in not relying on lateral moment and still incorporates the principles of ‘go forward’. • The progression is to remove the cones and see if the players can still take advantage of the 2 v 1 without the conditions set within the channelled areas . • A further progression would be to even the numbers of each team. Key Coaching Points • Running lines to condense and hold defences in order to outflank. • Running lines in order to disrupt and penetrate the defence line. Relevance to the Game • Attacking players often fail to fix defenders effectively and may drift or over elaborate. • This game will assist in angles of run that fix the last defender

QBE - Anxiety Touch

11. 4 v 2 Continuous Touch Rugby