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It
might not seem like it to you or your players
when you are watching or playing a game of rugby,
but most of the time players are attempting
to avoid contact. Your aims as a coach should
be to use contact as a last resort, and you
should view ruck
and maul
situations as continuity
failures, failures to keep the ball moving forward
and away from contact. In reality the running
and passing
skills, sidestep,
swerve,
lateral
pass etc. you have already coached will
ultimately lead to some sort of contact.
Your
players will find themselves in contact with
opponents, their own teammates and the ground.
They will need to prepare for and know how to
make contact with opponents on their terms,
with their body and the ball under control.
The ball carrier will have to decide whether
to pass or present the ball before, during or
after contact. Their decision is based on what
they see in front of them and the position and
availability of the support
players.
The
key contact skills are:
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