Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Training | Tags: press ups, RFU, rugby motivation, Rugby Training
1,2,3,4…no, proper ones
A familar call on the rugby training ground. A misdeamour of minor proportions, perhaps a dropped ball or a missed tackle. The result, press ups (or round the posts and back).
Don’t think for one moment I am going to say that mistakes should not be highlighted, pointed out or even commented on harshly. It is how they are then dealt with which causes an interesting debate.
“Punishment” is not a good word to use – I found this out very early on in the Rugby Coach Newsletter issues when the RFU quickly slapped my wrists for using the word (and the “punishment” mentioned).
In which case, you need a way to ENCOURAGE the players not to make the same mistake twice.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: missing tries, Rugby Skills, scoring tries, training accuracy
With the UK season about to start in earnest in a few weeks, rugby training time is focused on the first game.
In my sessions I am particularly interested in the accuracy of the skills. Passes in the right place, the rugby tackles being made with the correct shoulder and foot combination, and rucks being cleared at the best height.
A small lapse and it could cost you points.
And here is the evidence!
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: fast hands, rugby catching, Rugby Drills, rugby handling, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training
This week I was asked to come up with some fast hands rugby drills. As some of you know, I am not a great fan of the term “drill”, but it matters little in the end because it is what the players learn in training that counts.
Why fast hands
“Fast hands” means quick transference of the ball from one player to the next to the next. In other words, at least one quick pass in a series of two or more passes. Relating this to the game, it is unlikely that we need “fast hands” for more than three passes.
Game related reasons
“Fast hands” are meaningless unless there is a good reason to pass the ball in the first place. The reason in this case is that the receiver and giver is under pressure in front of him and there is someone better placed to take the ball forward. Two sets of “fast hands” means that two players are under this pressure and so on.
Ultimately, my drill/exercise needs to get to the high pressure stage.
Constructing a drill
In a quick audit of the stuff I have published I find I have over 300 “sessions” to choose from (not all handling of course), plus another 40 odd in the pipeline till Christmas. But why not use a fresh idea.
Here are the three things I think about when constructing a rugby drill
1. Paint a picture of the game and can I isolate the technique?
2. What is the fewest number of players I need?
3. Where can I add value?
Point 3 is the crucial one. For fast hands, my answer was “its in the catching”.
Look out for my “drills” coming up soon.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Team Management | Tags: inspiration, Olympics
I was writing a post about fast hand drills, and then I came across this video from Ryan Lee. (ryanlee.com)
Watch it and see if it has the same effect on you as it had on me…
It is hard not to be inspired by Olympic endeavour. It is also hard to justify the Olympics without rugby.
There are plenty of sporting lessons to be learnt from the Games, biomechanically, mentally and as a spectacle.
Here are some sites to visit to get your juices going. And here’s Olympic Sevens, men’s and women’s in 2012.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training, Uncategorized | Tags: All Blacks training methods, rugby handling, Rugby Skills, rugby support, touch rugby
Ok, it is the All Blacks, but…
1. Look at the rules: two handed touch, ball carrier and one team mate to the ground, plus the toucher and one of his team mates too. This creates space and encourages support around the fringes.
2. Look at the work rate: at the end these boys are tired.
3. Look at the rugby basics: two hands on the ball, passing before contact, changing angles, arriving from depth.
Touch rugby is a great game for many reasons, but needs careful control to gain the full benefits.
Here are links to some more ideas on touch rugby from the Better Rugby Coaching site:
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training, Uncategorized | Tags: All Blacks training, nz rugby, rugby passing games, Wales
Watch this clip from a New Zealand team prep to play Wales. Loads of interesting stuff to look at but I have found the passing game great fun. It is about 50 seconds into the video.
The rules are:
1. One ball per player.
2. The ball is passed left once, right twice, left three times, right four times and so on.
3. The player who makes a mistake drops out.
4. Any disputes decided by “paper, rock, scissors”
I played this last week with some academy boys and as a group of 5 we aimed to get beyond ten consecutive passes one way. Good fun and enjoy.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Fitness, Rugby Training | Tags: chirs jones coach, pre-season, preseason, rugby conditioning, Rugby Fitness, rugby weights
There are too many “beach” fitness gurus around these days and not enough true sports’ fitness experts. By beach fitness I mean people who will tell you how to look great on the sand this summer but don’t know whether it will help you last 80 minutes on the rugby field.
The other week I had the pleasure of meeting someone who is at the cutting edge of fitness. Chris Jones trains Olympic triathletes and his services are in demand all around the world for high performance coaching.
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