This is a series of exercises to help improve your defensive line. It starts with a simple tackle technique exercise note that as a safety measure the coach is dictating which shoulder to attack. This also ensures that both shoulders can be worked. The players move on to the next station, which is against live attackers The Defenders focus on scanning and spacing as well as the tackle technique. The play moves on to a further phase where more attackers play the same way. Defenders need to reorganize quickly to ensure that they're scanning. Their spacing is correct, and they're staying aligned.
Tackle Technique Warm-up
Defence - Exit & Kick Chase
Conditioned Game - Breakdown Technique
The team warm up with individual tackle techniques, progress to unit work and then onto full team exercises from set piece play
Coaching defence starts with some warm up games and progresses to specific skills and the coach then builds upon these basics. A system of defence is then introduced and practised in a conditioned game
Building a defensive system starts with the first three defenders and what they need to do at the breakdown. The Northampton saints coaches go through the steps and progressions to help younger players learn the key movements and techniques
After starting with a defence-focused game, this drill can be used to focus on organising a drift defence from the breakdown. The four defenders touch all cones in the tackle area to simulate chaos before getting into position.
The ability to move from 1 to 1 tackling exercises into unit & group skills can be tricky. Here are some tips that you could use
When the experts explain things in simple terms it all makes sense. The Blitz defence can be confusing and delivering the coaching blocks to develop this policy can be tricky. Richard Thorpe explains things in easy to understand language
This video takes you through the basics of both blitz and drift defences and provides great drill ideas.
All attacking players need to fix their opposite defender.
An exercise for continuity and support.
The coach can set the width of the channel and intensity of the defenders
Back Row Defence
A brief overview of the importance of strong defensive structure and some basic exercises to build it.
Use this exercise to replicate a line break with one defender to beat. The attackers need to move the defender and execute a 2 v 1 while the initial defender tracks back to stop the pass. Also works movement at top end speed for the main attacker
This exercise focuses on the key elements of a strong defensive system, including scanning, line-speed and staying linked with your team mates.
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.
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