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overlap DRILLS
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2 v 1 into 3 v 2

Drill to improve short space and wide space overlap play. Set up a grid 15m wide, split into a 5m channel and a 10m channel, and 10m long (see diagram). 4 attackers (red) line up along one side, A1 and A2 within the 5m channel opposite D1(blue). A3 and A4 line up in the 10m channel opposite D2 and D3. A1 and A2 run a 2v1 against D1 in the 5m channel. When A2 receives the ball they run out of the 5m channel into the 10m channel and into a 3v2 situation linking with A3 and A4 attacking D2 and D3. D2 and D3 can't move until A2 enters the 10m channel, and to start with can only move laterally along the try line. DISCUSSION: If players are struggling to execute the 3 v 2 situation, widen the 10m channel to 15m and once they have success at this width bring the channel back to 10m wide. PROGRESSION: D2 and D3 can move off the line to put pressure on the attack once A2 enters the 10m channel.

Decision making

2 vs 1

continuous attack wire is handling under pressure and incorporates a large number of players. Emphasis on the execution of the skill and the timing of the past. Vital all players relentlessly, communicate and execute overlaps. The aim is to get players comfortable taking, boring and passing. The better they are, the more defence can be active and faster players should perform the skill. Hands up, timing of run, not drifting and fit speeder key.

School

3 v 2 into 2 v 1

Drill to practice overlap situations. Set up a grid roughly 10m x 10m, with another grid roughly 5m x 5m adjacent to it (see diagram - red cones and green cones). In the bigger grid have two defenders (red) and in the smaller grid have one defender (red). Three attackers (blue) attack the 2 defenders in the first grid. Once they have completed the 3 v 2 situation the player with the ball and one other support player run around the cone and attack the one defender in the smaller grid. Swap the attack and defence after 3-5 repetitions. PROGRESSION: The ball starts on the opposite side to practice passing in both directions. A coach/other player feeds the ball to the three attackers so the drill can start in any position. The coach/other player can kick or roll the ball to the attack to start the drill.

Passing

Creating the Overlap With a Loop

This drill is designed to work on the loop; on of the simplest and most effective ways to create your own overlap/space out wide Start with three attackers and three defenders using tackle bags in front of them. Attacker 1 passes to attacker 2 and begins to loop around. Player 1 should then receive the ball back and his next aim is to fix the third defender. Attacker three should make his way out to the edge where the space has been created. Attacker 1 then passes to attacker 3 who has space to get around the defence. Using this drill will develop your players handling under pressure and their attacking vision and ability to create space

Agility & Running Skills

Defense vs attack drill

The aim is to the defensive situation to keep changing the defence gets used to drifting or pressing. The aim of the attack is to realign using the full width, get the ball out of the breakdown quickly (no matter what position you play), seeing space, communicating options and reading the defence. Can be done with any number of players but best suited to around 7. You will need 7 cones, 1 ball, a 40 m area, attack of line and try line. Players passed the ball quickly down the line. When the ball gets halfway, the coach shouts out a number. Number reflects the number of defenders. The end player puts down the ball by pad, then the 2 defenders get onside (beyond defensive line) and defend against the other attackers. The defenders need to work together. Stay tight and use the sideline extra defender. Drifting from the inside and pushing up and out. Attack looks to use, player pace and beat the drift. Important defence talks and understand what they are doing in the changing circumstances. With 4 attackers and 3 defenders, defenders might look for a blitz defence or up then drift. Scrum-half can break so defence must defend at guard. Attack should be looking up and reading the situation. If we have an overlap then as a unit we must understand how to fix defenders. You must start to add a kicking option to advance the drill. 8 players, you can have a forward runner offering a shadow line of 10. He is involved in the passing down the line but is on a separate cone in the front of the 7. This fits in with the patterns and philosophy of attack. You might get the forward to press ups or other exercise to replicate fatigue.

School

Defensive Systems - Structure Progression.

1. Defensive Organisation 4 Defenders line up on the the cones. When coach goes to pass the ball, when hands are on the defenders get line speed, making lots of noise and staying connected. After each rep the players move along the cones back trackign until the reach the end, this is continuous. 2. 3 v 2 In a 5mx5m grid, 3 attackers attack 2 defenders. Same focus on the defence on when to drift or make the takle on attackers. Lots of communcitaion and line speed is key. 3. Kick out touch- Reduced Defence. A defending player kicks the ball from the back of the pithc to attacking team. Attacking team has more players than defensive system to induce a counter attack situation. Players will learn to fill space with fewer numbers aswell as being a good attacking practice identifying space and overlaps.

Defensive Patterns

Drop Out Touch

Two teams Attacking and defensive focus Normal game of touch rugby, however whenever the defender touches an attacker, they must run back to their own try line and stay out the game until the play breaks down Attacking team look to identify the space created from defensive drop out Working on defensive communication and work rate

Match Related

Miss 2 and Overlap

Working on basic hands this play sees your line passing the ball, missing out 11 and passing to 15 as they join to support the line. So passing goes from 9 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 13 and then 13 to 15. 15 needs to run into the hole wherever it may be, remembering to check and scan looking for the right time to create the overlap.

Backs Moves

Overlap - 3 'v' 2

Tell your players the following...... The first attacking unit will go, at the same time 2 of the defenders will round the top of the grid and defend. It is effectively a 3 v 2 situation. When the attack is complete the defence should return to their starting position behind the next group of defenders. The attackers should also return to their starting position, behind the next attack. The next attack and defence should now go. This activity should be at pace, and it is full contact. Don't forget to change the defenders with attackers.

Sevens

Releasing the overlap

The scrum half starts with the ball. They pass to the first red player who then passes to the second red player who then passes to red player three into the free space To start with red defenders must only defend against red 1 and 2.

Decision making

Creating the Overlap With a Lo...

This drill is designed to work on the loop; on of the simplest and most effective ways to create your own overlap/space out wide Start with three attackers and three defenders using tackle bags in front of them.Attacker 1 passes to attacker 2 and begins to loop around.Player 1 should then receive the ball back and his next aim is to fix the third defender.Attacker three should make his way out to the edge where the space has been created.Attacker 1 then passes to attacker 3 who has space to get around the defence. Using this drill will develop your players handling under pressure and their attacking vision and ability to create space

General

Miss 2 and Overlap yBacks Move...

Working on basic hands this play sees your line passing the ball, missing out 11 and passing to 15 as they join to support the line. So passing goes from 9 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 13 and then 13 to 15. 15 needs to run into the hole wherever it may be, remembering to check and scan looking for the right time to create the overlap.

General

Releasing the overlap Decision...

The scrum half starts with the ball. They pass to the first red player who then passes to the second red player who then passes to red player three into the free space To start with red defenders must only defend against red 1 and 2.

General

Overlap - 3 'v' 2 Sevens - Rug...

Tell your players the following...... The first attacking unit will go, at the same time 2 of the defenders will round the top of the grid and defend. It is effectively a 3 v 2 situation. When the attack is complete the defence should return to their starting position behind the next group of defenders. The attackers should also return to their starting position, behind the next attack. The next attack and defence should now go. This activity should be at pace, and it is full contact. Don't forget to change the defenders with attackers.

General

Miss 2 and Overlap Backs moves...

Working on basic hands this play sees your line passing the ball, missing out 11 and passing to 15 as they join to support the line. So passing goes from 9 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 13 and then 13 to 15. 15 needs to run into the hole wherever it may be, remembering to check and scan looking for the right time to create the overlap.

General

Blindside Wing Backs Moves - R...

Moving the ball along the line this play sees 11 run up behind 10 to support the line and blind side the opposition. 10 plays a pop pass for 11 to run onto.

General

Overline with 2 Dummy Runners ...

9 10 miss 12 straight to 13 -over line- with 15 also running an over line straight to 14. 14 needs to run into the hole in front of them wherever it is. Needs to 'check / scan'.

General

3 v 2 into 2 v 1 Passing - Rug...

Drill to practice overlap situations.Set up a grid roughly 10m x 10m, with another grid roughly 5m x 5m adjacent to it (see diagram - red cones and green cones).In the bigger grid have two defenders (red) and in the smaller grid have one defender (red).Three attackers (blue) attack the 2 defenders in the first grid. Once they have completed the 3 v 2 situation the player with the ball and one other support player run around the cone and attack the one defender in the smaller grid.Swap the attack and defence after 3-5 repetitions. PROGRESSION:The ball starts on the opposite side to practice passing in both directions.A coach/other player feeds the ball to the three attackers so the drill can start in any position. The coach/other player can kick or roll the ball to the attack to start the drill.

General

Hit The Gap Drill Decision mak...

A drill to practice decision making and finding space between defenders.Set up a line of three defenders with tackle shields (roughly 2m apart), with one defender 2/3m behind the middle defender (blue - see diagram).Roughly 5m opposite the defenders set up three attackers, one opposite the middle defender with the ball and one either side of the ball carrier (red - see diagram).When the ball carrier starts running towards the defenders the defender behind moves in to fill one of the defensive gaps. The attackers must successfully select the space and pass the ball to the player to run through the gap and score. PROGRESSION:Defenders put more pressure on attackers.All players must touch the ball. The third attacker must get through their space as a support player.The ball starts on one side instead of in the middle and players have to call whether the space is the first gap or the second gap, in which case the ball carrier should through a miss-pass.

General

Passing Grid Passing - Rugby D...

Set up a grid of about 10 x 10Aim to have 12 attackers and 2 defenders3 attackers spread out on each side of the square. One player starts with the ball and runs towards the first defender, before passing off to a supporting attacker, who runs towards the next defender and passes off to the other attacker in the threeThe ball is popped off to the end attacking player on the opposite side of the squareThe same play happens with three new attackers and same two defendersThe ball is then popped off to the side, and play continues until all four groups of attackers have run through twice.Then switch defenders.

General

Game To Coach Depth Sevens - R...

Four attackers, two defenders in quite a small playing area - trying to find space.The aim is for each team of four to try to score as many 'tries' as they can consecutively. Failure to score means the team of four changes over to the next team.Touch rugby game play.Attacking four players are aiming to touch the ball down on an end line.Defenders are aiming to touch the attackers.

General

Four Player Continuous Passing...

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>A quick drill to focus the players before going into a session or at the start of a match day warm up. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The aim of the drill is to develop early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set 4 cones 3-5 meters apart on the 5 meter line. This will mark the starting point for your players. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set up cones opposite on the try line<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Ask your players to line up behind each cone.The ball carrier runs out to the cone opposite and passes to the next playerOnce the player on the end receives the ball, the drill changes direction and the ball goes back in the direction it came from<br><br><br>

General

Four Player Continuous Passing...

<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>A quick drill to focus the players before going into a session or at the start of a match day warm up. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>The aim of the drill is to develop early hand-catch, quick and accurate transfer of the ball to a support player.<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set 4 cones 3-5 meters apart on the 5 meter line. This will mark the starting point for your players. <span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Set up cones opposite on the try line<span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;>Ask your players to line up behind each cone.The ball carrier runs out to the cone opposite and passes to the next playerOnce the player on the end receives the ball, the drill changes direction and the ball goes back in the direction it came from<br><br><br>

General

Continuous passing drill Handl...

Groups 9+ BallConesThis could be perfect fro a warm up drill. Player with the ball runs to first cone and performs a pull back pass to the second receiver then onto the 3rd.When the ball reaches the third the 3rd reciver runs to the cone and performs a pull back pass back inside the the 2nd reciver in the next line. This is continuus and should be short and fast pase.

General

Collecting & Catching Difficul...

This drill will develop your players ability to regather difficult balls and make offloads. Working in groups of three, one player is practicing the skill at a time. The practicing player throws the ball to two other players who are holding balls.These two players bounce the ball back and the practicing player has to gather the ball without knocking it on.Progression Now the practicing player holds two balls. He has to offload and then regather the ball with one hand.

General

Attacking Overload - Exploit T...

The drill starts with two teams of equal players playing a standard game of touch. Whenever a touch is made, the defender immediately joins the attacking side and acts as scrum half. This creates an attacking overload. Players must try to score a try by exploiting the overload in the least amount of touches. The drill resets after a try is scored.

General

2 v 1 into 3 v 2 Decision maki...

Drill to improve short space and wide space overlap play.Set up a grid 15m wide, split into a 5m channel and a 10m channel, and 10m long (see diagram).4 attackers (red) line up along one side, A1 and A2 within the 5m channel opposite D1(blue). A3 and A4 line up in the 10m channel opposite D2 and D3.A1 and A2 run a 2v1 against D1 in the 5m channel. When A2 receives the ball they run out of the 5m channel into the 10m channel and into a 3v2 situation linking with A3 and A4 attacking D2 and D3.D2 and D3 can't move until A2 enters the 10m channel, and to start with can only move laterally along the try line.DISCUSSION:If players are struggling to execute the 3 v 2 situation, widen the 10m channel to 15m and once they have success at this width bring the channel back to 10m wide.PROGRESSION:D2 and D3 can move off the line to put pressure on the attack once A2 enters the 10m channel.

General

Attack from Turnover Match Rel...

2 Teams Ball Tackle Bags 3 Tackle bags are in a break down formation. With one player from the other team opposite them. The tackle bag team is lined up as if they are about to attack. The non tackle bag team must line up as if they are defending.The ball is rolled in the player with no tackle bag on the opposite team must get the ball away from the break down as quickly as possible with the tackle bags putting lots of pressure on. The non takcle bag team then must re-align as quickly as possible aiming to score from the turn over ball.

General

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overlap SESSIONS
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Releasing the Overlap | Rugby ...

This session looks at once the overlap has been created, what do we do with it? Looking at ways to continue the attack by releasing the ball at the right time.

Using the Overlap

Make sure your players support their team-mates with this session, by using the overlap in attack

Understanding the importance of effective offloading to secure possession

Develop your team's decision making ability to recognise how and when to set up an offload to unlock the defence.

Catch & Pass - Develop Good Habits

Develop a early hand catch, quick transfer of the ball across the body, and follow through towards the support player...

Coaching the Drift Defence

Get your players thinking their way through this session, focussing on Drift Defence when the opposition have an overlap on the outside.

Backline Scanning - Reacting to the unknown!

Don't let your team succumb to static rugby - instead teach them to look up and play against what's in front of them

Man-Marking - Defensive Alignment

Practice defending against overlapping players and get your back line communicating, taking responsibility for their man

Releasing the overlap

Once the overlap has been created, what do we do with it? In this session we look at ways to continue the attack by releasing the ball at the right time!
overlap ANSWERS
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maul vs ruck

I want my team to stay up when heading into contact and have support there immediately to form a quick maul and get the ball out quick. Our backs are very fast, and I want them to get the ball as much as possible. Am I right in thinking this way?

Archived User Coach

switch pass drills

switch pass drills

Archived User Coach

How would you help a 17yr old scrum half understand about not taking all the good ball on himself,this has just started creeping into his game

 a

Archived User Coach

Looking for varations for touch rugby games.

Looking for varations for touch rugby games. Using as a bit of preseason want to freshen the game up.

Jack Redfern Coach, England

Man marking and alignment

Hi All. could anyone advise me of a drill/game that would help with my backs defensive alignment and attacking alignment from a ruck. At the moment all of my backs lose their shape and get drawn into the ruck or follow the ball leaving a overlap. Cheers Iain

Iain Hughes Coach, England

Defence System Blitz/Drift

Hi,I am just looking to see if I am right in saying the below:If we are the defending team, and have more players then the attackers then we should use the blitz attack and vice-versa for the drift? Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Archived User Coach

men to men defence drill

i want the key ponts of men to men drill

serapelontaopane Coach, South Africa

How can I prevent an overlap? ...

Which drills can I use to train my team how to prevent an overlap out wide?

Heini Van Staden Coach, South Africa

First time coaching the U13s n...

I have just started helping our head coach with under12's team. He wants to retire and has put me forward to be head coach next season. I am a little worried on how i should aproach training with the boys, going to a full 15 a side team on a full pitch. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Archived User Coach

Improving game awareness. How ...

Improving game awareness. How can I improve players insight into "what happens next", besides by whatching (games)? Players tend to be fixed on the ball(situation) and seldom look at what is in front of them%3A how can I stimulated them to take time to quickly look around and assess the situation?

Yvonne Bouman Coach, Netherlands

How can i develop the loop pas...

How can i develop the loop pass

Dan Linford-Jones Coach, England

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