Contact Help center
Rugby Rugby
HOME Rugby SEARCH

Rugby: sidestepping

sidestepping DRILLS
View All

Another Defender Bites The Dust

Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over. The attacking team gets unlimited touches. A player is touched only when the defender has made a two handed touch, you can change this to one hand if you wish. Defenders cannot hold the attacker, nor can the attacker use significant force to push through defenders. Defenders who make a touch go to the touchline where an assistant coach will have an activity waiting for them, doesn't have to be fitness related - a passing activity will be fine. They stay there until the attack scores. As each defender leaves the pitch, the attacker has an increasing advantage in terms of numbers and available space. If a player is touched: they stop, set the ball down, stand over it, and the scrum half is allowed to move the ball again to restart the attack. The defence must remain onside following a touch. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence press up on the attack. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. Don't forget to switch the teams around and to count how many defending players are on the pitch when the attack scores. he winning team is the team that can score with the most defenders on the pitch. Tries only, no conversions - keep the game tempo high. There is no kicking.

Warm Up

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

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

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

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-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

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

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

Running Warm Up Warm Up - Rugb...

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.

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

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

Single Tap Ladders Agility & R...

The aim of the drill is to develop speed and agility.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Box Back Sevens - Rugby Drills...

Tell your players the following..... Pass the ball around, clockwise. After each circuit of the ball, take one half step back and complete another circuit. Keep stepping back until players start to reach their limits in terms of passing distance. Start to work your way back in towards the box. Change the direction of the ball when you get to the box, and do the same working back out again.

General

Touch The Runner Sevens - Rugb...

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). <em>Law Change:</em> 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.

General

Kicking switch Passing - Rugby...

3 grids: 10x30 Number of players: (up to 14) Number of balls: start with 2 (add balls depending on age and ability of players). Each team in a 10x10 grid with a grid in between them. Punt ball into other teams area. Ball must aim to land inside area. If team defending kick drop the ball - other team get a point.

General

Fly-Half Drill Agility & Runni...

Either from standing start or from receiving pass the player should look to fake, side-step or dummyAfter having done this they should now accelerate hard over 5-10m.

General

Unfortunately there were no results for your search! Please try again
sidestepping SESSIONS
View All

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!
sidestepping ANSWERS
View All

What is an umberella defensive system? also I would?

What is an umberella defensive system? also I would like some tips on offloading and poaching the ball after making a tackle?

Archived User Coach

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

I need to develop a session to...

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

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
  • create your own professional coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested plans
STAY CONNECTED

in more ways than one

sportplan_rugby
LATEST FROM THE BLOG
5 Ways to Kickstart 2025 with Sportplan

5 Ways to Kickstart 2025 with Sportplan

Here are the 5 ways that you can kickstart your 2025 in the correct way with Sportplan and make this the best coaching year you have had!

December 31st, 2024
|
Cam Hughes
History Of The Modern Olympics and Its Cultural Significance

History Of The Modern Olympics and Its Cultural Significance

How did the Modern Olympics originally begin and why are they so culturally significant today?

July 25th, 2024
|
Cam Hughes
The Professionalisation of Netball

The Professionalisation of Netball

The Professionalisation of Netball is changing the game. Here is how it is helping to develop the sport.

July 17th, 2024
|
Lucy Chatwin
VISIT THE BLOG TO READ MORE
Rugby POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
passingscrumlines of runningrucking7maulfitnesswarm upunder 8lineoutrucktouch rugbytag rugbytackletacklingtagdefencesevensjunior backline drillstouch

What our users have been saying...

Coaches from around the world look to Sportplan for coaching confidence.

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the game!

Heather Weston Rugby Coach, United States

I am so pleased with all of the drills and advice on rugby. I am a player for my local club and we don't have a coach at the moment so I, as a senior player, am filling that gap. With your help, the team has been able to improve our skills.

Mokie Tau Rugby Coach, Papua New Guinea

Your tips and session ideas have really brought some interest back to our rugby training. The players and I now really enjoy our training sessions.

Eifion Highes Rugby Coach, United Kingdom

Wow what a great website, I have found sportplan an important tool for me when planning my netball sessions with my netball team. There are alot of very helpful tips/ideas/skills that I can learn and teach to my team. Thank you sportplan I hope to continue to use your helpful tips and to learn more about improving my teams netball skills. Thanks again....keep it up....

Monique New Zealand

I have been using Sportplan now for 3 years and can honestly say that I have never repeated the same session twice. My girls are always focused and are improving every year. Thanks Sportplan.

Debbie Cross Australia

What a fantastic tool. The Chalkboard and session tools make an unbelievable difference in making training plans in both time and organization. I will be instructing all of my assistant coaches that this tool must be used for all sessions during the season, so that we may build a club coaching resource library.

Wes Campbell Rugby Coach Canada

I can't get enough of the Sportplan, It has given me back the enthusiasm i was starting to lose. My girls are so keen and are ready at 14 to take the next up in their game. Sportplan will help no end.

Cornel Basketball Coach, South Africa

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1100+ rugby drills
  • create professional rugby coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested rugby plans

Sportplan App

Give it a try - it's better in the app

SPORTPLAN USES COOKIES

Sportspeople like cookies too! By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More info

Privacy Policy
We are committed to privacy and support current industry initiatives to preserve individual privacy rights on the Internet. Protecting your privacy on-line is an evolving area and this website will constantly evolve to meet these demands.


Cookies
Some of our web pages utilise "cookies". A "cookie" is a small text file that may be used, forexample, to collect information about web site activity. Some cookies and other technologies may serve to recallPersonal Information previously indicated by a web user. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, includingwhether or not to accept them and how to remove them.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of our website, if you choose to block them some aspects of the site may not work for you. Non necessary cookies are only set when you have given your explicit consent to their use. Such cookies included those set by our statistics package Google Analytics.

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.

More info
Rugby POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
3 v 2 7 counter rucking defence defense fitness football forward drills junior  backline drills lesson plans line out lineout lineout drills lines of running maul passing ruck rucking rugby scrum scrum machine search sevens tackle tackling tag tag rugby touch under 8 warm up
YOUR SESSION IS STARTING SOON... Join the growing community of rugby coaches plus 1100+ drills and pro tools to make coaching easy.
LET'S DO IT