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Rugby: tackle bags

tackle bags DRILLS
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3 vs 2

Simple 3 v 2, with two defenders with tackle bags. The attackers must pass their way through the grid, using quick passes and good handling, while the defenders work hard to pressure them.

School

Counter Ruck

Condition the drill in favour of 1 team, in this case the blue team. All players lay on their fronts behind the tackle bags. On the coaches whistle, the 2 teams move to contest possession. The blue players can move straight over the bag to contest, but only the 1st red player can do the same. The other 2 red players have to run round the cones before moving in to counter ruck.

Ruck

Drift defence

4 Tackle Bags. 10 Cones and 1 Ball. 10m x 30m. The first player in the line begins with the ball. As he approaches the first cone and passes to player 2 who is supporting. Player 1 carries on their run and hits the tackle bag before running backwards to player 2 original position. Player 2 on receiving the ball passes the ball onto player 3 before hitting the tackle bag and back pedalling to player 3 original position. When the ball reaches player 5, that player side steps behind the others back to position 1 where the drill is repeated.

Defensive Patterns

Pole Position

Tell the players the following..... Each player has four tackle bags and six balls, the winner is the player that knocks down the most bags - you cannot leave their cone and must knock the bags down by passing. If you find that the bags are too heavy - you can amend the game by placing balls on the top of the bags, the passers must knock them off.

Sevens

Smash through and Pass!

Set Up 3 sets of 2 defenders each with 2 tackle bags placed 10m apart down 15m x 30m channel - 3 attackers Attacker with ball in centre with 2 support players set 5m back to left and right. Attack runs at bag using footwork on approach to off set defenders fixes on one defender and smashes through hole attack carries ball in 2 hands off loads left or right receiver repeats on next pair of bags

Off Loads

Tackle and ruck clearing

Players work in groups of four against two defenders (holding tackle bags) who are stood inside the channel. The attackers run around the furthest cone into the channel and ruck to push back the first defender stood over the ball. Once the ball has been gathered the attackers run towards the second defender and form another ruck (ball carrier should turn before contact is made). Once the bag holder has been forced back players carry the ball over the line.

Ruck Clear Out

Three Player Circuit

The players in their groups of 3 stand between the lines of the inner square with the working group stood inside the other players. The first group of 3 begins by running across the grid passing the ball. When they reach the centre the ball is put down an they then run at the players with the pads (on their left) each pushing their player to the outer square. The players then swap. The pad players run across to the tackle bags and push and tackle the bags to the outer square. Players swap again now the new 3 players (third group) run to the ball pick it up and take the ball turn right to face the 3 players on the 12 o'clock side of the square and run into contact for the ball carrier to present the ball. This ball is then picked up by the 3 players being pushed back and the drill starts again. Keep the tempo of this exercise high. Note: You can change the position of each activity within the training area - but that will impact on the instructions to coaches. Players can basically go in any direction, but they do need to communicate and work as a unit. Don't get to hung up on where players should be going, or in what order.

Contact Skills

Rugby: Ruck Clear Out Between ...

2 people are on the tackle shields or 2 on each side about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders with one or two attackers. Ball carrier runs into defender/s and places the ball, the supporting player/s must clear away the defenders. Each attacker must have a go at hitting the defender and placing the ball.

General

Tackle Fitness Sevens - Rugby ...

The runner/tackler starts 10 meters back, runs forward and places the ball down just before the bag, and in the same motion hits the bag making a tackle. They then get to their feet and lift the ball, repeating the same skills at the opposite tackle bag. This repeats for 1 minute at pace. Switch the runner/tacklers with a player at the bags.

General

Rugby: Presenting the Ball Usi...

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields, 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball. Once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

General

3 v Tackle Bag and body Suit T...

3 attackers start at the beginning of the grid who will go up against the tackle bag first and then the person in the body suit second; these two should not stand next to each other unless you move on to the progression. At the coaches command the attackers will go into the tackle shield first with the ball carrier going to ground and the two supporters either both clearing out or one person clearing and the next picking up the ball and going into the next defender 5 metres behind who will be in a bodysuit. The ball carrier here will try to stay strong on his feet and offload to the two support runners or one of them will come in and rip the ball and offload to the support runner who will finish by crossing over the line.

General

Pole Position Sevens - Rugby D...

Tell the players the following..... Each player has four tackle bags and six balls, the winner is the player that knocks down the most bags - you cannot leave their cone and must knock the bags down by passing. If you find that the bags are too heavy - you can amend the game by placing balls on the top of the bags, the passers must knock them off.

General

Realign Tackling - Rugby Drill...

The first player moves forwards, makes contact with the tackle bag and retreats diagonally to the line of cones. The next player joins the line and both the players move forward and hit the tackle bag or shield before retreating back to the line again. The third player then joins the line and all three players go out to meet the tackle bag, shield or fall on the ball. Drill continues with all players involved.

General

3 vs 2 School - Rugby Drills, ...

Simple 3 v 2, with two defenders with tackle bags. The attackers must pass their way through the grid, using quick passes and good handling, while the defenders work hard to pressure them.

General

4v3-realign Tackling - Rugby D...

4 sausages 4 Bags The sausages and bags are lined up alternately in a line.8 defenders start lined up outside of the tackle grid.Whistle goes, the tacklers must shuffle across as a team (in a line) to line up opposite a bag or sausage before making a hit.

General

Crash Through 2 Tackle Bags Ta...

Basic but good warm up drill for matches. 4 cones set up a grid of about 5-10m by 5-10m. 2 defenders with tackle shields start in the centre. Attacker starts at the base of grid running onto and catching a pass from the next attacker. Attackers then run through the two defenders with tackle shields to score a try. The attacker that passed the ball immediately goes to starting position (base of grid) to be passed a ball and start the next repetition while the scorer joins the line to make a pass.

General

Reaction Tackle Tackling - Rug...

Groups of 6+ players. 3 tackle shields per group. 1 Tackle Sausage per group. 3 people with bags act as attackers, 1 by 1 they run at suausage stepping to a side of there choice when at the sausage.Defenders start running when the attackers do, when the attacker steps, the defender makes quick decison in reaction to what shoulder he/she hits with. NOT FULL TACKLE - Focus on impact, and leg drive.

General

TACKLE HEAD SAFETY TECHNIQUE T...

Groups of 2 Tackle Bags Cones1. Warm up light contactPlayers line up opposite eachother and run to meet each other in the middle. When the coach says so, the coach will leave it late to hold an arm out for the attackers to step too. The Defenders will make a late decision to tackle on either left or right shoulder. 2. Progress to adding bags & defenders turning.This minimalises the time for defenders to make decision and increaces the intensity. 3. Progress on to full live tackle. Increace the intensity and make sure the players back track back to starting point before starting next set.

General

Learning to tackle on hard gro...

Groups of 6+ players. 3 tackle shields per group. 1 Tackle Sausage per group. 3 people with bags act as attackers, 1 by 1 they run at suausage stepping to a side of there choice when at the sausage.Defenders start running when the attackers do, when the attacker steps, the defender makes quick decison in reaction to what shoulder he/she hits with. NOT FULL TACKLE - Focus on impact, and leg drive.Progression: Get rid of the tackle bags and use balls - progress to full tackle.

General

Rugby 5 Pin Bowling Sevens - R...

Using cones and tackle bags, mark out your training area as shown in the diagram. The tackle bags should be stood up, and at a distance away from the play that tests the strength of their pass. Set 6 balls at each cone and divide your players into groups of 2, and allocate one group of 2 to each training area. Tell your players that... Each player has five tackle bags and six balls, the winner is the player that knocks down the most balls.<br /><br />A player cannot leave their cone and must knock the bags down by passing and hitting with the ball on the bag or the bag itself.

General

Tackle and Bounce Conditioning...

Groups of 3/41 Tackle Sausage.1 Tackle bag. 1. Tackle Bag conditioning.Players align 6m apart, one side with tackle sausage. Work for 1 min constantly tackling and carrying sausage back and forth with partners. 2. Tackle and Roll conditioning. Same as before but introduce roll after making the hit. Roll with bag to escpae collision area. then same as before, pick up the sausage and run.3. Add DefenderA 3rd player is introduced, holding Tackle bag who acts as a attacker clearing out the ruck. The Defender must bounce up and clear the tackle bag player coming over the ball, then same as before. 4. Tackle, Roll, Clear All 4 stages togther now, adding a roll in before clearing out the attakcing player with tackle bag.

General

Tackle Conditioning Tackling -...

This is a simply set up game designed to test players' ability to continuously make tackles, especially when fatigued.Each area should be about 10m long and 5m wide - 1 tackle tube required.Starting from one end, a player runs to the other end where the tube is standing up, and the player tackles the tube to the floor.That player must then pick the tube up and run back to the original position and place the tackle tube there, stood up.The other player in the pair runs from their end, and tackles the tube to the floor, before picking the tube up and carrying it back to thetheir end.Continue this for one minute.

General

Rugby: Bag Slams | Contact Con...

This is the second exercise in a series of three that can be put together to form a contact conditioning circuit. The circuit can be sets of 30 seconds of hard work followed by 30 seconds of rest. Swap in this circuit for your usual fitness routine to give the players something a bit more interesting and transferable to a game. Alternatively, this would be a great exercise to include as part of a warm up.<li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Players work individually, picking up a tackle sausage and driving it into the ground. <li dir=&quot;ltr&quot;>Repeat for the whole 30 seconds.This exercise will develop your players core strength, which is immensely important in most areas of the game.Moreover, this exercise simulates how players will have to maintain power in a game. For example when going from making a tackle to then contesting the ruck.0.40 - What is the purpose of these conditioning circuits?

General

Rugby League: Presenting the B...

Good for younger rugby players to learn how to go into contact and set up the ball at pace, you can use it as a competition between the team with a limit of time etc. 2 tackle shields, 1 ball 2 people are on the tackle shields about 5 metres apart facing each other, there is a ball carrier standing in the middle of the two defenders. Ball carrier runs in to one defender and places the ball. Once placed, he gets to his feet quickly and runs into the next defender doing the same. This process can continue for as short or as long as you like, a good challenge would be 30 second limit to get in as many hits and ball placements as possible.

General

Crash Through 2 Tackle Bags Wa...

Basic but good warm up drill for matches. 4 cones set up a grid of about 5-10m by 5-10m. 2 defenders with tackle shields start in the centre. Attacker starts at the base of grid running onto and catching a pass from the next attacker. Attackers then run through the two defenders with tackle shields to score a try. The attacker that passed the ball immediately goes to starting position (base of grid) to be passed a ball and start the next repetition while the scorer joins the line to make a pass.

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

2v2 Tackle and Clear Out Tackl...

2 on 2 tackling and clear out game.Players line up in two lines, adjacent to the coned gameplay area.The coach stands opposite the two lines with the ball and passes to the front player of either team.The front two players of each team run round the back of their cones and the ball carrier takes the ball into contact.The two secondary players then ruck over and attempt to clear each other out.One team comes away with the ball.

General

Battle Ships Kicking - Rugby D...

Fun game to practice passing/kicking accuracy.Set up a grid with lots of different objects (tackle bags, hit shields, tyres, cones etc) inside.Have four players on one side with a ball each (blue) and four players on the other side (red).The blue players are aiming to pass or kick their ball onto one of the objects in the square, the red players are there to retrieve the balls and return them to the blue players.Each team gets three attempts per player before swapping roles.The team which collects the most items from the grid are the winners.Progression - Large/medium items require more hits than others before they are removed (e.g. tackle bags need 3 hits, hit shields need 2 hits)Vary the size of the gridEach player only gets one attempt before the teams swap

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

Rugby: Capture and Escape - Ev...

Set up a wide pitch, with cones on the half way line plus an extra box on two opposite corners. These corner boxes are the prisons for tackled/tagged players.The aim of the game is for players to run into the opposing team's area and grab a ball to bring back into their ball area in their half.However, if a player is tackled/tagged while in the other team's half they must go and stand in the prison square.Players can be released from prison by being tagged by a team-mate. Once released they must walk around the outside of the pitch back to their own half before rejoining the game.

General

Tackle conditioning circuit Ta...

2 sausages1 bag 1 ball Step 1 - Low chop tackle on the sausage. Step 2 - Bounce! Track back, chest to floor, do a high.impact bag hit. Step 3 - Run around the bag, pass the ball of the floor, complete a live leg tackle on the attacking player.Next player starts when first player finishes.

General

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tackle bags SESSIONS
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Pre-season Contact Build-Up

After a long off season period it's important to carefully ease your players back into contact - use this session to get your players tackling again in a safe and injury-free environment

Keep moving at the ruck - Driving Defence Session

Put your best foot forwards and drive, drive, drive the opposition back in this quick ball at the ruck technique session!
tackle bags ANSWERS
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Using pads & contact shields -...

an RFU directive states that coaches should not hold pads/shields for juniors to run into during sessions, or even juniors holding pads for each other!!! I notice a lot of drills utilise pads as this was something we always used when I trained years ago! I personally think they are a good thing (especially since some of the juniors I coach are 'not small'!) BUT wondered what the general thoughts were out there in SportPlan world....

Archived User Coach

can anyone suggest drills and practises for forwards?

can anyone suggest drills and practises for forwards to chase kicks please??????

Archived User Coach

can anyone recommend a good drill for practising the missed pass, besides just passing along a line?

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and IRB Educators.

Archived User Coach

Safest way to introduce tackling?

Teaching a PE class of none rugby playing 12 year olds. Discipline can be an issue so needs to be very controlled. Thanks.

Paul Stewart Coach, Ireland

How to begin coaching when the sport is not popular?

How to begin coaching when the sport is not popular and many of player candidates are not familiar with rugby ? What is key of initiation ? How to start from white paper ?

Narek Sargsyan Coach, Armenia

I coach U8's and am looking for drills to get them?

I coach U8's and am looking for drills to get them used to tacking other players. They are fine using the tackle bags but are finding it difficult to get used to tackling players

Mark Thornton Coach, Northern Ireland

How do I get the back line running straight and fast?

Our back line is very sluggish and drift ,any ideas for simple plan to get them moving straight and fast?

Michael Strain Coach, Wales

Warm up ideas before a game

What are the best warm up drills to do before a game Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Liam Manley Coach, England

how to get players to run forward

how do you get children to run forwards

chris fawcett Coach, England

Under 9 rugby tackling

Hi I'm moving up from under 8 to under 9 has any one got any advise or lesson plan on how to introduce tackling many thanks Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Ryan smith Coach, England

Drift Defence?

thers no drifting at all becuase the tackle bags dont move. the defnders are hitting the same bag at the same postion always. just becuase the last palyer loops round doesnt means the defences has drifted. i dont see how this drill is implemneted into a game senario. is your last defending man going to circle all the way to the start of the defending line? no drfit D whatsoever. unless you;re letting your team get ready to be set and make a hit theres no point in this drill being sewd for a 'Drift' defence.

Lochlainn McKenzie Coach, Ireland

Tackle bags

To clarify - ball carrier goes forward 5m, passes the ball to P2 and carries on into tackle bag/shield. Are they tackling the bag/shield, or is the focus more on the defenders with the bag/shield to drift towards the ball carriers?

DARREN WARNE Coach, United Kingdom

Coaching the Tackle for U9s wh...

Some of my U9s players, who are experiencing contact for their first season, are showing reticence in tackling - how do you coach or get through the fear factor/element?

Archived User Coach

what is the difference in usin...

what is the difference in using a tackle suit vs a tackle bag

Archived User Coach

Rucking Problems | Sportplan

My team is having trouble going past the ball when rucking. We are working on body heights and hitting past the ball but any suggested drills would be a great help.

Ian Stenson Coach, England

How can I overcome my son's fe...

How can I overcome my son's fear of tackling. He's 10 and shaping up to be a useful player in other areas but is very reluctant to engage other players in contact. What drills might help overcome this?

Archived User Coach

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