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Rugby: sidestep

sidestep DRILLS
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Break

Keep your player briefing short. Tell your players the following.... Pass the ball left, clockwise for 2 passes. Then right (anti-clockwise) for 1 passes. Retain the ball and flick it to the player behind you. Attack, at speed, across the grid. You will take a pass from the ball carrier on your left before finishing with a pop to the player in front of you. The pattern of this exercise can be a little confusing at the start, but when your players get the pattern there will be no problem. Start off slow and build from there.

Passing

Channels

1) Run down channels 1/2 / 3/4 pace. 2) No forward passes.3) Use 6 balls / 6 runners at the same time.Variation1) Speed it up.2) Sidestep within the channel.3) Sidestep into another channel.

Agility & Running Skills

Crossover Relay

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.

Passing

Grids part 5

Put a number of cones in the grid.Players have to swerve round them / sidestep them / go to left and right of them. Put two more ball in when competent.

Agility & Running Skills

Passing in Traffic

Tell the players the following...... Runners move forward towards the cone opposite to their location. There will be one ball carrier and one reciever in every set of runners, 3 sets of runners at any one time. The ball carrier must make a legal pass to the player approaching, avoiding traffic. That's it - lets get going.

Passing

Pop and Pass

Tell the players the following.... The player on the cone passes the ball forward to the player just in front of the cone, the passer then become the runner. The reciever pops the ball for the runner to run onto. Runner takes the ball and makes a bawards pass to the player on the cone opposite them.  The runner can drift to increase the distance of the pass. Players should side step to avoid one another in the middle of the grid. The first reciever can change the way they present the ball: they could set the ball on the ground for the runner to pick, they could lob the ball into the air for the runner to reach for and catch, they could deliver a low pass aross the knees for the runner to catch etc.

Passing

Pop, roll, down, up and gut

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).

Passing

Running Warm Up

Tell players the following.... Each Player will work individually, unless told otherwise. Players can run in any direction: moving forward or side to side. They must remain within the grid trying to avoid contact by running into space, sidestepping for example. They will have a ball each. When the coach calls stop, all players must be at least 1m from the nearest player. From time to time players will be ask to do things e.g. 1 press-up. Following completing the instruction - players should keep moving. You will be asked to pass your ball - before doing anything make sure you communicate with another player, you agree to pass to each other, and then you make the pass! This part of your warm-up should be no more than five minutes.

Warm Up

The Three S Drill (Speed, Swerve and Sidestep)

Coach calls a number, that player acts as a defender. Attacker tries to score without being tagged using one of the three S (Speed, Swerve, and Sidestep)

Agility & Running Skills

Touch The Runner

Put a group of 7 inside inside one of your grids. Tell them the following laws: The player not wearing a bib (the runner) is trying stay away from the ball - because if you touch that player with the ball they have to do 10 press-ups etc. (amend depending of players age etc.). Give one of the 3 man teams the ball; the hunters, it's their job to pass the ball to each other hunting the runner, trying to touch the runner with the ball. The other team of three is there to try and intercept the ball as it is passed between the hunters (they are interceptors). Ball carriers can run with the ball. The ball cannot be thrown at the runner. Passes can be in any direction. If the ball is intercepted by the other team, they now hunt the runner and the opposing team has to try and intercept the ball to get it back. Don't forget to change the runner by swapping them with a member of of the two teams in the grid. If a team has been good at keeping the ball, swap the ball over when you feel the time is right. If the ball is dropped or a pass goes outside the grid, it's turned over to the other team who then become the hunters. The team trying to intercept cannot push or have any contact with the hunters (ball carriers). Law Change: After a little time you can change the law to: the ball carrier cannot move with the ball or the ball carrier only take 2/3 steps upon catching the ball.

Sevens

Competitive Sidestep Drill War...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players are competing to manoeuver around the sticks or cones and get over the line.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Set up sticks (or cones) on the pitch as shown in the video.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Players line up in two lines and on the coaches signal/whistle players begin the drill.

General

The Three S Drill (Speed, Swer...

Coach calls a number, that player acts as a defender. Attacker tries to score without being tagged using one of the three S (Speed, Swerve, and Sidestep)

General

Side step practice Agility & R...

Simple game for players to work on their ability to side step and beat opponents 1 v 1.The defender starts with the ball on one coned corner of the playing area.The defender passes the ball to the attacker standing on the opposite cone.The game is then a 1 v 1 and the attacker must side step the defender to reach one side of the squared area.

General

Side step Agility & Running Sk...

Set up as shown in diagram Groups of 3 in 10 x 10m grid. 1 Ball per group. Coach to call Left or Right to ensure no collisions.

General

Side-stepping the opponent Agi...

Players line up and approach the pole and evade to a side. Using shorter strides when they get close, they step to one side with the POWER STRIDE, and off that leg they change direction in the other direction, anything from 30-90 degree angle changes is sufficient.

General

Channels Agility & Running Ski...

1) Run down channels 1/2 / 3/4 pace. <br>2) No forward passes.<br>3) Use 6 balls / 6 runners at the same time.<br><br><br><b>Variation</b><br>1) Speed it up.<br>2) Sidestep within the channel.<br>3) Sidestep into another channel.

General

7v7 Touch Sevens - Rugby Drill...

Tell your players the following... We are playing 7's, normal rules apply - except this is touch. Upon getting touched a player must off-load the ball right away to a supporting attack player. They must stop running. If they do not off-load right away - the ball is turned over to the defence. If they keep running the ball is turned over. Touch is one handed. There are unlimited touches, but in the even of the law being broken e.g. a knock on - the ball will be turned over. The game is to be played at pace. We will have 4 quarters of 4 minutes for this game. Bring you players together for no more than a minute at the end of each quarter to highlight what is going well, what could be better and to agree targets for the next quarter. Ask players, don't just tell.

General

Grids part 5 Agility & Running...

Put a number of cones in the grid.<br>Players have to swerve round them / sidestep them / go to left and right of them. <br><br>Put two more ball in when competent.

General

Attacking Skills version 2 Sev...

Tell your players the following...... Players will attack in teams of 3, each attacking unit will have their own ball. At the pads, the ball carrier must hit and roll or hit and spin or sidestep. They will then face 3 v 2 situations following each pad. Their objective is to get to the other side, without making a mistake, and score a try! The following group of 3 can go when they feel there is a reasonable gap between the attacking units. Don't forget to change your players about.

General

Staying Square and Fixing Defe...

Exercise aimed at attackers staying square when running towards a defender in order to fix them to the spot and then spin a pass out to the side.Attackers start on a cone, before running towards a cone 3m awayOn that cone, the attacker sidesteps (drops the shoulder) and goes the other wayRunning straight now, the attacher goes towards the tackle tube (or whichever necessary object) in front of them and before 'contact' spins the ball out to the opposite sideFor example, if the player stepped towards the left, the pass is made to the player waiting on the right side of the area.

General

Fast Feet Drill Agility & Runn...

The ball carrier from each team runs out to the cone and runs backwards on the return before passing to the next playerFirst team to get all players back to original start position wins.<BR>

General

Ball & Player Sevens - Rugby D...

Tell the players the following..... This is all about tackling at chest height. The facing player will advance, they will be the tackler. The bag carrier should advance as well. The tackler makes a chest height hit on the bag, taking the bag with them. The next defender on the other side does the same, taking the bag with them. When each player completes their role, they should join the opposite line, ready to go again.

General

Rugby: Changing Direction - Co...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players are racing to get back to the middle after touching cones on opposite sides.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Two players start facing each other on the middle cone and await the coaches signal.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Players will accelerate to the cone on one side, turn and accelerate to the other side, turn again and accelerate back to the middle.

General

1v1 Competitive Warm Up Warm U...

<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>1 vs 1 in a small pitch<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>All players line up on the same line on one side of the pitch in the middle.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>On the coaches signal, a player with a ball goes around a cone in one corner and another player goes around the other corner of the same sideline. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Then it is a simple 1 vs 1 with the player with the ball using footwork to beat the defender.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>You can vary the level of contact at your discretion.

General

ALPHA Backs Moves - Rugby Dril...

10 is the ball carrier, advancing forward, before cutting in as shown in the diagram. Both 12 and 13 advance, then change direction as shown in the diagram. 12 and 13 switch. 10 provides a pass to 13, who either hits the opposition defensive line at an angle before straightening up. Think about what will happen next. Could 10 follow the pass and take an off-load on an inside ball, if 13 gets past the gain line could 15 and 14 off wide support? Make this move your own!

General

Agility Slalom - Race Agility ...

Start with 2 players on the centre cone, each with a ball, and facing each other. On the shout "GO", they both run backwards to the first cone They then side step up the grid to the second cone Next players run through the slalom cones back to the start where the ball is passed to the next players Next players can only go when each player has received a ball (to ensure each race is fair).

General

Whistle passing warm up game W...

2 players work together and stand opposite one another facing each other. They pass a ball between them as they stand about 3m apart The coach indicates which direction the players must move in, this forces the 2 to communicate as one player can see the coach and the other can not. On the whistle the player with ball in hand must try and beat his opponent.

General

Full Back's Drill Agility & Ru...

Alternate between players starting with a standing start, with the ball in hand, or from catching a high ball.After this the player should jog for about 5-10m looking for the space,After that they should then look to make a very quick change of direction and accelerate towards the cone for 5-10m.Upon reaching the cone they once again perform a sidestep/ change of direction and finish with a final 20m sprint, either to the left or to the right.

General

Leave No Man Behind Warm Up - ...

Players start in the bottom right corner and on the command sprint as a group before doing 5 press ups. They advance as a defensive line, moving as fast as the slowest player. They never leave a player behind. They then side step (push as a defensive line) left to the next set of cones to do 5 sit ups before sprinting to do press ups. The group follow this routine until the end before the next group go.

General

3D Touch Rugby School - Rugby ...

Players can run with the ball and pass in all directions. If a player is touched while in possession of the ball, it is an immediate turnover (ball put on the floor). The team that scores, turn to attack the other way. This rewards teams scoring and means defensive side have to work to get the ball back.

General

Strengthening the Power Stride...

Players need to work their way up the cones, moving from one leg to another, winding up by bending at the knee and hips, and exploding off to the other direction.

General

Evasion race Agility & Running...

Divide your players into two groups and set up two lines of cones about 3m apart. Each cone should be 1.5m apart in a straight line. The player in front must go through the cones evading from one side to another return and give the ball to the next player to go They are done when the ball is back in the hand of the player which went first Each player needs to pass through the grid and they end with the ball back in the hands of the player that started.

General

Zig Zag Relay Passing - Rugby ...

The player with the ball passes to the next player and follows the direction of the ball using a side step. The player who receives the ball does the same and so on to the last player who receives the ball and runs around the group to the first cone and restarts the drill.

General

Hit and Drive Ruck Clearout Ru...

A drill to be completed in pairs.One player holding a tackle bag stands in a low, strong position with knees bent.The player is standing with one foot either side of a tackle tube on the floor, with their weight forward.The other player starts lying on the floor in a half press-up position ready to go.The tackler needs to get to their feet quickly, sidestep past the cone on the floor and tackle the player holding the tackle bag.Once the player with the tackle bag has been hit, the tackler drives through to clear the opponent out of a ruck.

General

Touch down and back Agility & ...

Players stand in a line with the ball in the hands of the front player.The first player runs to the edge of the grid and then bends to place the ball on the line.Once they have done this they turn and run back, with the ball still in hand, before then popping the ball up for the next player in their line to do the same.

General

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sidestep SESSIONS
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6 Ways to Improve Evasion and Footwork Skills

Develop a team of untouchables! Improve your players ability to swerve and sidestep past opponents with this evasion and agility footwork skills plan

Running Lines and Fixing Defenders

Create doubt in the defender's mind by getting your ball carrier to run straight with the ball, and support runners to run good lines to create depth and width

Tackling Technique - Tackle with confidence

Refresh your junior players' tackling technique before the season starts to help them grow in confidence and prevent injuries in your team!

Pinning and Evading for Improved Individual Attack

Encourage your players to run with the ball to offset the oppo's defenders and experiment developing their individual running Flair!
sidestep ANSWERS
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how do you side step properly

how do you side step properly

cj Coach, Northern Ireland

I need to develop a session to introduce the side step.?

I need to develop a session to introduce the side step. Any ideas of game situations? I have several drills (practices) but need the game. I would be grateful for any ideas.Cheers

Archived User Coach

ho do you sidestep

ho do you sidestep

Christian Mutangara Coach, Zimbabwe

how do you side step properly ...

how do you side step properly

cj Coach, Northern Ireland

IS there any way i can learn t...

IS there any way i can learn the rugby side step??

senushka Coach, Sri Lanka

Warm up to improve agility, ba...

Can anyone recommend a warm up drill for improving agility, balance and coordination?Currently attending level 1 introducing children to rugby; I have some ideas already in mind. I'm interested to hear other ideas.Thanks

Matthew Langtree Coach, United Kingdom
sidestep COMMUNITY DRILLS
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Autosave 18763472

SAQ (Benji style)

Drill 1

Drill 2

strength and conditioning

1 v 1 evasion

Autosave 97106661

Ross Rugby Ready

STRENGTH & AGILITY WARM UP

Sidestep, Speed drill

Seek gab and offload

mini's evasion

Autosave 20697725

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