Rugby: Flip It

Sportplan rugby has played a large role in my team's love for the...
Heather, Rugby Coach

DESCRIPTION

  • Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly.
  • This is not a contact game.
  • Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary.
  • One team goes to attack, and one to defence.
  • Nominate a Scrum Half for each team.
  • There is no kicking in this game.
  • Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition.
  • If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.
  • When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters.
  • It’s important that defenders are employing their defensive pattern behind the primary defensive line.
  • Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck.
  • Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made!
  • When you feel the time is appropriate, usually during a ruck, blow you whistle and should FLIP IT – kicking in or throwing in a second ball to the back 3/2 defenders on the team currently in defence OR just kick it behind the defenders. The defensive team goes, without hesitation, into attack. The team that was attacking goes into defence and you or an assistant coach remove the other ball from play when you can. Ideally you might have two balls with different markings.
  • Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

COACHING POINTS

This is not an exhaustive list of coaching points, but you may decide to focus on some of the following coaching points, depending on your session goals:

  • The defensive team counter attacks quickly upon receiving a flipped ball.
  • The attacking team move into defence quickly following a flipped ball - forming a line and pressing up as a line in the new attack.
  • The attacking team employs the coached defensive pattern following a flipped ball; players know their roles and responsibilities.
  • The counter attack aims to move the ball away from chasers and into space, possibly where the new defensive is sitting at their deepest.
  • Good communication among defenders and attackers. It must be encouraging, meaningful, efficient, and effective.
  • Defenders should understand that the ball is lost and form their defensive pattern at the ruck for what is coming next.
  • You might discuss briefly with players why we don't compete for balls that are lost, we don't want to concede a penalty.
  • Ball presentation must be quick, moving the ball proactively away from contact.
  • Players rucking over should be aware of when the ball is out of a ruck and act accordingly, are they driving over for no good reason and ending the ruck too early?
  • The Scrum Half should focus on getting the ball away in 5 seconds or less.

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