Why you should use walking rugby in your next training session
Unsure? Let me convince you
I spend the past two weeks in New Zealand on a coaching course with the Crusaders. During this period, the women’s team I coach had no official training. It served as a mini off season period.
For our first session back, I planned a few short games that would reintroduce everyone back to training. One of these activities was walking rugby.
Walking rugby has a range of benefits. Here’s what I’ve found:
I’ve used walking rugby before to slow the intensity of a session down. This has often been around tackling.
I’ll use a walking pace in ‘hugby’, which I’ve written about before. Players can get a wrap on the ball carrier, but not take them to ground.
‘Hugby’ at walking pace works because players have to focus on their technique. I then steadily increase the speed of the game.
However, walking touch rugby also has wider benefits. It’s a format often played by older players, but it’s very useful to all teams and abilities.
Reason 1: It’s at an accessible level
If you have players who are tired (life/work/stresses) or players that are injured but still able to participate, then walking rugby directly includes them within the game.
You can also use the game as a low level warm up. As players arrive get them started with a game of walking rugby, before you increase the tempo of the warm up.
This game helps prepare players for the rest of the session. As a priming game, it helps them transition from outside of training to training.
Reason 2: It helps players develop their skills
Due to the walking only rule, players have to concentrate on their skills. For example: their passing has to be more accurate because fast footwork won’t reach the ball in time.
I also found that players have to work extra hard in attack to create space. Whilst walking rugby was less of a challenge for the defending team, the attacking team had to work hard to find space.
Reason 3: It’s fun
Why do players come to training? To enjoy themselves. Often that enjoyment comes from doing a different activity (such as walking rugby) or giving them a challenge (how do we find space when we can’t run).
I heard alot of laughter during the 10 minutes of walking rugby. I also saw players’ attack and communication evolve as they noticed they couldn’t sprint through gaps they normally would.
It’s important to keep things fresh at training. Introducing different activities can help to add variety. This doesn’t mean you have to include an intense game. You could dial down the intensity to get players more accurate with their skills.