How to coach the lineout to new players

Learning the lineout involves getting to grips with different skills. Players need to learn lifting, jumping and over head throwing. Here's one method that break up these demands into sections.

Photo: Martin Terrell

Learning any aspect of the set piece can be complex. Breaking it down into manageable sections helps everyone, whether they’ve been involved in a line out before or not.  

I recently ran a lineout session for the players I coach, we built up the levels and steadily added layers of the set piece. Some have done the set piece before, others were new.

Each level takes all players through a skill of the lineout. Instead of separating players by their roles, this method involves all players in every aspect.  

This means all players benefit from gaining an understanding of how the lineout works. For those that have done lineouts before, they get to improve their skills by working on each stage. Anyone that’s new gets introduced to it via progressions rather than all in one go.

You can run these levels in one session or across a few weeks as part of a training programme. I ran it in one dedicated session.

Here’s how I introduced the lineout, adding progressions as players get more confident. Just like any other skill.  

Before you start the activities, make sure players are warmed up. Ask players to rate their confidence in the lineout on a scale of 1-10. At the end of the session, you can ask players this question again to help you and the team reflect on their improvements.

Level 1: Throwing

• Players find a partner

• Each pair needs a ball

• Players stand apart from each other and throw the ball to each other

• The throws should be overhead throws

As players participate in this activity, walk round to give them praise and advice on where to improve. Give players one point at a time. Giving players too many corrections has the potential to overwhelm players. 

• Players set the distance they want to throw at

• Encourage the players to be closer to start and then to get further away as they progress

• The players receiving the pass should raise their arms above head to provide a target for ball

When coaching this level, I let the players explore the skill. There’s no huge safety concerns that come with overhead throwing. Giving the players freedom to navigate the skill also gives them time to chat and connect with their partner.

Level 2: Lifting

• Players get into groups of three

• They practice lifting

• One player is the jumper 

• The other two players are lifters 

• One player is in front of the jumper, the other lifts from behind

• The jumper can use blocks on their legs to help the lifter at the front 

• If the jumper doesn’t have blocks, the front jumper can grab the bottom seam of the jumpers’ shorts

• The players swap roles so everyone tries lifting and jumping 

Instead of referring to it as a ‘lift’, try calling the lineout an “assisted jump”. That will help players work together. Often there can be an assumption with calling this element a “lift”. Using the term “assisted jump” means that the jumper feels they have more control.

There is also potentially less of a negative focus on a player’s weight. With the term “lift” a player new to the skill or sport might feel self-conscious about their size, body shape or weight.

Instead, an assisted jump means the start of the elevation comes from them and they’re aided by their teammates. It’s a collaboration of power, rather than the jumper being passive. I’ve found that term more empowering and a better way to communicate the lineout lift to new players.

Level 3: Catch the ball

• Players form groups of four 

• One player stands five meters away and has the ball 

• The player with the ball throws it to the group of three 

• The three players form a lineout lift

• The jumper aims to catch the ball

• Like the other levels, all players rotate roles  

This level gives players the chance to develop their lineout skills before going onto level 4, which is contested. It’s also where the previous two levels combine. When coaching this stage, I’ve stressed the importance of communication between the person jumping and the teammate that’s throwing in.

Level 4: Pod vs Pod

• Two groups of three form two competing lineout pods

• Another player throws the ball towards the two pods

• The two groups perform a lineout lift

• The jumpers compete to catch the ball 

• Like other levels, the players swap roles  

This is the final level. Here players can compete against each other in lineout pods of 3. This is where the team can use all the skills they’ve learnt and improved at to get competative.

You can award points to the team that wins the ball. Try getting the players to compete in rounds of 3 or 5.

After players have progressed through these levels, you can then add lineouts into a game at training.