Ben Youngs Feature - Energy in Attack

Ben Youngs is a great example of a player who adds energy and pace to an attack through his efforts to produce quick ball for his backline, and his ability to catch defences off-guard. Log in to see coaching ideas from Leicester Tigers and other Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs.

Ben Youngs - Energy in Attack

Ben Youngs

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

Attacking Fundamentals

If you're looking to build on your young players' ability to attack, we have loads of relevant ideas and examples. Here's a quick look. To see the full session, log in and go to the Northampton Saints page - 'Passing and Attacking Lines'

Continuity in Attack - The Game Mini

What style of game would we wish to coach young players?
How can we set a coaching environment that encourages creativity in players?

Continuity in Attack - French Mini's

These young players may not run forward every time, but they do manage to keep possession through communication, support and passing. The coach allows the players to learn through discovery and with little intervention and direction

Continuity in Attack - The Game

What style of game would we wish to coach our young players to aspire to?
How can we set a coaching environment that encourages creativity in our players?

Attacking Ability at 13

Outside centres who have great attacking awareness and distribution skills are integral to teams who like to exploit quick ball by going wide. If these players are only able to run hard lines, then there are going to be missed opportunities out wide. Here, we highlight some great passing and attack play in the Premiership, as well as some ideas for you to use with your players.

Developing running lines to attack

A series of progressions to develop how players attack when "Coming round the corner" from phase play

L2 - Identifying Space to Attack

Skill Practice Description • Attacking team face away from defenders before play commences. • Attackers spread or grouped in any formation. • Defenders split (unseen by attack) between pitch A & B. • Coach calls “turn” and introduces the ball to the attack who turn to scan the distribution of the defence and attack whichever pitch they choose. • Defenders on the pitch not being attacked cannot cross over to help defend. • If the attack breaks down, the defence gain bonus point. • If attackers choose to attack the area with the most defenders and still score - gain a bonus point. • Progression: • Allow the defenders in the area not being attacked to move across to support the other defence. Perhaps make the secondary defence go deeper around a cone. • Vary the space before game starts between attack and defence - more or less time for the attackers. • Allow defence to recover the ball to counter attack. Key Coaching Points • Reward close and immediate support of the ball carrier in and around contact area. • Defenders deny space and time to the numerically superior attack

L2 - Attacking a Drift, Blitz and Cover Defence

Skill Practice Description • Within a game of touch the coach can at any breakdown - call blitz, drift and the defenders must run and touch the appropriate line. • The coach may also give players numbers in order to call specific defenders to leave the defence line which will create the need for defence to realign quickly. • Attackers must face the other way and attack when the ball is rolled from behind them. • On the coach’s call, the attack turn and the closest attacker picks up the ball and plays. • This ensures the coach can vary each player’s role and make the defence react. • Coach can then develop game by giving a visual clue to the defenders thus making the attackers react to an unexpected type of defence. Key Coaching Points • Visual Acuity-Looking for space. • Spatial awareness. • Highlighting defensive systems and attacking them appropriately. • Decision making. Relevance to the Game • This game is excellent for visual acuity and attacking differing defensive alignments. • Spaces are created by the leaving defenders, which the attackers have to identify

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

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

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

L2 - Attacking a Condensed Defence

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play normal touch rules. • 5 touch turnover. • When a touch is made, the game pauses and all defenders need to close in and place a hand on the shoulder of another defender. So all the defenders are bunched and in contact with each other. • The coach calls ‘play’ and the attack restarts. • The progression may be to leave one defender out of the bunch, which may provide a different challenge to the attack. • Then leave two defenders out of the bunch and slowly release the conditions to see if the attack can consistently identify opportunities to outflank or penetrate the defence. Key Coaching Points • Peripheral vision and general awareness. • Intuitive decision making. • Communication • Support and team work. Relevance to the Game • This game is designed to challenge the observation and decision making ability of the attack. • For the defence, it challenges the ability to cover quickly with both drift and sweeping 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.

Quick fire Attacking Game

This is a great game to keep players engaged by constantly testing their decision-making and execution in attack. Essentially, it's a 4 v 2 game where the attackers always have the advtantage, but they still have to make good decisions to score. It is a high-tempo game that requires the attackers to turn around and attack again straight after scoring.

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.

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

Identify Attacking Options

A few drills that will help the attackers identify space in attack and work on how to exploit it!

Small-side game - Overload Attack

The attacking team always has two or three extra players and the attack need to make best use of this numerical advantage. The coach can put three players in a different colour and they swap teams after each score to remain in the attack.

Attacking lines and late shifting

This clip demonstrates the skills and movements required to fix and beat defenders. Using a combination of passing accuracy and physical agility can significantly improve your attacking options. The coach uses questions to help the players learn

Saints - Attacking Basics

Northampton Saints coaches look at the basic principles of attack including holding depth and scanning the defensive situation.

Passing and Attacking Lines

Northampton Saints Academy coaches introduce a conditioned exercise to help develop attacking skills.

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.

Conditioning for Young Players

Even if players are too young to go to the gym, it can be beneficial for them to do bodyweight exercises that help to prepare their bodies for more physical rugby in future years. Sam Bennett from Leeds Carnegie highlights some of the key points for young players to consider, which apply to all players at amateur or competitive level.

Attack vs Defence Continuous Drill 4V2

The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back.

QBE - Attacking a Drift, Blitz and Cover Defence

QBE - Attacking a Drift, Blitz and Cover Defence

Attacking progression's 4 v 3

A progression from 3 v 2s, this drill is closer to a game situation, where there are more decisions for the attacking players to make. The gaps could appear in a variety of locations and they have several passing /running options. With 4 attacking players, you may wish to utilise your basic strike moves.

Sevens - Standard restart with attack winning ball 3

A well organised re start with one main attacker challenging for the ball with support both in front and behind him, if the ball is knocked either side of the main catcher the ball will be gathered by his teammates. Great leg drive to continue the attack and a very long pass to complete the scoring. Key factors : Accurate kick - Focus on the ball - Sideways jump - Catch ball above head - Structured support

Stretch attack from re-start

Filton College claim the re-start and move the ball wide attack the space and stretch the defence. After recycling the ball quickly, they attack wide in the other direction where a 3 v 1 has been created.

Three pass attack game

This exercise works on both attack & defence. The defenders have to cover the breakdown first and then work a drift defence while the attackers have to create space by fixing the first three defenders

Attack and Re-align

Players are required to continually attack the gain-line, and re-align after each effort. They should try to use their inventory of attacking methods, not randomly, but to control the defence to eventually create gaps to exploit.

Attacking progression's 5 v 4

Progressing from 3 v 2s an 4 v 3s, you can now attack with something resembling a full back-line. Give the defence different instructions each time to test the reactions and decision-making skills of your attacking players.

Attack Grid For All Ages

Progress your passing practises to make them competitive by adding defenders and ore chaos. This attack grid has lots of flexibility and can be used with players of all ages

Sevens - Uncovered - Attack

Elite coaches discuss their attacking philosophies and this underpines the skills and techniques they will work on as coaches and the type of trainign sessions they will plan. As a coach how do you coach the skills that the Fijian players possess or the patience the Welsh side had to win the last 7's world cup. Does the team represent the ideas and plans of the coach?

360 Games - Any Direction Attack

A warm up or starting 360 game where players can attack in any direction. This game is the basis to for coaches to then add numerous conditions based upon the focus of the session

Broncos 7 - T-shape Attack

Broncos 7 - T-shape Attack

Attacking Lines: Unders and Overs

Using different angles of running confuses tacklers and pulls a defensive unit out of line. Learning the skills to both run these lines and pass the ball accurately is key to any ambitious team looking to attack and offload

Attacking Shape - 4v1v1v1

This is the start of a series of progressions that takes you through how to set up your attacking shape through multiple lines of defence.

Turnover ball - Attacking from flat

This quick practice runs through how to attack straight from a turnover.

14. Attacking Waves Game

QBE - Identifying Space to Attack

Attacking in waves of 3

The ability to realign quickly is important to developing the back play and counter attacking. Coaches can vary the numbers and timing of the first pass to make this exercise easier or more demanding. Key factors : Run straight - Comunicate early - Uniform distance and depth - Catch & pass in one movement - Hips straight - Hands & armes across the body - Realign quickly - Aerobic fitness

Continuity in Attack - Contact

Continuity in Attack - Contact

Attack Grid - 4 v 2

This continuous exercise puts pressure on your players to think fast and be ruthless in attacking the space. Coaches can change the size of the grid and the number of defenders to make it an easier game

Change the point of attack - 4 v 3

This drill allows you to develop decision making by varying the attack and defence continually thus accelerating learning

Men's - Counter Attack Plays

Not all kicks work out succesfully, in this clip the defenders turn a poor kick into a great counter attack

Complimentary Attack

Complimentary Attack

Women's - Counter attack plays 1

Women's - Counter attack plays

3v2 varied attack options

Developing decision making processes is essential to developing gamesense - in this drill we can vary the attack and defence to accelerate learning

Junior - Counter attack plays

Junior - Counter attack plays

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Dummy Options

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

Support - Turnover and Counter-Attack

Support play is essential to rugby, particularly in sevens where there is more space. This clip sums up the importance of support. The Eastbourne College scrum-half is isolated and turned-over. Eton then counter-attack and, despite the best efforts of a single Eastbourne defender, they are able to secure the try thanks to an offload to a support runner.

Counter-attack

After gaining a turnover, Filton College move the ball quickly in a counter-attack to secure a try.

Attacking narrow channel

A good exercise for scanning defenders and creating space for your co attackers

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.

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Quick Ball

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

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Back Ball

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

Lions 09 - Support & Attack

The ability to create attacking situations quickly is fundamental to creating pressure

Attack from turnover

Attacking play from a turnover

British lions - support & attack drill 1

This drill illustrates how attack can go from narrow channels to wide play very quickly, and players should practice this continually

Lions 09 Attack plays 2

A clip on attacking options from the 2009 Lions

Contact Skills for Young Players

Leeds academy coaches cover the fundamentals skills for the contact area. This is a useful session for young players to focus on body position and key techinques.

Diamond shape attack

Bath academy players practice the shape and lines of running for a "Diamond shape" attack system. The waves of players provide a number of different options

Attacking Shape - 4v2v2

While progressing your attacking shape be sure to include this exercise. With 2 waves of defence its crucial that your players learn to reload into a great shape in position.

Fun Sessions for Young Players - Start with Safety

We all want our sessions to be fun, but it all starts with the set-up, safety and reassurance from coaches. Particularly for young players. Achieve that and you will have a fun, productive session.

Broncos 3 - Develop waves of attack

The first wave of attackers identify space and punch through the first line of defence. The ball carrier looks to move the ball quickly and away from covering defenders. This exercise tries to copy game situations as players cover their team mates in defence

Fringe Attack - Pop and Ruck

Attacking close around the fringe can minimise risk of losing the ball and can help turn slow ball into quick ball, putting the defence on the back-foot.

Back Row Attack Support

Back Row Attack Support

Attacking with simple systems

Sale Sharks full-back Rob Miller takes junior academy players through some attacking systems and highlights some of the key points to improve accuracy.

Restart Attack

Here are some examples of good use of the restart in attack to help you in your coaching process

Lineout Attack

Here are some good examples of how to use the line out effectively in attack to help you in your coaching process

Running Lines in Attack

Modern defensive lines are well-organised and hard to break. It depends on the quality execution of attacking fundamentals. A good introduction is 'unders' and 'overs' running lines. Log in to see the full session.

3 v 2 attacking practice

A useful drill to build decision-making skills. Attackers must choose from a variety of running and passing options.

Continuity in Attack - Diamond Practice

The diamond practice can be the break out session of a whole part whole approach.
It is common when running such a practice for the attacking players to arrive at the tackle line having caught each other up. Depth should be maintained in order for the diamond shape to be fully effective.

The initial ball carrier needs to use footwork to move and disrtupt the defensive shape

Quins - Creating Space & attacking lines

This clip shows the principles of fixing defenders and the techniques used to do so. The coach can progress by using more defenders, varying the space or changing the source of where the ball comes from

Turning defence into attack

The Northampton saints approach to defence is to "Turn over ball" and to this end the tackle is only the start of the process and the coach outlines this approach and provides some examples

Quins - Attacking lines of support

Harlequins academy players are coached to be accurate in their passing and use lines of running and footwork to create space for other players

8. Attacking a Drift Defence

Attacking Options

Whether you're looking at fundamentals or strategy, we have loads of great examples and advice. Here's a small sample.

An Attacking Style

Consistency throughout a team can be very important for its success. You can have several very talented players, but if they are all taking a different approach to the game, they are not likely to be successful. Top teams will determine their style of rugby and find the right players to play to that style.

QBE - Back Line Attack From Set Piece

QBE - Attacking a Condensed Defence

Junior - Standard restart with attack winning ball 2

1 v 1 attack

Winger positional skills training.

Junior - Standard restart with attack winning ball 1

Attacking options from line outs

Developing continuity and understanding of support

Women's - Counter attack plays 2

Attack 2 v 1

A good decision-making exercise which requires players to practice their basic running and passing skills

Sevens - Standard restart with attack winning ball 2

Men's - Standard restart with attack winning ball

Attacking realignment in 3s exercise

Handling progression

Attacking a Drift defence game

An advanced game for fixing defenders trying to drift

Continuity in Attack - Tag Mini

Children have natural evaision skills. It is adults who teach children rugby players to run into obstacles

Women's - Standard restart with attack winning ball

Continuity in Attack - Diamond Practice U9

When the coach runs an isolated practice it is important to link the practice to the game.
Here the coach introduces the concept of a diamond support for the first time, then runs a game, pausing the action so the players learn the relevance of the practice. They quickly understand and can execute the play even in difficult and wet conditions

Continuity in Attack - Tag

Children have natural evasion skills. It is adults who coach children to run into obstacles

Introducing evasion to young players

Developing skills in youngsters

Lions - Attacking channells

From the Lions 2009 tour, a support drill in a channel to encourage the ball carrier to move the defender and make space for the support player