You know that break down there's so many of them in a game. If you can gain some ascendancy at that part of the game. You're going to go a long way towards, you know towards winning because there's so many breakdowns in the game. If you can dominate that area. It's been known since day one that if you can dominate that break down area, you're going to go a long way towards winning. Just get up and I want you to come and put a bit of pressure on over the ball. Land on the ball then back on your feet and punch through. I want the guys to focus on a couple of thingsTheir tackle technique to make sure they're getting nice and close, really good shoulder contact and and a good squeeze on that tackle. Also what they're doing post tackle whether it's an attacking perspective with the ball carrier focusing on getting back to his feet quickly and then conversely from a defensive perspective getting the defender to actually get back to his feet. And then cause a nuisance at that break. Any drill that we do at training we want the player to be able to take that skill exactly what they're doing at training and transfer it into a game doing things simple things really well consistently was something that we really, you know, we really hammered this year with the Waratahs and and having a real clear understanding on how we wanted to play the game and then encouraging the guys to do that and backing ourselves to do that was was a big part of our success.
The breakdown is the key to the game, whether you're trying to provide your attack with quick ball, or slow down the opposition, the breakdown is a crucial part of the game and one that deserves the attention of all coaches
Neal Hatley shares his views on the breakdown and provides an insight into some of the exercises he uses to coach "Defence at the breakdown"
Creating quick ball is crucial to a great attack. Take your players out of a game and into this practice and you'll notice significant improvements in the game pace!
This drill takes you through a simple drill where multiple breakdown and contact skills are tested. You'll also be given the reasons why it is practised this way.
All attacking players need to fix their opposite defender.
This drill takes you through a simple drill where multiple breakdown and contact skills are tested. You'll also be given the reasons why it is practised this way.
It is important for players to practice working hard on the ground to get the ball presented back to their team. This session uses bodyweight exercises to practice the movement and enforces it with a conditioned game.
A tiring exercise of continuous rucking. Encourage your players to maintain good standards even when tiring and highlight the importance of getting straight up after one breakdown to make another.
An exercise to promote quick recycling at the breakdown. Coaches can use a variety of conditions to make this exercise harder or more intense
Worcester Academy - Clearout Techniques
Take a look at how they coach the jackal technique at Worcester academy!
The coach uses a tackle sausage and ball to replicate an attacking player. If the player falls back towards the defender he secures the ball, if the attacker falls further away the defender clears aggressively. This exercise could be worked as a support player for one of your own attackers
The coach progresses a static decision making exercise into a moving one. The coach uses a ball strapped to a tackle sausage to replicate attackers and where they may be tackled. The defenders then have a decision to make, either jackal on the ball or clear opponents
Here players progress from making decisions at the breakdown using pads and bags to live defenders. The supporting players have to make a decision based upon the ball carrier
A further progression for players to make decisions with multiple attackers and defenders on what the 1st and 2nd player does at the tackle
The breakdown is becoming more important in rugby and elite coaches are delivering more detailed training sessions to teach the basic skills required to be effective and make decisions quickly and accurately
A series of progressions that develop the skills required for players to manage and possibly dominate 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
Head coach Dickon Edwards provides some technical background prior to the academy coaches going through some of the basic principles of the work that needs to be done on the floor during contact. Winning the collision is not only about when you are on your feet
Progressions are used to build the technical competency and the confidence of players learning to clear defenders away from the contact area. It is interesting to see that no contact shields are used
Concentrating on the actions of the tackler and the support player in the moments after a tackle. It's important to practice the correct body position and technique so that the right decision can be made on the pitch.
The grip and roll clearing technique, (Known as saddle clearing to some) is a technique to use when defenders have already established a strong position over the ball. Using brute force will probably fail so approaching the defender slightly from the side and using the clearers momentum he grips and rolls the player away
It is important for players to practice working hard on the ground to get the ball presented back to their team. This session uses bodyweight exercises to practice the movement and enforces it with a conditioned game. Log in to see the full video.
Advanced clearing exercises for senior players. The support player makes a decision on how to clear out the ruck based on the position of the opposition.
The battle to dominate the breakdown is often the difference between winning and loosing. This area of the game is always changing so coaches need to regularly learn new things and challenge their players
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
Harlequins players work on a variety of techniques to "Turnover" ball and this clip shows some of the exercises they use. Coaches can choose to use similar practise's or adapt slightly for your own players
Harlequins senior squad work on the breakdown
Two crucial clearance techniques - the saddle roll, and the duck and clean. It's important for players to practice these at length, under pressure, under fatigue, and with an element of decision-making in order to best re-create a match situation.
What is the role of the 2nd defender at the tackle or breakdown? How do you coach players to be effective
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