As a progression from your lineout variation practice, it is important to test your pack's ability to make decisions under pressure. Here, they must react to the positioning of two defending jumpers and put the ball to the space.
Players walk into the lineout and lift as soon as they are in line. If there are no defending jumpers, the best option is to go straight up in the middle. This requires practice to ensure timing and communication between, the hooker, jumper and lifters is right.
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.
A 5 man lineout where all the players are spread evenly apart, all players can lift and jump so the focus is on speed and accuracy. Key factors : Even spread of players - Communication - Quick jump - Accuate lifting - Accurate throw in
A dynamic practise for speed and quality of lifting in lineouts. This exercise can be used for 15's and 7's and for different age groups. The coaches can vary the distance of the cones and progress to both lifters moving. Coaches can add some fun by making it a competition. Key factors : The jumper must jump - Core body strength - Keep body stiff and straight - Lifters work together - Lock out arms - Bring the jumper down safely
The coach progresses the line out onto small units working together, adds in some competition and starts work with some five man options
Tackling 18 - Man on Man Defence
We have changed the content on this clip - just in the short term - until we produce new content on building the maul from a Lineout - apologies
Sevens - Lineout catch & maul drive
Sevens - Full Lineout 2
In Defence:
Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard
Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen
Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself
Lions 2009 defence clip
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
Coaching junior players to lift effectively in the line out is based upon some simple steps. Ross Harrison from Sale sharks outlines the key principles and progresses to the driving maul
Working in pods of three on speed & movement will help you win line outs. Players also develop better skills in order to play a better standard of rugby and help others around them. Another London Irish coaching resource
The under 13 age group uses the full size pitch. The coach should consider that the 5m tram line as a bigger obstacle for a 12 year old thrower, than it is for a 15 year old thrower
To develop lineout understanding, it may be worth exploring for the best thrower and not select their roles at the lineout by shirt numbers
If the policy is to throw to the front at every lineout, how will this develop the tactical and technical understanding of the lineout game?
It may be that possession is occasionally lost, but is the long term development of players more important than any given children’s’ game?
The black team split the lineout pods at the front and the back, the defence are then forced to move with these pods to compete or stop a driving maul, (As they are close to the try line), this creates a whole in the middle of the lineout which the black team exploit cleverely. This play is clever and tactical and shows how complex the lineout can be. Key factors : Lifting pods to move quickly - Strong jump - Accurate lifting - Accurate throw - Delayed run through the middle
Turnovers at the breakdown is back in the spotlight and the recent Australian performances have highlighted how important they are. Neal Hatley from Bath explains how the role of the 2nd man is key and how to practise the technique
The lineout is a key part of rugby union and it is vital for player safety and success that the proper technique is learnt. James Cannon of London Wasps walks through the key technical elements of lineout lifting and jumping. Log in to see the full session.
A maul from a lineout can be a powerful attacking tool. This clip shows how to construct the maul at the front of the lineout quickly. Practice is key to ensure players understand their positioning and timing.
Premiership Rugby coaches and players highlight the importance of the lineout as an entry point and an attacking platform. Join PremiershipRugbyCoaching.com for ideas and examples to improve your lineouts.
Dominant lineout players such as Geoff Parling build their trade on solid technical foundations. Log in to RCD for plenty of coaching tips on lineout technique.
Dominant lineout players such as Geoff Parling build their trade on solid technical foundations. Log in to RCD for plenty of coaching tips on lineout technique.
Defending against the lineout throw is a key area for disrupting the opposition and their attacking platform. The defending jumper can be very effective by getting a hand in between the opponents’ hands and disrupting the catch. This may also block the vision of the opponent who wishes to follow the flight of the ball
Lineout catch and drive drill
Tackling 20 - 2 man Tackle
The breakdown is decided by what the 1st man in support does, this is cruelly exposed in Seven's rugby but in Fifteen's we often miss poor technique because of the number of players involved
Men's - Lineout catch & maul drive 1
An example of playing the ball from the top of a lineout
An example of a shortened lineout
Women's - Lineout catch & maul / drive
Women's - Lineout mail good defence
Men's - Lineout maul good defence 3
An example of setting up a maul after a catch and drive at a lineout
Here we take you through the basic and essential core skills required for any jumper in the lineout.
Lineout practice for developing the movement and lift timing.
Elite coach Neal Hatley uses a game to develop speed of lifting in a lineout by providing an element of competition and fun.
This video initially shows the lift, bring down to the ground and bind of a lineout pod.
The video also illustrates safe and effective ways to introduce movement, lifting and jumping skills to youth players
Men's - Lineout maul good defence 1
Lineout variation and practice
The Lions practice their lineouts
Lineout variation and practice
It may be that a light, athletic group of players focus on speed over technique, but a bigger group of players may focus on technique in order to maximise height.The tempo and tactics at the lineout needs to suit the player profiles.
Developing play from the lineout should have options and progressions
A progression from the 3 man scrum - developing body shape and positions
The lineout & box kick has become increasingly more important this season, Brian Smith from London Irish explains what "Exits" are and why they are important
Accurate skills are the key to lineouts in seven's, a combination of movement, lifting and throw combine to make an effective restart for the attacking team. The shape of the attacking side is pre planned to create a mis - match with a faster player v a slower one. key factors : Pre call the move - Fast feet - Strong core for jumper - Support from both players to lift the jumper - Jumper to jump - Accurate throw - Support he jumper to the ground - Offload pass to scrum half
Classroom session with Mike Catt - discussing the key points of attacking from a lineout
Men's - Lineout maul good defence 2
This video takes you through the importance of hand placement in building a solid lineout.
The lineout provides an essential attacking platform. Log in to see advice and examples from pro players, suitable for elite, adult and youth players.
London Irish forwards talk through some of the elements that make an effective lineout, and how you can prepare for a match.
Northampton Saints and England hooker Dylan Hartley talks through his lineout throwing procedures and explains the importance of routine
Broncos 7 - T-shape Attack
Classroom session with Mike Catt - discussing the key points of attacking from a lineout
Classroom session with Mike Catt - discussing the key points of attacking from a lineout
7. 5 Pass Game
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.
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.
Sevens - Full Lineout 1
Junior - Ball off the top from lineout 2
Junior - Lineout catch & mail / drive
Lineout variation and development
Lineout variation and practice
Some ideas on developing paly from the lineout and progressions
The Lineout Game - Lifting techniques
The lineout competition is not won and lost when the ball is caught. If the team defending the throw cannot compete in the air, they can subsequently compete on the ground and disrupt the quality of possession the opposition wish to use
A demonstration of how to construct a full, 8-man scrum.
This practice develops communication in a three v three game format
An effective line out is based upon the fundamentals of movement, jumping and lifting. James Cannon from London Wasps takes some amateur players through the basic skills and techniques
Dylan Hartley explains his own approach and routines for throwing into the line out and provides some tips and advice to young players
Unopposed practice to develop calls and movement patterns
The second session focusses on developing the basic techniques for building your line out. Wasps second row James Cannon takes some level 6 players through some progressions
“The line out principle is to catch the ball in a space where no-one else is.”
The objective of this practice is to develop the jump and catch in space free of opposition
The objective of movement is to lose the opposition player “lose your marker”
Some slightly different progressions in building upon the basic skills for an effective line out
Dylan Hartley explains the importance of routine and structure when preparing for each throw, in order to achieve consistency.
Principles of Play-Contest Possession
Here are some good examples of how to use the line out effectively in attack to help you in your coaching process
Players begin to use movement with the intention of deceiving the opposition as to where the ball will be thrown. However if the ball is always thrown to the front, how effective will this movement be?
This clip illustrates how the front ball is secured by jumping and catching skill and then protected by the support players. If the same skills could be used with a middle ball, the tactical decision making will also be developed
How many coaches opt for safety and not for the long term development of their players?
What is the role of the 2nd defender at the tackle or breakdown? How do you coach players to be effective
Patterns from set piece should be practised regularly
Develop the front row as a foundation for the building of the scrum
Isolated technical practice
Courtesy of the SRU
Isolated technical practice
Courtesy of the SRU
Keep square as long as possible to reduce attacking options not defensive options
England & Wasps Second row Joe Launchbury provides a few tips on the role of the lock and what coaches and players should focus on
The jumper should utilise the core muscles to provide a tension throughout the body. This will enhance strength and presence in the air and assists the lifters in their supporting role
The ball should ideally be taken early and delivered with firm, but sympathetic direction. The arms and legs of the jumper will be ideally close together throughout the jump in order to maintain good core stability. Keeping the legs together will also assist the front lifter to remain stable. If the jumper does not control their legs, the front lifter cannot control the lift and support
This is a very effective drill for developing decision making and awareness in support runners off a tackle situation
Testing your scrums in training using a scrum machine / sled helps to ensure all of your pack practice the correct body position and timing in cooperation with their team mates. This is a great time to try out new combinations of players before match day.