Coaching Dynamic Play in Contact

1
Coaching Dynamic Play in Contact

• Pete Steinberg
• Game Development Officer

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Elite Player

• Characteristics of Elite Players
• Physical fitness
• Mental toughness/confidence
• Technical skills
• Understanding of the game
• Decision-making

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Decision-Making

• Decision-making is the key to playing at an elite
  level. It allows you to apply your technical
  skills at the right time. To be able to make
  good decisions you need to understand how the
  game of rugby works.

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Decision-Making Process

• You are either making decisions and playing with
  PURPOSE or you are not thinking and playing rugby
  by accident.

Recognition
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Offense-Defense
Passing backwards creates unique structures in
rugby
Offside line
Possession
Gain line
Tackle Line
Attack
Attack Line
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Principles of Play - Offense
Possession
Go Forward
Pressure
Support
Continuity
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The Smart Rugby Player

• Thinking during the game
• Understands how the game works models
• Willing to stretch be risky
• Adjusts strategy on the fly
• Helps others recognize
• Challenges current strategies

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Goals of Continuity

• Retaining possession through each engagement with
  the defense in order to continue the attack.
• In the ideal scenario, one could avoid all
  defenders and score every time.
• Of course, the defense is playing too, so
  attackers need to develop skills designed to win
  the collision, keep the ball when challenged by
  the defense and CONTINUE the attack.

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Principles of Continuity

• Pass before contact if there is space and support
• Put defender off balance avoid shoulder contact
• Be dynamic keep the ball moving forward
• Support needs to communicate information that
  helps BC make a decision
• Ruck/Maul is last resort

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Linking

• Indentify the first two roles as a sort of two
  player attacking team
• Ballcarrier (runner with the ball)
• Link (first supporter in close proximity)
• BC must attack space, be aggressive and athletic
  and present the ball perfectly.
• The Link helps the BC maintain forward momentum,
  penetrate the defensive line and retain
  possession.
• Linking encourages players to provide close
  support, looking for a pass and driving in
  support.

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Continuity Decision Tree
SupportSpace
Ball Carrier
No supportSpace
Pass Early
SlowSupport
Beat Defender
Take Contact
HighTackle
Low Tackle
Wrap Around
Power Step
Support
Slow Support
Slow Support Space
SupportSpace
Pass inContact
Down and Pop
Late Support
Hit andPop
Hit and Rip
Late Support No Space
Post
Hit andSet
No supportSpace
No Space Support
SupportSpace
Support
No support
Pick andGo
Pick and Pop
Maul
Ruck
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Channel Game

• This is a small sided game with limited numbers
  and space. Variations
• Set-up with no more than 2 or 1 in a line
  defenders cannot chase back
• Change how the game is started throw the ball
  behind, roll it in front, kick etc
• Manipulate starting position of offense and
  defense (lying on floor etc)

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Cycle Drill
1.
2.
5
5
2
1
1
2
3
3
4
4
After he puts the ball down he runs on turns and
becomes the defender. Next player picks up the
ball
First player runs out and puts the ball down
4.
3.
1
2
1
4
3
3
5
5
4
2
The ball carrier engages the defender and the
attackers beat the defender using the skill as
designated by the coach.
Whomever ends up with the ball runs on, puts the
ball down and becomes the next defender. Cycle
repeats
You can ask the BC to execute a particular
technique or you can give the BC freedom and have
the support react. More than one defender also
will work with larger groups.
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Channel Game 2

• This is a small sided game with limited numbers
  and space. Variations
• Defense can be set up in any orientation if
  ball stops being dynamic, defense
• can realign
• Attack must recognize the orientation and attack
  appropriately, support must
• align
• Change how the game is started throw the ball
  behind, roll it in front, kick etc
• Manipulate starting position of offense and
  defense (lying on floor etc)

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Continuity Drill
1.
2.
2
1
3
2
4
1
4
3
First BC runs towards the defender with one
supporter
He engages the defender and uses the technique
as determined by the coach. The Other defender
follows to reduce distance and and intensity.
3.
2
3
4
1
4.
The supporter gets the ball and turns and engages
on other defender
2
3
4
1
Step 2 is repeated.
You can build so there are 3 or 4 people rucking
or mauling against 2 defenders.
5.
4
3
2
2
Step 1 repeated
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Support Game
Coach
The coach rolls the ball out into the grid. The
first attacker goes directly to the ball, the
supporters must run around the end cone. The
defenders may come up when the ball carrier has
fielded the ball. If the ball is close to
defenders the BC must buy some time. If the
ball is far then the BC has support and can play.
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General Motion

• This game is designed to introduce the three ways
  to attack
• Around
• Through
• Over
• It can be played with any number of players.
  Split the group into teams. Have the attack
  spread out facing away from the defense and then
  manipulate the defense into one of 3 formations
• Grouped
• Spread out with depth
• Flat
• 20m by 60m grid with 2 teams of 10.
• Kick the ball to the attack and let them choose
  the method that they would attack the defense.
  Play it grab to allow continuity.