Touch rugby - roll ball back

A game for understanding

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

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

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

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

Quick Ball Presentation Drills

Use these quick and competitive games to practice good and strong ball presentation. Practice with high standards and it will come naturally in the games!

Quick Ball Presentation Drills

Use these quick and competitive games to practice good and strong ball presentation. Practice with high standards and it will come naturally in the games!

Bath - Create Quick Ball From Slow Ball

Quick ball is the platform to score tries from and one of the coaches tasks is to understand how to break defences down to create quick ball. Bath are famous for their attacking play and they are happy to share this technique and help others play fast rugby

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

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!

Falcons - Grip skills & ball control

The more control you have of the rugby ball, the more accurate you will be with your handling. Practising your grip and ball control is important for all players but especially for younger players to avoid getting into bad habits. These are practises that can and should be done anywhere, at home or in the garden.

Tag Game - End Ball and Rugby Netball

Tag Game - End Ball and Rugby Netball

Ball Control & Passing

Controlling the ball is a fundamental skill, it may be simple but it is very important. Practise is important and is the foundation to passing and the ability to control and vary your pass

Scrum Factory - 4. TOP Core Balls

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

Ball Presentation Game

Use this game to practice great ball presentation. Ensure the tackling player is bouncing back to their feet so that this mentality carries over to game day.

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

Ground Work and Ball Presentation

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.

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.

Ball Retention Principles

Two of the key principles of ball retention are the efforts of the tackled player to present the ball, and the decision of the support player, to bridge, ruck, or recycle. Log in to find complete sessions on the relevant techniques.

Dean Ryan: Turnover Ball

Dean Ryan expresses the importance of turnover ball.

Tower Of Power; Swiss Ball

End Ball & Connecting Players

Fantastic game for warm ups, integrating new players and working on a wide range of skills. Its fun and this example has a "Game within a game"

Chapter 2 - Introducing Competition for the Ball

Continuity - Keeping The Ball alive

Support is one of the "Principles of play" and finding the right depth can be tricky. Harlequins Academy Manager Howard Graham delivers an excellent exercise to practise improving support play

Breakdown - How to ensure quick ball

An exercise to promote quick recycling at the breakdown. Coaches can use a variety of conditions to make this exercise harder or more intense

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

Passing Game with Two Balls

Another game to play at home. This time use two balls and four players. Anyone can join in! Three players have a simple task involving just one ball, but the central player has to juggle both balls and work on his/her concentration and hand-eye co-ordination!

CCRU Game - Ball Touch

Aim of the game: Touch as many players as possible with the ball in one minute. The ball must be held in both hands at all times

CCRU Game - End Ball

Description of activity: One player from each team must stand behind the try line at the end of the pitch and act as a scorer. The team in possession of the ball may score a point by passing the ball to their scorer. The scorer must stay behind the try line but may move along the length in order to receive the ball. Rotate the scorers after every score

How To Hold The Ball - Grip Games

Young players are very rarely taught how to hold the ball. This video explains why this is important, how to coach it and incorporates some fun grip games to enforce the technique.

England Creating Quick Ball

Eddie Jones manages a game at training focusing on creating quick ball, is this the basis of his attacking game & will it work?

More Time on the Ball

Good players have more time on the ball? What they do do is prepare accurately with depth, width and run good lines. This sets them up to catch & pass with time and options. The practises in this clip outline some of the disciplines required to get you "More time"

Ball Presentation Touch Game

Ball Presentation Touch

Scrum Factory - 3. TOP With Rugby Balls

Expensive training equipment is not necessary and the simple rugby ball can provide an excellent technical and conditioning work out

Worcester Academy - Ball Presentation

Worcester Academy - Ball Presentation

London Irish - Using Round Balls

Adding variety into your sessions keeps players interested as they learn new skills or try to improve key techniques but in a different way. Patrick O'Grady from London Irish explain why he uses different sized balls

Ball Balance - Core Stability

Get in pairs. One player starts in a plank position with a rugby ball placed under each hand trying to stay in the plank position. The other player walks around a gently nudges and pushes the player working. The work aims to stay stable on the balls.

Don't Forget the Ball - Conor O'Shea

Early season conditioning doesn't need to be boring. Get the ball in hand and get fit (and improve skills) by using games! There are loads of great conditioned game ideas on PremiershipRugbyCoaching.com

Kicking - Striking The Ball

Accurate kicking requires an understanding of how the foot should strike the ball. Expert kicking coach Dave Walder delivers a coaching clinic detailing the key factors and steps coaches should follow

Core Strength - Swiss Ball Bridge

A strong core is essential in rugby, particularly for the forwards in the scrum. Here is an example of an exercise using a swiss ball, alternatively you can use any moveable object to replace the swiss ball

Turnover session - Competing for the ball

To ensure players consider the best options at the moment they win turnover ball.

The easy option may be to go straight back into contact, but this gives the opposition time to organise a defence.

Encourage players to move the ball away from contact and attack the space wide

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 4

From a turnover in contact the attackers pass the ball wide one way and then a deep wide pass back in the other direction to pull the defence out of shape and create an opportunity to attack. Key factors : Wide flat pass - Players support from depth - Deep wide pass - Running and swerving past the defender

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 4

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 4

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball 1

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 2

Strong defence and a turnover allows two quick passes, (One long pass), and then attack the defence. The two passes have changed the channel of attack by 30 metres.

Key factors : Tackle and stay on your feet - Long quick pass / spin pass - Communicate loudly - Support the ball carrier on his shoulder

Tag Game - Keep Ball Tag

Breakdown - Competing For The Ball

A great drill with explanations and supporting theory to help coaches improve their players accuracy and legality at the breakdown

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 1

Men's - Turnover and move the ball

Men's - Ball off the top from lineout 2

An example of playing the ball from the top of a lineout

Dynamic Jog with Balls

A light team jog with varied dynamic movements to warm up the body for stretching. As a likely first exercise, including a few balls is good to get the players' hand-eye coordination, and concentration kick-started.

Men's - Good body position in contact & ball presentation 2

Men's - Good body position in contact & ball presentation 2

Offload out of the tackle with ball in 2 hands

Keeping the ball in two hands is a core skill and one that needs to be developed at ALL ages

Men's - Good body position in contact & ball presentation 1

Men's - Good body position in contact & ball presentation 1

Touch rugby - ball presentation

A game for understanding how the presentation of the ball can affect the speed of the game and the ability to attack space

One handed passing down channel holding 2 balls

This drill allows you to develop control over the ball and the ability to pass one handed if needed to

Offloads - Keeping the ball alive

In this clip, Eton College keep the ball alive through a series of offloads and long passes, deep within their 22. Eventually a gap emerges for them to exploit, finishing off the the try with a final offload.

Junior - Ball off the top from lineout 2

Junior - Ball off the top from lineout 2

Ball Presentation Game

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!

Ball retention wide

If a drift defence has you pointed towards the touch-line, the wide player should change their running direction and attack the inside defender. This is proactive and gives more chance for the ball to be recycled for another attempt.

Off The Ball Organisation

The aim of the drill is to develop mechanisms to unlock defences in open play. It requires players to communicate, self-organise off the ball, and be aware of their role in the attacking line.

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 2

A turnover from a strong tackle and quick "Jackle" where the defender uses the momentum of the attacking player to swimg up onto his feet and contest the ball, this results in a line break. Key factors : Tackle technique - Urgency to get up to feet - Core strength - Speed

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Quick Ball

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

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

Using Games - 'Choke Ball'

Jake Sharp from Oaklands college delivers a fun game that requires a range of skills from the players. The coach uses lots of questioning to cement the learning and talk about why games are such an important coaching tool

End ball game for warm ups

A fun but competitive warm-up game that get's players switched on and ready to train.

Turnover ball - Attacking from flat

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

Junior - Ball off the top from lineout 1

Core Strength - Swiss Ball Leg Lift

A strong core is essential in rugby, particularly for the forwards in the scrum. Once you have mastered the bridge, attempt lifting one leg at a time, while keeping your core strong.

11. Support - Ugly Ball

Isolated technical practice

Courtesy of the SRU

6. Support - Lineout Ball

Isolated technical practice

Courtesy of the SRU

Men's - Ball off the top from lineout 1

Men's - Standard restart with attack winning ball

Broncos 5 - 2 Ball touch to test the defence

This exercise tests the defenders ability to keep a peripheral view of where the next threat might be coming from and to keep communicating with colleagues. Attackers are always looking for the next opportunity an so should defenders

How to carry the ball - Relay & fun

Devloping core skills and fitness for players learning rugby

Men's - Turnover and move the ball 3

Women's - Ball off the top from lineout 1

Women's - Ball off the top from lineout 2

Women's - Standard restart with attack winning ball

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball 2

Women's - Turnovers and move the ball 3

Junior - Standard restart with attack winning ball 1

Junior - Standard restart with attack winning ball 2

Junior - Turnovers and move the ball

Materiality Clip 6 - Tackle Movement Roll Away

Mike Catt - Attacking from Lineouts - Back Ball

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

Sevens - Ball off the top from lineout

Sevens - Standard restart with attack winning ball 1

Sevens - Standard restart with attack winning ball 2

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 1

Sevens - Turnovers and move the ball 3

Step 2 - Introducing Competition for the Ball

Tag Game - Ball Manipulation

Ground work is crucial to retain possession

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.

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

Advanced Passing Skills

Passing skills are a high priority for most coaches and teachers. This video features a "Grip Game" to test the offloading skills and ball control of players

Small-side game - Ruck Touch

There are many versions of ruck touch with the support players needing to recognise the needs of the tackled player.

The defence should be conditioned to provide increasing pressure to the tackle area. This will develop the situation recognision of the attacking players who must play accordingly. Robotics in rucking regardles of the situation should be discouraged and the option of picking upthe ball and going forward should be an option

Fun Offloading Game!

Ball control is the key element to an effective offload. Jim Evans from Harlequins uses some fun games to coach this skill

L2 - Bozo Touch

Skill Practice Description • There are to be three teams. • Two teams play while one wait by the touch line. • When a score is made, the defence pick up the ball and attack immediately. • The scoring team leave the pitch while the waiting team run on and defend. • Turnover of possession is via a score, a forward pass, dropped ball, intercept etc. • The rules may also stipulate a six touch turnover for example. • The coach to observe how the waiting players spread when in the off pitch area in order to cover space when called onto the pitch. It may not be the team in possession at that time that scores. Key Coaching Points • Speed in scanning and communicating the spatial opportunity. • Development of foundation skills, passing and running. • Innovation in positioning when planning to enter the pitch from outside. • Develop team work and commitment to each other. Relevance to the Game • Develop the understanding of inviting multiple defenders into a tackle area in order to create space elsewhere.

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.

Breakdown - Coaching Players To Make Decisions

The coach uses a combination of drills & games to deliver a session on making decisions at the breakdown. There are some technical points and observations on the coach using classic "Tell & Yell" instructions