Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Drills, Rugby Skills | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, Ospreys, Rugby Drills, Rugby Skills, scissor passes, switch pass
Here is a video I shot with Shane Williams a couple of summers ago with Powerade.
It makes players work hard to cut angles before changing the direction of play with a switch or cut pass.
It can be done well in front of the defence, or right in front of the defence.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Skills | Tags: All Balcks, Rugby Skills, skills video
Some more fun from the All Blacks and their “amazing” skills.
Watch out for copycat videos!
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby agility | Tags: big players running, footwork, NFL, rugby evasion, Rugby Skills
Even the big guys can use footwork and evasion skills.
This is pretty remarkable though. But it does show that even a small offline movement can beat defenders.
Rugby evasion skills should be part of every warm up. Best to have them as part of a game if possible.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Fitness, rugby sevens | Tags: All Blacks, commonwealth games, fitness training, Rugby Skills, sevens
The biggest cheer at the Commonwealth games sevens came when the charismatic Indian sevens captain, Nasser Hussain scored their only try in their first game.
Indian rugby is not a world force. But sevens can offer a way in for smaller nations to compete. Samoa and Fiji have been able to express themselves on the sevens stage as equals whereas they often struggle in the 15-a-side game.
The game is just as physical, so it makes sense to use sevens as part of your training regimes and not just some “fun” when the sun comes out. It might a good change from rugby drills or rugby fitness training.
In the end, the Commonwealth Games sevens was won by New Zealand. They have not been at their strongest this year and Australia and ran them close. But great rugby to watch. If I can find some highlights, I will post them soon.
Bring on the Olympics!
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: ACT Brumbies, All Blacks, Rugby Skills, skills parody
The Aussie Super 15 the Brumbies show little respect for the video tricks of the All Blacks. Both great videos though.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills | Tags: back play, good passing, Rugby Skills, tackling
Nicole Beck, the Australian winger, tackles Fi Pocock of England into touch. The preceeding passes by England’s back set up the play nicely, but the tackle is breathtaking.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, contact rugby, pre season contact, rucking, Rugby Skills
August 16
Contact training
Like tackling, you need to make a decision when to add more physical intensity to your training at pre season. And like for tackling, the earlier the better. It does not need to be full bone-on-bone sessions. Better to build up the contact “shapes”, focusing on low intensity techniques.
Here are five ways to “build” contact intensity.
1. Play contact rugby in an extremely small area. Say five v five in a five metre channel.
2. Use tackle shields held low to the ground to help players work on ground contact and ball placement skills.
3. Play kneeling rugby, where players move whilst on their knees. A tackle is defined as the hips of the ball carrier touching the ground.
4. Practise the last step before contact, without the run up. The ball carrier has to be in the right body position, or the ruck clearer low and ready to drive out the threat.
5. Allow grab tackles in touch rugby, or grabbing for the ball.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, rugby defence, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, defence, drills, Rugby Drills, Rugby Skills, tackling
August 8
Tackling
You have got to start tackling at some stage in pre season, but when? Why not work on the elements of tackling, breaking it down into component parts. Then put it all together closer to the first proper match.
If you have six sessions before your first game then try this out:
Session 1: Footwork for tackling. Working on getting correctly aligned to make front on or side on tackles. You can use touch rugby or tag rugby where the player has two hand touch or tag the ball carrier on the hips.
Session 2: Shoulders in. In a very small area, players work on their shoulder contact with the ball carrier.
Session 3: Grip work. Grip and holding onto the ball carrier. A static ball carrier is gripped and then starts to move.
Session 4: Pairs. Working together to make tackles. Low impact, walking rugby, with one player focusing on ball.
Session 5: Rough and tumble. Five metre box, 3 v 3 full contact, with a turnover and restart at the end of the box if a ruck or maul forms.
Session 6: Full tackling session.
You can revise each session at the start of the next session to build into one full session.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training, top tips | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, games for rugby, pre-season, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills, Rugby Training
August 2
Games for fitness
Players like to play.
If pre season is sprinkled with games, then players will be motivated to turn up.
Here are five points to make games worthwhile
1. Make it competitive. Select teams, keep scores and remember them.
2. Make it “rugby relevant”. Identify the rugby skills in the game.
3. Ensure consistent refereeing. Be a tough referee, so adding legitimacy.
4. Use small teams. Let the players have plenty of action and no place to hide. Play two games at once if possible.
5. Don’t have too many non rugby rules. Players will spend too long mastering the rules and not playing the game.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, International Rugby Journal, Rugby Skills | Tags: Cardiff Blues, Dan Biggar, Gethin Watts, Keith Holifield, Rugby coaching videos, rugby conditioning, Rugby Skills
Here is a clip from a Rugby Coaching Videos DVD on skills and conditioning.
An excellent drill.
I have a connection to the makers and players in this DVD. Gethin Watts, who is now the Academy manager at the Cardiff Blues, has written for the International Rugby Technical Journal. I tutored Keith Holifield on his Level 3 course (you won’t find a better prepared coach than Keith). The DVD was shot at the barn at Llandarcy where I help coach the Osprey Under 16s.
If you look closely enough you may spot a young Dan Biggar, who has just played for Wales on their North American tour at 10.
