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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=999696" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#CC9966" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06ae5e32dkesoe.gif"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Coaching concepts and techniques</b></div> <div> <B>1/11/2007</b></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <A NAME="coaches_corner"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#663300" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </b></FONT><B> |     </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div> | <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Announcements"><U>Announcements</U></A> | <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Match Schedule"><U>Match Schedule</U></A> |<A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Match Reports"><U> Match Reports</U></A> | <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Maps"><U>Maps</U></A> |<A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Registration"><U> Registration</U></A> |<A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Accessories"><U>Accessories</U></A>|<A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Program Overview"><U> Program Overview</U></A> | <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Code of Conduct"><U>Code of Conduct</U></A> | <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Club History Background"><U>Club History</U></A> |<A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Beginners Rugby Primer "><U> Beginners Primer</U></A> | <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rugby Tradition"><U>Rugby Tradition</U></A> | <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coaches Corner"><U>Coaches Corner </U></A>|<A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parents Corner"><U>Parents Corner</U></A> | <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alumni Corner"><U>Alumni Corner</U></A> | <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links </U></A>| <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Match Photos"><U>| Match Photos</U></A>| <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tournaments"><U>Tournaments</U></A> | <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>Video Clips</U></A> | <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Emails"><U>Emails</U></A> | <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" home"><U>Hall of Fame</U></A>|</div> <bR> <div> <B>Coaches Corne</b><B>r</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Access </b><A HREF="http://www.rugbycoach.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.rugbycoach.com/"><U><B>http://www.rugbycoach.com/ </b></U></A><B>for basic coaching and positional play techniques.</b></div> <div> <B>Watch this space for dditional techniques on various aspects of the game.</b></div> <div> <B>Passing:</b></div> <div> Never pass to someone in a worse position than you</div> <div> Never pass if you are not looking at the person you are passing to</div> <div> Never pass to someone if you are running or being pushed back - hold onto the ball, force a maul and wait for support</div> <div> Never pass with one hand</div> <div> If you are being held - don't try to pass - hold the ball for one of your side to come and get it</div> <div> Never throw a long or high pass when you back is turned to the opposition - hold the ball and hand it off.</div> <div> Always pass in front of the player you're passing to</div> <div> Backs: Take the ball on the run - run onto the ball</div> <div> Backs: If the defense has come up fast on you don't slow down, run hard into the opposition, try to keep moving forward, and wait for support before going to ground.</div> <div> Alternate is to kick the ball far and high behind their backs and away from the full back</div> <div> <B>Loose ball play</b></div> <div> At all times if you can easily pick up the ball and advance forward do so</div> <div> If you are mopping up the ball or in a defensive position, try and get the team moving forward forcing a ruck or maul</div> <div> If the ball is on the ground or moving towards your team and the opposition is advancing, fall on it if you don't have time to pick it up, and try and get up and move forward aggressively</div> <div> When all else fails kick the ball high and far and chase</div> <div> When kicking defensively, angle the kick to the nearest touchline - put your team on-side</div> <div> If you are in our own 22 zone, kick it into touch</div> <div> If the ball is on the ground and our team is advancing with very few opposition in front kick the ball along the ground</div> <div> When under a high ball, turn sideways or face towards your line so if dropped it is not a knock on - catch a high ball by “cradling” the ball into your body</div> <div> <B>Rucks and Mauls:</b></div> <div> Always get back into position as soon as possible when rucks and mauls form</div> <div> Forwards must determine whether to go into mauls/rucks or not.  If not get out of the way of the backs. Must be explosive and low when going in to mauls.  If we have taken the ball into a ruck or maul we should be able to move over it and retain possession</div> <div> Backs - if you are closest, ruck or rip and then get out of the ruck or maul as soon as possible and back in position</div> <div> <B>Scrums:</b></div> <div> We should never lose our own scrums - must get low and tight and all push together when the ball comes in</div> <div> Channel the ball to the opposite side of the no 8 from their scrum half</div> <div> If we are near the right touchline on our ball, look for a play on the weak side (our right)</div> <div> If we are near the left touchline on their ball, look for them to play the weak side (our left)</div> <div> <B>Tackling:</b></div> <div> Tackling is a major part of the game.</div> <div> Weak tackling leads to soft tries by the opposition</div> <div> You can't tackle just using your arms</div> <div> Must be prepared to launch into a dive and hit player with your shoulder</div> <div> Keep your head behind or to the side of  the tackled player at all times</div> <div> <B>Running:</b></div> <div> Don't run across the field and try to “round” the opposition - pass off or kick the ball ahead</div> <div> Try always to get to the gain line so our players are moving forward - this ensures an advantage at the rucks and mauls</div> <div> <B>Plays:</b></div> <div> <B>Lineouts:</b></div> <div> 1. Throw to number 2, number 4 or number 6 jumper - make sure we are getting our throws cleanly. 70 % of throws should be to # 4 or #6 as it ties in their back of the lineout defenders</div> <div> 2. Pass from top if getting clean ball.</div> <div> 3. Occasionally bring ball down and hold to get opposition off sides (especially near our line)</div> <div> 4. Bring ball down, form wedge and push forward until stopped - good move near their line</div> <div> <B>3- man lineout va</b><B>riations:</b></div> <div> Call this play to catch other team by surprise and get a penalty (can use near our line and the other forwards go back behind the line in a defensive position)</div> <div> Variations:</div> <div> 1. all move back quickly together and throw to jumper</div> <div> 2. all move back as before - wait till they start to move then jumper runs forward and takes the ball in front</div> <div> 3. do same as 2 above but throw to the back</div> <div> 4. throw to jumper, thrower comes in and takes and runs around the back of the lineout</div> <div> 5. thrower comes in and fakes the take, scrum half takes the ball going weak side</div> <div> 6. Do as in two, throw to the front and scrum half runs in to the line and takes the ball </div> <div> Note:  backs must know what the call is and prepare accordingly</div> <div> <B>Scrums:</b></div> <div> 1. # 8 takes the ball and passes to SH - open side</div> <div> 2. #8 takes the ball and goes blind - passes to SH or wing</div> <div> 3. SH takes the ball,  # 8 breaks blind and takes from SH</div> <div> 4. SH breaks blind and passes inside to #8</div> <div> <B>Penalties</b></div> <div> 1. In our half -kick for touch unless we are not winning our lineouts</div> <div> 2. In their half - if not goalable:</div> <div> 2.1 kick for touch for field position id appropriate to the game situation and we are winning our line-outs.</div> <div> 2.1 quick tap, run open side towards their fly half and out to backs (don't run too far)</div> <div> 2.3 quick tap, flip to forwards, run straight up and force a maul for second phase possession </div> <div>       2.4 Same as 2.3 and do after we have done 2.3 a couple of times.  Forward runs  towards their forwards, at last minute flip ball out to another forward running wide on the weak side</div> <div> 2.5 quick tap, forward angles towards their backs, immediately on contact get ball out going the other way </div> <div> 2.6 if they are lining flat, kick a high up and under - angle away from their full back/ wings</div> <div> <B>Backs line variations:</b></div> <div> 1. Fly half runs across and does scissors with inside center - IC goes straight up towards opposing goal line - forwards quickly support a maul or ruck</div> <div> 2. As above except fly half fakes pass and sends it out - full back comes into line where inside center would be - weak side wing covers for full back</div> <div> 3. Fly half skips pass to outside center.  Inside center immediately loops to outside of outside center</div> <div> 4. Full back enters line between centers running full out - weak side wing must cover for full back</div> <div> <B>Offensive kicks:</b></div> <div> 1. From our lineout on the left touch line, fly half “hook” kicks high and in front of forwards - can do anywhere outside of our 22 - use also when we are not getting good ball to the centers</div> <div> 2. From lineout or scrum, fly half kicks high and far behind the open side wing and away from their full back angled towards the far side touch line.</div> <div>  3. Players must chase kicks ahead so there are at least two challenging their ball catcher</div> <bR> <div> <B>Coaching - Tackling (from YouTube)</b></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3dBpmo9nEo" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3dBpmo9n"><U><B><U>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3dBpmo9nEo</U></b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Coaching - The Ruck (From Planet Rugby)</b></div> <div> One of the good things to emerge as a result of the new laws has been the speed of ball delivery from rucks. Because players have to approach the ruck from behind the ball, the attacking side has a little more time to pick it up and recycle it before a heap of bodies descends upon it - our only problem now, and interpretation varies from ref to ref, is the tackled player releasing the ball to enable the next player to play it and, as always, is anyone falling over and thus blocking the ball? </div> <div> Certainly the law pertaining to the tackle has quickened up the game; it also underlines the importance of having the first man to the tackle before the ruck forms so that speed of emergence of the ball from the tackle situation does not give defensive players time to line-up into Rugby League type defense patterns. When you pass to a player, look after him - he is your responsibility, so when he is tackled, you must be first in. You won't always manage it, but that must be your aim.</div> <div> A few years ago most coaches, certainly in Australia, cautioned players to avoid the ruck in favor of the maul, but with the "use it or lose it" of the maul and the speeded up ruck I am not sure that is the right advice any longer. I still believe you should pass before contact and thus avoid all rucks and mauls, but, of course, this is not always possible.</div> <div> Now that we can "clear the table" by driving players within a meter and a half of the ball off it, it is advisable for the first supporting numbers at the tackle or grounded ball to "take out" their opponents close to it so that the ball is left quickly, cleanly and clearly there for the scrumhalf. </div> <div> Coaches used to instruct players to try to move the ruck forward and this is set up in much the same way as the maul as I described in a previous article. If there are people standing over the ball, bind beyond the ball on to the opponents and drive them back as your supporters come in to bind on you as in the maul, under the buttocks.</div> <div> Practice setting up a ruck. Have defenders (holding shields if you like, but I prefer without) in a line one behind the other. The man carrying the ball runs at the defender, dominates the tackle by sidestepping before the hit, falls across the back of the tackler and places the ball across the back of the defender on the ground. Most coaches advise that you keep the ball close to the body as you place it, but some will say arms distance from you. Both have advantages and disadvantages - you choose.</div> <div> Close supporters of the attacking side drive the defender(s) back about five meters, preferably but not necessarily to the side to make space for the oncoming attackers who can then pick up and "bomb" by taking the ball up close to the tackle and through the gap created by the earlier players. If necessary the whole process can be repeated (ad nauseam, I feel) and the ball taken up field in a succession of rucks. I am sure you will not let the fact that I dislike rucks and mauls to deter you from using them effectively! Rucking is easily practiced and can be an excellent unit skill.</div> <div> Should the charging player be held, his support will come in on either side and set up a driving maul, as described previously, or go to ground immediately for his mates to clear the opposition out for a repeat performance or hopefully to free the ball for the scrumhalf to play. Remember, bodies parallel to ground and touchline for effective driving; cries of feet, feet, to remind support to pump with the feet in the drive, help. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Coaching the maul - YouTube</b></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hvMblnoEs" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hvMblno"><U><B><U>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hvMblnoEs</U></b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Coaching - The Maul (From Planet Rugby)</b></div> <div> A maul forms when a player with the ball is held up in a tackle by an opposing player. </div> <div> 1. If you pass to a player, look after him. Therefore if he is held up by a tackle, you as a passer must be in quickly to rip the ball from him. He, of course, must turn towards his own tryline to make the rip easier. Sometimes, obviously some other player may be closer to the one held up and then he must be the ripper. </div> <div> 2. Some coaches will say if you are going to rip to move to the right, go in with your right shoulder and vice versa. Some very good coaches do not like this because you now have your back partly turned to the opponents and have no pushing foot and can be taken easily to ground before the maul is properly formed by being pulled - it is easy to pull a man backwards. You also want to move your maul forward and so they argue that it is better to do the opposite - if I want to move the ball or the maul to the left I go in to rip with my right shoulder. Just by standing and doing the whole thing slowly you can demonstrate to yourself how this will work. </div> <div> 3. The person being tackled and held up must not submit to the tackle, but should use his feet to dominate the tackle so that he is not firmly held and can turn to aid the rip. </div> <div> 4. You must move the ball away from the contact point quickly as possible, transferring it backwards to the backside of the maul where it can be fed to the outside men. This is the simplest form of a maul. </div> <div> 5. There are many ways to rip. Both hands under the arms of the holder, over the top of the ball. The ripper heaves upwards then suddenly reverses and pulls downwards against the resistance (assuming an opponent has managed to get a hold on the ball). The same hand position by opposite forces - pull downwards and then suddenly come up; this can cause the ball to pop out of control, though. Another method is to come in strongly with the top hand and punch the ball free downwards. However, if the ball carrier dominates the tackle in whatever way, even by driving in low and hard, turning his body as he does so thus screening the ball from his opponents, he can get the ball back across his bell without its really having to be ripped by force. </div> <div> 6. The ripper then moves in low, back parallel to the ground and to the touchlines and goes in with whichever shoulder is appropriate to effect a half turn in the opposite direction to the tackled man's half turn (see point 2, though). This keeps the ball protected - locks it in. He now pushes so it is important that back remains parallel to touchline - watch his feet. As you know from scrumming it is the feet that determine where the back points. While he holds and pushes the support moves in to set up the platform. </div> <div> 7. The next two arrivals take a side each, calling out, if you like, something like "I am left." They bind over the tackled player and thus protrude beyond his back; they are wedges, as it were. They can also bind on the opponents rather than on the tackled man's back - whatever suits. </div> <div> 8. We now have a mini-maul with four players of our side involved. This happens quickly - it must - and the ball produced by a mini-maul is a very effective one if it is quick enough to beat the formation of the defense lines. </div> <div> 9. Should you wish to drive the maul, you would bring in your next two supporters behind your wedges to pack below their bums, feet once again parallel to the touch line so that their push is effective. They should bind with their heads on the outside to give more space for the movement of the ball. </div> <div> 10. Your other two forwards should in the same way behind the previous two. </div> <bR> <div> That is the basic maul - you can roll it, you can move the ball to the back of it and drive - to do this you would possibly bring your last man in to take the ball from the ripper so that it is away from the contact spot and can be controlled to be deployed as you choose. </div> <div> In the same way you would set up a drive from a line-out. There are little intricacies that many coaches bring in to make everything more effective, but once you have got the basic procedure right it is easy to add finishing touches. </div> <div> In short: Hit and turn. Shoulder down and rip, feet parallel to touch. Next to support tackled player over the top. Next two in under and behind wedges - and so on. </div> <div> Some coaches like to rip from the tackled player, wedge, wedge then fifth player rips from second to get the ball to the back. It is not as tedious as it sounds as all is done, or should be done, in a split second.</div> <div> There are other mauling methods and techniques that some coaches prefer to that one I have described here and fair enough, too. There is not only one way to skin a cat. Quite a number of coaches prefer the first men to wedge before ripping - ripping is the third stage. You decide what you like. </div> </td> </tr></table></body>