Ruck touch - Focus on rolling players away

A key technique at the breakdown is the ability to roll players away, this applies when your opponent already has a good body position over the ball. Danny Wild from Leeds carnegie uses a game and breakout sessions to deliver his session

Breakdown - The Saddle Roll Technique

This clearing technique is used to remove defenders who have latched onto the ball and are in a low body position. Coaches can vary the angle that the clearers approach from

Breakdown Skills for Mini age groups

Introducing contact and breakdown skills to younger players can be a challenge for many coaches, in this clip the Northampton saints community coaches explain some of the technical points and use some simple practises to help them learn

Group exercise for evasion & agility

Developing core skills for evasion and agility

Breakdown - Grip and Roll (Saddle)

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

Group Touch Game

Group Touch Game

Tackle Technique in groups

Give players the opportunity to practice their tackling technique. In groups of five, one player in the middle has four tackle attempts. Make sure everyone has a go and the key points are repeated.

Coaching tackle technique in groups

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

Defence - 7. Square Hips

Keep square as long as possible to reduce attacking options not defensive options

Defence - 6. Groups of Three

The defence should work and communicate in groups of three. This means the individual player and the two defenders either side

Mini age groups - Passing Skills

This clip provides some simple guidelines on coaching catch & pass for young players. The coach progresses to a conditioned game to help the learning process

Touch rugby - roll ball back

A game for understanding

Warm up - group jog

An active warm is a must

Materiality Clip 6 - Tackle Movement Roll Away

Harlequins Academy - Warm-Up

The warm-up is an essential part of training and match preparation. Here's an example from Harlequins Academy on how to prepare for a handling session.

Ruck Clearing Exercises

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.

Quick Hands Primer

Divide the group into 4 and ask them to stand in single file behind each cone, 3 attacking groups, 1 defending group.

Ball Retention Techniques

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

Coaching Process-Course Structure

The coaching course is designed to assist coaches to be better at coaching and does not focus on increasing rugby knowledge

There will be several opportunities to coach and receive feedback from the session review

Every review is an opportunity for the coach to learn. Even when participating as a player for someone else, the coach should be considering the process and how it affects their performance and understanding of the task

Positive and honest feedback within the coaching group is a valuable method in which to help each other become better coaches


The coaching process is based on:

Instruction and explanation

Demonstration

Observation and feedback

Listening

Summary

How Gloucester academy prepare for matches

See how the Gloucester academy manager prepares his squad prior to an academy fixture. The warm up includes lots of games, stretching and unit skills with a gradual increase in intensity

England U20's - Tower of Power

The "Tower of Power" principle applies to all age groups and is the basis for all contact skills and groundwork. In this clip the England U 20's players go through some of the fundamentals

Level 2 - Second Row Bind - Traditional Bind

Level 2 - Second Row Bind - Traditional Bind

Sale Sharks Community - Breakdown Technique

Sale Sharks Community Coach Darren Lemon takes a youth session on effective breakdown technique, including essential safety pointers. Join now to see the full session and many others.

The Tackler's Responsibilities

This clip shows a whole session including progressions on the actions of the tackler during the tackle and after the tackle. An excellent contact session delivered by the Sale Sharks Community coaches.

Breakdown - Duck and Clean

Body position is crucial to compete at the breakdown, "Duck & Clean" is about ensuring that the players hips are lower than his opponents, this enables the player to get lower and clean in a "Low to high" movement which is both safe and effective

Sale - Lineout lifting & set

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

Tackling Aussie Style

Australian coaches across all age groups have a slightly different approach to teaching the tackle, or do they? You can take a few of their tips and integrate them into your coaching process

Tackle Technique - Full Session

[WITH DRILL VIDEOS] This session from Joe Goodman (Bristol University Rugby) has been designed to prepare players for a return to full contact competition, re-establishing correct technique to ensure safe, efficient tackling through progressively increasing the level of contact and complexity of skill execution.

Technical Fitness with Tackle Bags

Tackle bags are a great tool to use in your conditioning sessions. The reduced impact allows players to peform high repititions of contact technique under fatigue, with low risk of injury.

Brian Smith - How to Plan Training

London Irish Director of Rugby Brian Smith discusses the key objectives and challenges when planning a training session.

Ruck Clearing and Decision Making

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.

Tower Of Power; Swiss Ball

Expert Passing

Elite Sixth form players showcase that good passing technique is essential to become a good rugby player. The pass has some simple but very important components that need to be practised

Geech - Lions Coaches were Years Ahead

Were the Lions coaches ahead of the game. The 1997 coaches discuss tackle techniques that are only being implemented now

L2 - Fly Half Development

Skill Practice Description • Two channels each 15metres wide • Two attacking lines of four players; one line in each channel • Scrum Half with two balls • Three defenders lined up to defend the designated channel. • SH passes ball to 1st attacking group on the coach’s call. • D1 goes for A1, D2 for A2, D3 for A3 • Attackers to fix defenders and release overlap. • Coach shouts “Break” and the three defenders run to defend the other channel against 2nd group of attackers. • On coach’s command “Go” the 2nd ball is passed to the second line • Rotate the groups and alternate which channel has the first strike / second strike • Vary the timing of the second call which releases the ball for the 2nd strike. An early call frees up space for the fly half because the defenders will have little time to get into the second channel. A late call, allows defenders time to get across, and it means the fly half will have to prevent the drift and effectively use the overlap. • Initially the coach can control the defence telling the defenders to leave the overlap and be fixed; then allow them to drift, then allow them to try anything to stop the attack. Here is also an opportunity to coach how to defend. Key Coaching Points • Stay square - outside shoulder should be seen by scrum half • Run at defenders aiming at the inside shoulder • Move when the ball is in the scrum half’s hands or when it is in the air. Do not creep forward before then.

Tackling - When is the tackle completed?

It is very much an individual choice as to when a tackle is completed to when the defender can compete for the ball. What is generally accepted is that good tackle technique will enable the defender to "Be ready" for his next task. This clip explores why a strong grip or "Ring of steel" will enable the tackler to be dominant

Managing the Contact Area

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 Lineout Game - Lifting techniques

The Lineout Game - Lifting techniques

Contact Conditioning Intervals

Get your players ready for contact with these exercises, warming up the body for a season of collisions. Start with 1 minute on 1 minute off and play about with the intervals!

Safe Body Position For Scrummaging

From Under 10's up to senior's being safe in the scrummage is about good technique, regular practise and working on improving your body position. Wasps prop Phil Swainston outlines some of the key fundamentals

Farrell & Ford - Spin Passes

The quality of passes from Ford and Farrell to enable Elliot Daley to slide past his defender was the difference in the Wales V England match. The skills required to perfect these passes were honed on the training ground over several years. See what type of drills they did and still do

Games & drills for tackle technique

The Falcons coaches use a variety of games and breakout drills to progress their tackle technique session. The players respond to questions to vary the style of coaching

The Lineout Game - Movement in the line out

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.

Scrum Factory - 4. TOP Core Balls

The core ball provides a variety of challenges to the player in both body management and technical competence

Scrum Factory - 2. Tower of Power Demonstration

Good body posture is essential and applicable to all players regardless of age and gender
This posture transfers to the tackle, ruck, maul and in a vertical plain the lineout, so it is important that all players are coached to adopt good posture in contact

New Rules of Play - Under 10s - Coaching Points

This video provides some detailed coaching points that the Saracens community coaches would recommend age groups coaches focus on in their sessions

Falcon's Grid exercise for running lines

Running straight and changing your running line will make players better attackers and underpins an effective 2 v 1. Dave Walder from Newcastle Falcon's run's through a new style exercise that all coaches can use.

Improve Ball Presentation and Handling

This exercise from London Scottish works to maintain high levels of both ball presentation and handling skills at the same time.

Level 2 - Scrum Body Positions

Level 2 - Scrum Body Positions

Fitness exercises - Home or club

Here are a range of exercises for players to do at training or at home. The core techniques are the latest in conditioning for work at the breakdown

Front Row Binding - Walk around Binding

Front Row Binding - Walk around Binding

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.

Breakdown - Getting started

The contest at the breakdown is always changing and new techniques are often introduced however there are some fundamental skills required and this clip explains some of them

Learning to Tackle - Under 9's & Up

The RFU new rules of play have completely changed the approach of introducing young players to tackling. A phased approach may challenge previous methods however by viewing the practical session on this video you can see how the process works

London Irish - Our Training Style

An insight into a Premiership Rugby training session. Do the top teams train differently to amateur clubs and schools?

Game for Communication Skills

A clever game created by Russell Earnshaw to encourage players to experiment and learn about communication

Quins- Tackling Warm Up Game

A fun game to get players ready both mentally and physically for contact and tackling. Applies to most age groups

Seven's - Speed Training

See some of the exercises the England 7's players go through for fitness & speed

Scrum Factory - 15. Binding

The bind should be secure as opposed to tight. A secure hand grip will enable the players to react to pressure whereas a tight bind may limit the ability to respond and change position

Coach the Scrum Half Pass

This clip outlines some of the fundamental techniques required to become a good passer of the ball from the ground, an essential skill for scrum half's. Simple and easy instructions for both coaches and players to benefit from

Adapt Your Coaching Style

There are significant changes in the approach to "How best to coach" with regards your coaching style and delivery skills. Here are some examples from some of the Premierships top coaches

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

London Irish - How do we train

Do Premiership teams train differently to amateur club and schools, is it just a difference in skills and power or do they approach training in a different way?

Lateral passing in 4s

An essential drill for new players, or a simple but relevant one for experienced players. New players should make sure their passes are not forward and are targeted in front of their teammate's chest. More experienced players can focus on speed of pass and footwork. In this example, a large group is split into two adjacent drills to ensure players aren't stationary for too long.

Coaching Contact Skills With Games - U 11's

Using games to coach can be a challenge for junior coaches. In this clip the Sale sharks community coach delivers a session to develop contact skills at the breakdown by using games, questioning and challenging the players. This can be used for all Junior age groups

Back-to-back Wrestle

A good upper body warm-up to get players ready for contact. Can be used with all age groups.

CCRU Game - Piggy in the middle

Description of activity: In groups of 3 v 1 the three attacking players have the ball and pass it around to each other trying to keep it from the defender. Give the attacking players a target i.e. make 10 successful passes. The defender tries to either intercept the pass or force a poor passes where the ball goes to the ground or outside of the marked area

Offloads through contact then lateral pass

In groups of 4, players must support each other through a tight channel of tackle shields, before panning out to complete lateral passes to the wing.

Hand eye coordination (SM)

A great drill for small groups, lots of passes and practice.

3v2 Warm Up To Switch On

Use this quick warm up drill to switch your players on for the session. It works on defence and attacking decision making as well as handling.

Collision Fitness - Spinning Bears

Another innovative exercise from "The Athlete Factory" which combines speed & power with technical accuracy. These exercises can be applied to all age groups to build confidence

Brian Smith - How to Plan Training

London Irish Director of Rugby Brian Smith discusses the key objectives and challenges when planning a training session.

Managing the Referee

When it comes to senior rugby, managing the referee becomes a big part of the game. You can practice your discipline and execution of tackle and breakdown technique or competing for high ball, but it is also important to have players who can talk to referees in the correct manner.

Athlete Factory Bear Crawling

Another great conditioning exercise from Phil Greening at the Athlete Factory. This is perfect for Pre-Season and combines fitness and technical pointers for accurate body position at the breakdown. Use in isolation or integrate into games

Grip Games - Ball Retention

This great game helps you work on your ball transfer and fend. It teaches players how to keep the ball away from contact increasing ball retention on the pitch!

Round the World Handling Game

A static handling game that can be played with small groups of players to improve basic catching and passing skills.

Combat fitness - Press Up Jackal

Our combat & collision skills are behind the southern hemisphere and elite coaches are working hard to change this. Here is a simple exercise for both technique and fitness

Warm up resistance with fend

Adding in a warm up for collision work is essential with older age groups

Junior - Straight Scrums 2

Two even packs compete at the scrum, good technique creates a good and safe contest. The black team use the platform from the scrum to score a try wide out. Key factors : 8 players working as a unit - Calling - Strong body position - Hips, back and head all facing forward - Accurate binding

CCRU Game - Hare and Hounds

Description of activity: Arrange the players so one player in each pair has the ball. The players stand next to each other, inside the marked out working area, with the rest of the group. On the call of go the ball carrier tries to lose his partner. After a short while, the coach blows his whistle to stop all the players. All of the players must stand still and not move their feet. If the hounds can tag the hair, without moving their feet all going off balance, the hound gains a point–if not, their hair games the point. You can now reverse the roles. This can be repeated a number of times and each individual should keep their own score

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.

Passing in 4s

A basic handling drill for groups of young players with a mixture of talent. Emphasise technique, passing backwards, and running straight. As players become better they can try wider passes and add more pace. Encourage players to swap position. Counting the number of completed passes in a row challenges the players to never drop the ball.

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

Lions 09 - Lineout Movement

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

Ruck Touch Rugby

Coaches can use games to introduce all skills for your age group. If you are very specific about the conditions you apply then players will learn these skills in a fun and enjoyable game

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

Maul and Ruck - Spin Maul

The spinning or rolling maul is an effective weapon when executed at speed. Notice what happens to the pace of the attack when the ball goes to floor with a breakdown

Quick hands game

Two players work in this drill. The head of the group passes to the "Worker" and calls left or right. The passes are made with the balls passed back to the head player and the process repeats. Coaches can use width and depth to make this easier or more difficult

Rugby-Football Game

A great fun game that combines rugby and football, that also tests the players skills for catch & pass, awareness and support play. This can be played with age groups from 13 / 14 upwards

Tackle on Knees

This exercise asks players to attack from the front while still on their knees. It is important than the tackler pushers his shoulder through onto the outside hip of the attacker with the head staying outside as well. 1. Shoulder. 2 Arms tight 3. Drive

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

Kicking - The Drop / Ball Placement

Dropping the ball properly is considered the main priority for many kickers, if they get the drop right then the other techniques fall into place. Dave Walder from the Newcastle Falcons explains some of the skills

Passing and Support Lines

This clip shows the classic passing process but with a significant twist in what players can do post the pass

Warm-up Back to Back

Preparing players for contact coaches should introduce a range of fun exercises to warm up the major muscle groups. These can be competitive or based upon teamwork

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

The Lineout Game - Under13

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?

Body Climbing

In this warm-up exercise, one player squats and holds up their partner, as they climb all the way around their body. Players must work together, and engage key muscle groups in their entire body.

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

Scrum Technique Progressions for youths

Working from a single players body position to a full scrum can be daunting for some coaches. In this clip there are simple steps to progress and the technical points are consistent

Scrum tips for Props

This clip provides some advice for the front row on their binding, body position and driving in the scrum.