2v1 exercise to create space

By Colin Ireland, Physical Education teacher with sixteen years

experience working for the Scottish Rugby Union.

Creating space for other players by attracting and fixing defenders is a basic skill
- but it's not easy.

Defenders want to chase the ball carrier and their mind is split 50/50 on whether
to stay on him or move on to potential receivers.

As the ball carrier, you have a responsibility to fix the defender and move him
away from the receiver.

At Minis level, over exaggeration of this skill will help your players once they get
into a situation of having more defenders but less space and time.

Successful fixing

1. Putting the ball under one arm certainly will attract the defender but
always ensure your players have the know how to get it into two hands
quickly before passing.

2. Run forward at game speed.

3. Run at the opposite side of the defender to where you will pass (e.g.
attack the left of the player then look to pass right).

4. Look at the defender and try to make him watch YOU closely and NOT
possible receivers.

5. Time your pass, so the defender cannot move off you and on to the
receiver. It will help if the receiver takes the ball at pace.

Use this practice: The ball carrier is asked to pull the defender into one of the
outside channels, before passing to his support player.
Use channels to practise over exaggerating fixing and creating space

At Minis level, it is good practice to exaggerate the act of fixing the defender, so
that the players really get a feel for what they are doing.

The French method

In France, coaches also teach their young players to fix defenders and block their
path to the receiver in the process.

To do this, the ball carrier runs at the nearside shoulder of the defender and, as
the defender is about to tackle, passes the ball to his receiver, legally blocking
the direct path between defender and receiver.

Training tips

Make sure you practise passing both left and right. Do not perform multiple 2v1s
through a channel, just do one per pair of players. This helps players focus on the
skill and not a secondary outcome.

This advice on coaching rugby is an example of the tips and coaching advice you
can get every week with a subscription to Rugby Coach Weekly. You can find
out more about taking out a subscription here.

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How to attack a narrow zone

This game works on your players passing skills and provides a decisionmaking
element towards the end. Easy to set up and get going, it's an ideal warm-up
exercise.

Use various handling and passing skills to set up an attack into a narrow zone
containing a defender. Now it's a choice of pass or not? If so, who to? And when?

Set up

A 30x15m channel with:

Zone 1: Lateral pass.
Zone 2: Switch pass
Zone 3: Pass and support
Zone 4: Beat a defender (select correct pass).
Players in pairs A & B, C & D with one ball per pair.
The rules

On your call of "Go!", players perform lateral passes across zone 1.

Upon reaching zone 2, they split into pairs and complete switch passes A to B
to C to D and player B discards his ball.

Zone 3 is pass and support: A passes to C and runs to the other side to get
behind D.

The four players finish by sorting their spacing out to beat the solitary defender
in Zone 4 and score a try.
Scoring

It's a race against the team in the other channel. First to score a try wins.

A forward pass or dropped ball means a return to the start.

Tell them...

"Use the correct pass for each individual situation."

"Clear calling for the ball."

"When attacking the defender, get into the most effective position based
on what is in front of you."

Coaching tips

A ball carrier has to make a correctly-weighted pass when confronted by a

defender to maintain go forward.

This session is from Fun Rugby Games for 12 to 15 Year Olds.

P.S. Make training fun whilst improving players' basic skills and technique
with Fun Rugby Games:
Fun Mini Rugby Games Fun Rugby Games for Fun Rugby Games for
for 5 to 8 Year Olds 9 to 11 Year Olds 12 to 15 Year Olds

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Introduction to rugby fitness

Monitoring and evaluating progress are integral parts of a fitness program.

Conditioning sessions provide feedback on performance, whereas rugby related
fitness tests measure the levels of conditioning and reconditioning after injury.

A formal fitness test can be administered at the beginning of a training program

or phase and repeated periodically. All elements of conditioning should be
measured to provide feedback for setting targets and designing the training
program. Initial test results can be used to compare players and to identify their
strengths and weaknesses. Periodic retests assess progress and provide
information for manipulating the training program.

Complete rugby fitness profile

Fitness testing is part of a complete profile that also incorporates other elements
of assessment. A complete fitness profile can include the following information:

1. Training statusthe type and volume of training the player has had
 2. Medical historyrecurrent and longterm injuries, conditions such as
asthma and diabetes

3. Level of ambitionthe player's aspirations in relation to rugby

4. Exercise techniquesthe techniques the player is familiar with, such as the

lifting technique for loaded and Olympic lifts

5. Feedbackthe assessments of fellow players and coaches on training and

performance

6. Nutritional profilethe player's nutrient intake recorded in a food and fluid

intake diary

7. Match analysisthe number of games played, average tackle count,

number of successful passes, errors made, and number of meters covered
at specific running speeds (the measurement of which requires special
software)

8. Mental toughnessan assessment of the player's mental skills by a sports

psychologist and an appropriate mental training plan

9. Muscle lengths, imbalances, and mechanics with the help of a

Physiotherapist

The more detailed the fitness profile, the more specific, individualized, and
beneficial the fitness program.

Top tip: The T Test is a test of speed and agility.

The T Test
P.S. Click here to create the perfect fitness program for your players with our
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Keep the opposition guessing at the lineout

Sometimes, when you lack height at the lineout, you have to think "outside the
box". In the lineout's case, outside the line. Why not have a lifter, and not a
jumper, stand in the scrum half position?

Have him enter the lineout and lift a jumper where the opposition haven't lined
up, being sure to keep it legal. First, they can do this as the ball is thrown in.
Practically this means a lobbed throw. Second, the back player drops out of the
lineout so they now become the receiver. Either option delivers because the law
states that you must have a player in the receiver position (normally a 9) or the
receiver can only enter the line when the ball is thrown in.

Why it works

It's very difficult for the defence to predict where the jump will take place,
making it hard to organise against it.

Good if you have

A full lineout under pressure from a bigger pack with more jumping
options.

Forwards you want to use to attack from the backline.

A hooker who can pass well off both hands.

Common mistakes

5 standing too far back or forwards from the front of the line. It's better to
move from the back towards the front.

The players' body language giving away the entry point.

Think about

Using a dummy movement to distract and draw the defence away from
the actual jump position. This doesn't require a lot of movement.

As a distraction, having 4 looking to dummy lift 5 on entry, then moving

forwards a step to be lifted by 5.

You can get this move, and 47 others like it which you can use to both attack and
defend at lineouts in The Lineout and How to Win It.

Rugby quotes

"Are Ian Whitten and Sam Hill as good kickers with the distance Henry
can put on the ball? No, but then there are only one or two players in
the Premiership who can kick a ball like Henry Slade"

Rob Baxter, head coach of Exeter Chiefs, on the opening of an extra center spot
following Henry Slade's injury.