A week 1 session plan for players new to the game
Coaching players new to the sport? Here's an example session plan that you can tweak for yourself and the players
A few weeks ago, I published a session plan written by Andy Stevens that looked at what to run when you had players new to the sport mixed with a couple of players who might be more experienced.
Here’s an example session plan from me which includes activities that you could run for players who are trying rugby for the first time. You can also use some of these activities as warm up games for more experienced players or as these players progress. As always, feel free to tweak them in a way that suits you and the players.
Activities plan:
Game of Tag
How to run it
Set up a playing area and designate one person as the tagger
Run the rounds for 2 mins and then swap the taggers
Why it works
You can see pool noodles in the photo above. The players are playing tag with pool noodles. Extra elements like this help make the game fun and a little unexpected.
People can turn up to rugby training with some negative preconceptions of the sport. Using unexpected elements like pool noodles can help dispell this. Using pool noodles also means players have to be extra evasive and use their footwork. Give one player pool noodles (you can also give them a ball).
They must tag other players with the noodle. If a player is tagged, they must freeze and can be released by other player who gives them a high five.
Level up the game
You can change the number of taggers or change how players release each other.
Try getting players to perform a 5 second dance move with each other in order to be released - it’s guaranteed laughs!
Rugby Netball
How to run it
Use the same playing area.
Split players into two teams.
It can be helpful to make the two trylines clear by using different colour cones
Players can’t run with the ball, but they can pass in any direction.
Why it works
This game takes players from a game they might know (netball) and starts to move them towards rugby.
You can include some activations within the game (ask them to perform an exercise after they’ve passed the ball)
Level up the game
Add in some progressions by enabling one player on each team to move with the ball but they cannot score. If this player gets touch-tackled, they must stop and pass the ball to a teammate.
Instead of using trylines, you can create several scoring zones (by creating squares using cones) in the playing area. Teams can score in any zone, but the same zone can’t be scored in twice in a row.
Create constraints on their passing by asking them to only pass underarm or ask them to vary the type of pass each time their team passes the ball.
Multidirectional touch rugby
How to run it
Keep players in teams
Players can now run when they have the ball. If they are touch tackled, they must stop and pass to a teammate
Why it works
This takes the game of rugby netball and adds in rules as a progression to get players running with ball.
It functions as a middle game between netball and touch rugby.
Level up the game
Add in some progressions that get players passing backwards: teams must have one backwards pass before they can score.
Introduction to contact
How to run it
Put players into pairs
Run a series of evasion and tracking activities where players compete against their partner
Tag the knees: players aim to tag their partner’s knees whilst trying to ensure their partner doesn’t tag their knees
Bearcrawl tap: each player gets into a bearcrawl position opposite each other. They must aim to tap or pull the arm of their partner, whilst trying to maintain their own balance and good body positioning.
Grab the bib: Ask players to place a bib in their shorts at their back. Players aim to grab their partner’s bib whilst keeping their own
Why it works
This gets players thinking and moving in contact-ready environments.
It works great for players hesitant about contact as there’s no tackling, but it starts to break down the skill into manageable pieces.
Level up the game
You can also give players a ball between them and ask them to try and rip it off each other.
Touch rugby
How to run it
Put players back into teams.
Players must now pass backwards all the time
If the ball carrier is touch tackled, they must stop and pass the ball backwards
Teams have unlimited touches, the ball is turned over when it is dropped, passed forward or there is a score.
Why it works
This is the final level of the players’ rugby journey today. They’re now playing touch rugby.
Don’t forget to celebrate the sense of achievement they will have (especially if it’s their very first session)
Level up the game
Add in a rip restart: to restart the game after a try, a player from each team comes forward. They both place their hands on the ball, after you countdown they aim to rip the ball from each other. After they’ve ripped it, they must aim to pass to a teammate.
Interactions you can plan:
As well as planning the group interactions you might have with players, aim to plan questions that you can ask individual players and give players opportunities to discuss ideas with their teammates.
When introducing the final game of touch rugby, ask one player from each team to come forward. Give each of them the rules and say they must tell their teammates.
This enables you to focus on the next coach-group interaction which might be in the middle of the game when players are working out where to stand to support the ball carrier and the backwards pass.
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