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.
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.
Ball Presentation Touch
Support Line Breaks & Offloads
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.
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.
In this game, defenders in coloured bibs are called back to touch their try line, creating space and opportunities for the attack to exploit.
Continuity
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
Northampton Saints coaches look at the basic principles of attack including holding depth and scanning the defensive situation.
A clever game created by Russell Earnshaw to encourage players to experiment and learn about communication
Ex England Sevens coach Russell Earnshaw talks through the importance of depth and keeping "Connected". He uses a simple exercise to work on various techniques and makes it competitive to keep the intensity high
Sale Sharks full-back Rob Miller takes junior academy players through some attacking systems and highlights some of the key points to improve accuracy.
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
Decision making is a tricky skill to coach. Danny Wild the Leeds coach uses conditioned games with breakout technical sessions to improve this process as well as working on some groundwork skills
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
What are the biggest challenges you face as a coach, we all differ and in this clip two under 15's coaches discuss what the struggle with and offer some solutions
This practise will challenge all players at all levels, originally seen at Bath RFC in 2012 it is been adapted for all players. The coach can change the width and pressure to fit in with the player abilities. The players love this !
Eddie Jones manages a game at training focusing on creating quick ball, is this the basis of his attacking game & will it work?
It is important that coaches integrate "Problem solving" into their sessions. Disperse cones randomly and the defending players must guard them. With one more cone than defenders, the attacker must try to get to an empty cone before it is guarded!
This quick game is perfect for developing the finishing in your team! Progress this drill with conditions to help improve depth and realignment.
This quick game is perfect for developing the finishing in your team! Progress this drill with conditions to help improve depth and realignment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
RugbyCoaching.tv uses cookies
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.