Create Creative Kickers
Add this simple kicking rule into a game to get players thinking about kicking to create space and territory
Here’s a game you can use that gets your players working on creating space and finding territory.
I’ve been using it alot recently and adding some levels in around restarts and deception. Here’s how you could run the basic template and possible ideas for tailoring the game to your players.
Set up a playing area, I’ve tended to make the playing area slightly narrower and longer than I normally would. I think this has helped the players get the aims of the game. They’ve looked to create space behind the opposition team or gain territory by kicking
Play touch rugby rules
If the ball is kicked and it bounces first before leaving the playing area, the team that kicked it starts their attack with a pass from where the ball went into touch
If it doesn’t bounce first and lands straight out of the playing area, the ball is turned over to the other team. They start their attack with a pass from where the ball went into touch
These rules get players kicking behind the defending team to create space in attack. It gives them a game to think about playing behind the defensive line and looking for space.
It also encourages players to think about gaining territory as an option to move up the playing area and pressurise the defenders.
I found that it also got players to try kicks who wouldn’t immediatley have the confidence to use kicking as a standalone skill. The game gave them a platform to try it.
Here are some developments you can add to the game:
Add in dead ball line
Instead restarting from a pass, restart the game with a lineout. The same possession rule around the bounce into touch applies.
Level the lineouts up or down. Add in a lift or remove a lift, depending on the players
Narrow the playing area and make it longer:
Recently, I ran this game and found I’d made the playing area too wide. Players were creating space running in attack (which is brill) but we weren’t creating opportunities that aligned with the session themes.
I could have changed the playing area then, but the team were working hard on creating space and keeping the attack going. If I had changed the game then, it would have disrupted the good work that was happening
Next time, however, I know the players need a narrower and longer playing area for this game.
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