You are receiving this email as a part of your membership of Better Rugby Coaching. To ensure future editions don't go in your spam-filter, please add dan@rugby-coach.com to your email address book. Received this email from a friend or coaching colleague? Not yet a subscriber to Better Rugby Coaching? Then go here to sign up and receive FREE coaching drills and advice like this every Monday and Thursday. If you can't view this email, please view it online by following this link. Marking this message as spam in your email software will not stop it being delivered. If you no longer want to receive Better Rugby Coaching please go here to unsubscribe or opt-out of my marketing messages. Dear Coach, The Autumn international season seemed to involve non-stop kicking. Nonetheless, you may have spotted that a number of the sides were actually able to pass the ball! Passing, of course, has not disappeared from the game. Props now have to be as deft at passing the ball as centres, since any pass could be a scoring pass. I am a big believer in putting passing into context as soon as possible. Running up and down the field passing without opposition is boring. Though it can hone technique, it does not quickly translate into "real life" game situations. Yours in rugby, Dan Cottrell, Editor Rugby Coaching Tips and Advice Issue number 337 Monday, 11 December 2009 SMALL-SIDED GAMES: Quick fire handling and movement (Dan Cottrell) TRAINING: Don't use "round-the-corner drills (Lisa Rosen) ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Happy Holidays: Save £10 on all my coaching manuals Editor's choice: Just add players The blog: What did the autumn internationals show us? * Happy Holidays! * Save £10 on all my coaching manuals An ideal Holiday gift for you - or treat for yourself Hurry! Offer ends December 21st - the last day for UK Christmas post Get ahead with your New Year training plans Go here to find out more. * Small-sided games * Quick fire handling and movement By Dan Cottrell, from his 48 Rugby Skills Games manual In confined spaces, a player who can release the ball quickly creates more chances for continuity without taking contact. The "fast-slow-fast" game creates an intensely competitive atmosphere, with players looking for unusual passing solutions. Set up Players: 4 v 4. Area: 10m square split into four equal boxes. Equipment: One ball. Game notes Start in any box, with the first ball carrier getting two seconds to run and pass before his marker can move. Allow touch tackling only to begin with. Dropped or intercepted balls, failure to release the ball in three seconds if touched, or running out of the area leads to a restart for the other team. Score 1 point for five consecutive passes. What to call out "Use short sharp changes in direction" "Pass into spaces for the receiver to run on to" "Anticipate where you will pass the ball before you receive it" Coaching notes Players will find that looped or lobbed passes will be easily intercepted. Firm passing is essential. The use of non-verbal communication helps. The players should consider using their hands to show which direction they are going to go. "Fast, slow, fast" should be the mantra for players looking to lose their markers. This small-sided training game is from my 48 Rugby Skills Games. Go here for more details. * Editor's choice * Just add players With clearly defined objectives and scoring systems, the training games in my 48 Rugby Skills Games are ideal for creating competitive scenarios. They provide plenty of opportunities for all players to be involved in both attacking and defensive situations. The games challenge the players, whilst allowing them to practise their skills and develop their tactical awareness in the face of committed opponents. They are as close to playing a "real" match as you can get in training. In the foreword to the manual, coaching expert Lyn Kidman, author of Athlete-Centred Coaching, says: "The "Games Sense" coaching model enhances learning by providing realistic, decision making opportunities, as they might occur in the actual competition." She added: "Coaches will enjoy using these rugby games as much as the players. This book provides a great start to give coaches ideas for games that can be used as they are or which can be easily adapted to suit the needs of the players." Go here to learn more about 48 Rugby Skills Games and to order your copy today. * Training * Don't use "round-the-corner" drills By Lisa Rosen, USA Rugby Coach Development Program Course Leader, IRB Rugby Educator, and Head Coach, Philadelphia Women's Rugby Football Club & Mid Atlantic U23 All Stars One of the staples it seems of many coaches I have observed is the "round-the-corner" drill. This is where two attackers run back to a cone each and then turn and attack into a box as a defender runs in the opposite direction before turning to defend. So, why doesn't this work for me? 1. It creates an unnatural barrier As the attacker turns the "corner", he is faced with a touchline on his inside. The defender's job is now easier because he does not need to commit to an aggressive tackle if he simply wants to push the attacker out of bounds. It is unlikely we would want the ball carrier to "preserve" space in the game by running close to the touchline. 2. It reduces creativity for both attackers Since the attacker normally "preserves" the space by attacking close to the sideline, there is a limit to what the support player can do. There are no decisions on angles of run or width of pass. The ball carrier is limited to passing wide or dummying. 3. Non-participants are poorly positioned to observe Lots of "learning" can come by observing what works and doesn't work. In the set up for a round the corner exercise, the next participants often line up on the side with a poor view of what is happening in the box. This reduces the ability of other players to learn from the others' good and bad play. Solution – enter through the try zones By starting the exercise through the try zones, the players can observe more, it allows more decisions from the support player and inevitably more decisions for the defender. Make sure the defenders are back from the try zone and the ball carrier touches down the ball to score. Continuous 2 v 1 exercise I like to create a more game specific session with this type of exercise by making the whole exercise continuous. Split into two equal teams. Mark out a 10 metre wide, 20 metre long box. One team will defend one end and attack the other and vice versa. The game starts with one team attacking with two players v one defender. Once the attack is over, whether successful or not, the other team attacks. Make sure you tell them when the attack is over, however it is up to the other team to know when to start the attack. Previous attackers and defenders need to clear out of the box as soon as the attack is over. They return to their teams and work out when they are next going to attack or defend. A quick attack might surprise a defender. This article is from the International Rugby Technical Journal. Go here for more details about the Journal and to sign up today. * The blog * What did the autumn internationals show us? This blog is actually a great article from the Sunday Telegraph newspaper in the UK. As New Zealand, the last of the European visitors, head for home and the beach, Paul Ackford makes five observations on a turbulent five weeks of international action. 1. The result is all in the empowerment In the black corner, Steve Hansen, the All Blacks backs coach. In the white corner, three England coaches. Read more here. 2. When in doubt get it out Ireland, South Africa, biceps and tracksuits. Read more here. 3. Let's hear it for the grunters The scrummage makes a welcome comeback. Read more here. 4. Some things never change The big guys should stick to ball-production, the slightly less-big guys to doing something interesting with it when they get it. Read more here. 5. Make of it what you will After 20 major Test matches across Europe, virtually all the entertainment was provided from the southern hemisphere. Read more here. Go here to read the entire article, leave your comment and read more of my blogs. Training Manuals NEW! Rocket Rugby Supercharge your players NEW! Fun Mini Rugby Games Introducing rugby to children aged 5-8 Coaching Rugby Manual 100 games and drills for coaching the core skills 48 Rugby Skills Games Training games for honing skills Rugby Attack! 27 core attacking moves from set piece and open play 50 Great Backs Moves Great ways to score more tries The Lineout and How to Win It The unique guide to lineout skills and tactics Secrets of the Front Row The insider's guide to better scrummaging The Ruck and How to Win It Create a successful "rucking machine" Match Day Tactics A powerful arsenal of game tactics Motivating Your Team Practical techniques to delivering success The Ultimate Rugby Warm-ups Manual More than 100 rugby skills warm-ups Coaching DVDS NEW! Phil Larder's Iron Curtain Defence Dominate your opponents through your defence Coaching Rugby DVD 49 live action skills coaching sessions Power Plays DVD 32 easy to coach backs moves on DVD Skills Conditioning and Fitness for Rugby DVD A ground-breaking approach to rugby fitness and skills work Speed and Agility for Rugby DVD Give your team the edge with fast, agile players Winning Lineout Play DVD All the tricks and tips your lineout needs to succeed Coaching Schools and Youth Rugby DVD The most comprehensive youth coaching DVD available Defence and Contact Drills DVD Hit harder, run for longer, defend better Better Rugby Coaching, Meadow View, Tannery Lane, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AB, UK Green Star Media Ltd. Company number: 3008779. Telephone: +44 (0)1483 892894. Fax: +44 (0)1483 894148 Email: dan@betterrugbycoaching.com Website: www.betterrugbycoaching.com © 2009 Better Rugby Coaching.