Wave After Wave, Warm Up Rugby

Description

It's always a good idea to have your training areas marked out early to avoid having players stand around, keep the tempo of your sessions high - just like your game play!

• Using cones mark out a 10 meter x 15 meter passing grid.
• Have more than one grid depending on the number of players you have at training.
• Divide your players up into groups of 8/10, you can have two groups of 8 comfortably working at each grid.
• Have 4 - 5 players in a line with the next 4 - 5 line of players behind, they should be about 8 steps behind them depending on speed etc. Their position should be on the shoulder of the player in front.
• The front line of players run towards the other side of the grid while passing the ball down the line. When the last player in the line receives the ball the line form behind runs through and receives the ball to continue to the other side of the grid.
• The first wave should realign behind the second wave, when the second wave has the ball.
• Progression: Don't stop the players being creative with this! Let them be creative, discovering inside and outside passes, flick passes to support players, switches etc. Lets see what they think is possible!
• Progression 2: A skill is not a skill until it can be preformed under pressure, so add some. You might think about introducing one, two, three and then four defenders. At this point all that creative magic should happen as players play what they see, and use the waves to provide support.

Coaching Points

Remember, select the coaching points that you feel are best suited to your session and training goals. Your own coaching points are also important!

• Ball carrier predominantly carries the ball in two hands to maximize passing and offload options.
• Passes over short distance do not need to be spin passes.
• Passes are weighted correctly in terms of speed, distance, and position.
• The receivers hands are out.
• Passes are efficient and draw the ball across their body in one motion, when quick hands is the preferred option.
• Pop passes are used when giving an inside or outside ball.
• Players should, at some point, feel free to be creative and experiment.
• Don't get hung up on mistakes, they happen - get over it! Give your players the freedom to make mistakes and to learn from them. The next pass is the most important pass, you as the coach need to adjust players passing style etc.
• Encourage a high tempo and a culture of working hard, but having fun.
• Players communicate with one another using the 3 E's: efficient, effective, encouraging.
• If defenders are introduced: Players should work together and draw defenders away from the space they wish to attack.

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