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call the pass DRILLS
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7's Fitness Handling

Tell them the following...... The ball carrier will run forward with the ball, their partner will go with them in support. The ball carrier will pass the ball to the supporting player, who is moving forward. The new ball carrier will now pass the ball to the first receiver in the next group of two, who should be chasing - but no too close. And so the exercise continues, with each set of two support the last set of two. The challenge is, as well as good passing, is that the players should be around the 5 meter boxes and sprint back their starting position in order to keep the ball moving without stopping. Remind the players that this must be done at pace.

Sevens

Keep Passing

Tell your players the following..... 3 players start on the right cones. The remaining 3 players will be running, they start at the top of the grid. The runner take the first ball off the player standing at the first cone, they pass it down the line while advancing to the second cone. At the same time the player on the cone, who passed the first ball, runs to the second cone on a loop to retake the ball. They remain at that cone for the runners to return. The same thing happens at the second and third cones. When the attack gets to the bottom of the grid, and they have finished all 3 lateral passing tasks - they turn and go again. Change the runners and players on the cones when you're ready.

Sevens

Passing Left and Right From Feed

This is to practice handling and passing the ball to a direct target. It is good for awareness and communication between the three support players. 2 balls, 3 support players, 1 passer. The support players set up a triangle on your given dimensions. The person at the top of the triangle is the feeder for the passer, who will stand one metre from the feeder on the inside of the triangle. The feeder starts with a ball as well as the passer; once the first pass is made on the coaches call the passer must look to receive the next ball from the feeder to pass to the next support player. As soon as the support players receive a pass they should return it to the feeder. Each passer should work for about one minute and then rotate with one of the support players.

Passing

Step Back

Players start at the cones, pass the ball one circuit clockwise and one circuit anticlockwise. Following the two circuits, they take one step back. Thus making the circle bigger. They then repeat the 2 circuits of passing the ball around the circle, before taking another step back. Repeat until the circle is so big that the players are having trouble completing their pass.

Sevens

VISION

The two players in the middle of the circle will be defenders, it is their job to try and intercept the ball that is being passed, or to block the pass. The other players have to keep the balls moving, they cannot pass to the player beside them, and they have only 2 seconds to make their pass. Give 4 different players the balls, and lets get going. Don't forget to change the defenders.

Sevens

Passing in Contact Passing - R...

Keep your player briefing, brief! Tell you players the following...... Players will attack in groups of 2, so we have 2 v 1's. That's it - get them moving for a while - and remind the defenders that they can only move from side to side. After a while - tell the attackers that the ball carrier must take contact - and pass the ball out of contact. That's it - get the players moving again and let them discover how it's done. Don't forget to change the defenders.

General

Call the pass! 3 + 1 Warm up -...

Groups of 4 One ball per group In threes, handling up a channel, support runner calls self into line, receives a pass, offloads and repeats down the second channel. Change support player after each run.

General

Contact Pop Pass Contact Conta...

Ball carrier goes forward, hitting in on the shield, turning to pop the call to a support player who passes the ball across the grid into the second channel for the first player in the opposite channel to take and advance on the the shield in their channel. They hit in on the shield, turning to pop the ball to a support player who then passes the ball to the next receiver in the first channel. Keep going, but don't forget to change the players on the tackle shields.

General

Crossover Relay Passing - Rugb...

Keep your player briefing short. You may consider having a demonstration group. Give two players opposite each other, one ball each. On your call they will come forward, towards each other, sidestepping to avoid contact before passing the ball either left or right. There should be no forward passes and the players need to communicate to avoid both balls going in the same direction. When the receivers collect their pass - they do the same as the first set of ball carriers. Players that have completed their run and pass within the grid should join the end of the opposite line. Players should seek opportunity to pass off both their left and right hands.

General

M1, Inside Pass/Pop, Back Pass...

Keep your player briefing, brief! It's important to get your players working as quickly as possible. Lets get the ball and the players moving with lateral passing through the hands. Each training area only needs one ball, and that ball should be any of the two players at the outer most cones. Tell players to move forward, passing the ball down the line. When the ball gets to the last receiver, that player will pass it to the first receiver in the next line. That player should be waiting to go. Players should advance right away, they don't need to wait for your call. Allow the players to move the ball down the lines, just to get them used to handling the ball within the L. When you feel the players are comfortable, tell the players that the first ball carrier will miss pass the ball to the third player in the line, who will miss pass to the last player in the line, who will give an inside ball to the forth player in the line, who will then pass the ball to the second player in the line. When each line has completed the above pattern, they should give the ball to the next attacking line. The last pass to the next attacking line will be a long pass and should be completed correctly within the laws of the game. Allow the players to discover, though questioning, the best possible way of executing the M1 while maintaining or creating depth in advance of changing the pattern of attack. Players should change position in the line after each run.

General

Continuous layoff Contact Skil...

Player with the ball runs into contact and passes the ball out to the supporting player whom inturn passes it to the other side of the grid for the practice to repeat on the other side.

General

Pass and Follow Warm Up - Rugb...

They pass the ball around either clock wise or anti clock wise, you can decide to change the direction youself at any point during the exercise. After the player passes the ball they have to follow their pass, touching the cone of the player they passed to - then get back to their cone before receiving the next pass. The tempo of this exercise should be high.

General

Ladder Pass Warm Up - Rugby Dr...

Have four players stand at the four cones, the other players, in their own running groups of four should, be behind them - ready to go when their turn comes. Give the first player, the player with the ladder furthest away, a ball. The other players should lay down on the ground. When the first player runs and reaches the ladder, the second player can get up and attack, the third player can attack when the second player reaches their ladder, and the forth player can get up and attack when the third player reaches their ladder. The pass should be passed down the line, but you can only pass when you're inside your own ladder and you can only receive when you are inside you own ladder. Players aim to get the ball down the line, and should, score at the end before passing the ball to the first receiver in the next group. Players cannot stop inside a ladder or at any time during the attack.

General

Loop (L1,L2,L3) Passing - Rugb...

Keep your player briefing, brief! It's important to get your players working as quickly as possible. Lets get the ball and the players moving with lateral passing through the hands. Each training area only needs one ball, and that ball should start with the any of the two players at the very ends of the L. Tell players to move forward, passing the ball down the line. When the ball gets to the last receiver, that player will pass it to the first receiver in the next line that is waiting to go. They should advance right away. Allow the players to simply move the ball down the lines, don't mention the Miss Pass. After you feel the players are comfortable, tell them...... Any player can now call an L1,L2,L3,L4 - depending on their position in the attacking line. This means that they can pass and loop round the back of the rest of the attack to collect the ball and continue the attack. An example of this would be: L2, player passes, loops around two other players, and collects the ball in attack. Allow the players to discover, though questioning, the best possible way of executing and calling the (L) move. Players should change position in the line after each run.

General

Keep Passing Sevens - Rugby Dr...

Tell your players the following..... 3 players start on the right cones. The remaining 3 players will be running, they start at the top of the grid. The runner take the first ball off the player standing at the first cone, they pass it down the line while advancing to the second cone. At the same time the player on the cone, who passed the first ball, runs to the second cone on a loop to retake the ball. They remain at that cone for the runners to return. The same thing happens at the second and third cones. When the attack gets to the bottom of the grid, and they have finished all 3 lateral passing tasks - they turn and go again. Change the runners and players on the cones when you're ready.

General

Traffic Lights Game Passing - ...

Brief your players one what you would like the to do by telling them the following.... One of the players will stand outside the grid, they are the traffic light. The rest of the players will be inside the grid passing one ball. When the traffic light player shouts GREEN, they turn and face away from the grid (they can decide for how long). The players within the grid and continue to pass the ball, as fast as they can - they don't want to be the player holding the ball when the Traffic Light shouts RED. On the call of RED the Traffic Light player turns around to see who is holding the ball. On the RED call the players must stop passing the ball right away. The player holding the ball becomes the new traffic light, and the old traffic light enters the grid as a passer.

General

Pop, roll, down, up and gut Pa...

Tell your players the following...... The ball carrier will run/carry the ball directly across the grid, offloading it to the player opposite. The offload will be different, depending on the coaches call - so you need to listen. There will be traffic in the center of the grid, so avoid it. Ok - lets get moving, the first call is to pop to the receiver - the pop should be legal! Calls include: POP THE BALL, ROLL THE BALL, SET IT DOWN, THROW IT UP, GUT PASS (not too hard).

General

Step Back Sevens - Rugby Drill...

Players start at the cones, pass the ball one circuit clockwise and one circuit anticlockwise. Following the two circuits, they take one step back. Thus making the circle bigger. They then repeat the 2 circuits of passing the ball around the circle, before taking another step back. Repeat until the circle is so big that the players are having trouble completing their pass.

General

Hula Slalom Relay Handling - R...

On the coach's call players run through the slalom. As they pass each cone they have to pass the ball around their waists.

General

Continuous Passing Square 1 Pa...

Set up 4 cones in a square, and get the players to form equal lines behind each cone.The ball starts with a player on one cone who runs towards the cone to his right and passes the ball across the square to a player from the next cone running onto the ball. He catches the ball and continues his run, passing the ball to someone from the next cone running onto the ball.Change the direction which the ball is goingProgressions:Get the players to change direction on your command (shout/whistle)Multiple balls at a timeAs a group must complete 10 successful passes before the session can move on, every time a ball is dropped the whole group does an exercise (e.g. 10 press ups).

General

Passing compass Warm Up - Rugb...

Have a quick demo using one group - keep your player briefing, brief. Each pair face one another and stand side by side, about 1 meter apart - shoulder to shoulder. And about 2 meters apart - face to face. Players should be up on the balls of their feet, jogging on the spot. They should continually pass to each other, passing with the player in front of them. When the coach calls out a direction the players should move as a unit maintaining the distances to each other while passing until the new direction is called. You could call NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, or WEST. You could also have each side of your grid marked with different coloured cones and your players could move according to colours. Movement should be controlled and not too fast. Expand the size of the training area for greater speed of movement over distance.

General

Contact Relay Warm Up - Rugby ...

Break your players down into groups of 3. In each area there should be 1 player with a tackle shield, 1 player with a tackle bag, and one with nothing. Tell players to do the following..... One player stands five meters from the start of the channel holding up a tackle bag. One player stands at the opposite end of the channel with a tackle shield. One player will be running and making contact at any given time. The Player with nothing in hand runs to the player with the pad and drives them across the grid. On reaching the end they swap roles and the other player runs across the grid to the tackle bag, hits hard, and makes a tackle at the end of the grid. Following the tackle the players swap roles the new player runs across to the player with the pad and the exercise continues.

General

Decision Making Sevens - Rugby...

Tell the players the following..... The players at the bottom of the triangle will pass the ball back and forward. The passer in the middle must not only complete the pass, but should keep their head up and call out the colour of the cone that is being held up for their attention. Don't forget to change the players around to allow everyone a chance to do everything.

General

Open Channel Passing - Rugby D...

Give each training area one ball and tell the players the following...... Lets just get the ball moving down the line. Give the player at the start of one of the lines a ball, tell the line to advnce using laterial passing - with the last player in each line passing the ball to the first player in the opposite line. This should include all of the players, including the players that will be working in defence. After some time (your call on how long this should be). Tell the players that....... You will have three defenders, 10 meters back from the attack. The attack will start by laying on the ground facing the opposite direction. The defence will leave one channel open, they should vary this each time. The attack should get to their feet when the defence says ATTACK (this give the defence a chance to get ready). The attack should move the ball to the open channel, attacking that channel with more that one player - if possible. The defence can defend their own channel, they can move forward and back, and side to side - but they cannot enter the channel they initally left open. Players should change positions in the line following each attack. Change the defenders after some time.

General

Simple Handling Ball handling ...

3 vs 1 vs 1 Ball Carrier passes the ball into the post player and runs across the front of him and receives the ball back. His 2 supporting players then react to his body language and execute 2 x 3 vs 1.

General

More Loop Passing - Rugby Dril...

Tell your players the following...... The ball carrier (A) runs straight in a line and makes a normal lateral pass to the supporting player (B) After passing the ball A runs towards and behind B After B catches the pass they angle their run towards the direction the pass has come from and so create space A runs around B and straightens as they receive the pass In effect you want the players to loop around the new ball carrier after they make their pass.

General

Number Cruncher Passing - Rugb...

Keep your player briefing, brief! If necessary you might considering having one group quickly demonstrate the exercise to the other players. Tell the players the following....... This exercise is nice and simple. They should stand at a cones in the circle, but their order in number should be random as in the diagram above. They have to pass to the next number up. So 1 passes to 2, who passes to 3 - and so on. That's get - lets get the ball moving!

General

Passing Central Passing - Rugb...

Keep your player briefing, brief - and get the players moving as quickly as you can. You may consider having a demo group. On your go: The player acting as the Scrum Half passes a ball to the grid on his right and then another ball to the grid on his left, both passes will be from the ground. Upon receiving the pass - each grid begins their 2 v 1 attack and the player with the tackle pad presses up in defence. When the player acting as the scrum half has completed their two passes, they join the attackers on either the left or right grid. The first receiver of each attack becomes a Scrum Half - or simply returns to the start of the grid to join a new attack as the first receiver. Players rotate positions e.g. Scrum Half, First Receiver, Second Receiver. Defenders can move forward and back, and side to side. Change the defenders often to give them a chance in attack.

General

Pop, roll, down, up and gut Pa...

Players line up opposite each other in two lines.One player on each side has a ball. Before players set off on their run the coach calls out a type of pass - depending on the call players must play that type of pass.

General

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call the pass DRILL CATEGORIES
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call the pass ANSWERS
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My guys in Cape Verde can't se...

My guys in Cape Verde can't seem to get the concept of a good pass... They just throw the ball in the general direction of the closest player and there is always SO MUCH scrambling around on the ground to get it again.  I've showed them video clips on you tube of drills and real games, I tell them every day that if they make good passes to their teammates then they save the time of fumbling around on the ground for the ball, but they seem to almost enjoy doing that....any ideas??

Archived User Coach

switch pass in rugby union | S...

switch pass in rugby union

maria Coach, England

u8s running sideways not forwa...

What drills would anybody reccomend to encourage forward running in an u8s side,whilst keeping it fun?Some players tend to crab along the pitch.

Archived User Coach

Tips for teaching kids to pass?

Tips for teaching kids to pass? Under 7's%3A Posture, feet position, ball holding,action, short and long passes. Any guidance / links to websites please

Archived User Coach

Can anyone explain what a quick throw-in is and how its set up?

Can anyone explain what a quick throw-in is and how it works?

Archived User Coach

how do i coach the miss pass

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Expert how do i coach the miss pass

Archived User Coach

how do you stop a 15 breaking through the gain line

how do you stop a 15 breaking through

Andy Stephens Coach, Scotland

What are the key learning points of a miss pass?

What are the key learning points of a miss pass?

dave walker Coach, England

how would you describe key factor analysis in one sentence?

how would you describe key factor analysis in one sentence thanks

peter frantz Coach, United States of America

Miss pass - got the basics. How can improve on it /next?

Miss pass - got the basics. How can improve on it /next stage?

Archived User Coach

Teaching a player cues for a halfback pass,(passing?

What could you teach a player cues for the halfback pass,(passing from the ground)?

Archived User Coach

Do you have anu rugby league drills?

Do you have anu rugby league drills?

Archived User Coach

Can players throw ball forward to themselves then catch it?

if i throw the ball forward and catch it before it touches any opponent or the ground is that a forward pass

Archived User Coach

Interpretation of the maul - for U10s?

I will be coaching under 10 next season and need some guidance on how to interpret the rules for the maul?

Ezra rushen Coach, England

What is the U9s 2 second rule when placing ball post tackle?

My understanding is the rules state the when the referee calls a tackle the tackled player needs to pass the ball within 3 seconds from the call, regardless if he is on the ground or being held. My question is this, if the player goes to ground and does not make a pop pass but places the ball, do he his team mates have 3 seconds to pick up and pass the ball or an indefinite period while attacking team stays onside?

Archived User Coach

How many tacklers are allowed in U10s rugby?

At under 10s I was under the impression that it is 1v1 tackling. Can someone clarify the laws on this please?

Aaron Lee Newson Coach, Wales

Law 12 - the forward pass or t...

The law says that a forward pass is one "thrown forward" "in the direction of the opponents' goal line" Does that mean that, if the ball is passed and the receiver catches it NEARER to the opponents goal line than from where the ball was passed that the pass was forward? (Leaving to one side any other touches of the ball that might have taken place.) Maybe an example is better. Player 1 passes the ball sideways - releasing it on the 22 metre line. Player 2 (with no other player having touched the ball), running from well behind the 22 metre line, catches the ball when it has travelled sideways but the ball is now 20 metres from the opponents goal line (2 metres further forward from the place that the ball was passed). Is that a forward pass or throw forward? And if not, why not?

Archived User Coach

Getting 9-10 year olds to spre...

Getting quite frustrated that my u10's are not using the space on the pitch and tend to bunch up. Despite various drills and game scenarios to force them to spread out and pass to someone in space they revert in any game to bunching up around the ball and taking it back into the thick of the opposition rather than looking left or right! Any ideas how to change their ways?

Ian G Coach, England

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