CLEVELAND ROVERS RUGBY CLUB
FALL 2010 SEASON
COACHING STRATEGIES
DRILLS, LINE-UPS, PLAYS, & INFORMATION
ROVERS Offensive Strategies
1.
All players Must have Hands Up and pointing at the man passing to them
2.
Player Footwork is paramount! All players must instinctively place their
Outside Foot Forward in any line in order to maintain spacing and
direction.
3.
All players must learn to effectively Power Step via a Bent Arm tor Arm
Shield (nipple, nipple, bellybutton) technique to create space.
4.
Players must Set The Ball to create a Narrow Gate for defenders to come
through by implementing a Pass Through the Legs and/or Jack Knife
Technique.
5.
All Designed Plays to be run off of Penalties, Scrum Downs, and Line-Outs
ONLY! On second phase ball the players can decide on the fly what play
to run and IMPROVISE.
6.
Utilize a Standard CRASH play to test tackling of opposing defense.
Inside Crash or Outside Crash where we protect the ball and set up 2nd
phase. No scissor play to set up crash.
NEW Offensive Strategies
7.
Re-establish Fly-half Position in relation to Scrumhalf with new rule change
that keeps opposing defenders 5 meters back on all set plays. Fly-half
should be 15 meters wide and 5 meters back
8.
Introduce the Fly-half to Inside Center loop technique – 1 loop 2
9.
Fullback to be involved in most offensive plays which requires a strict
policy of the weak wing covering on defense!
10.
Wingers must learn the concept of taking their 1st step outside when they
have space to freeze defenders.
FULLBACK IN THE LINE PLAY
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Read 1. Opponents are playing Man Defense off of our scrum.
Who is the defensive Winger marking…last man (Winger) or
the Fullback? If he is marking the Fullback then the strong
Wing is open…so we skip fullback.
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FULLBACK IN THE LINE PLAY
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Read 2. Opponents are playing Man Defense off
of our scrum. Who is the defensive Winger
marking…last man (Winger) or the Fullback? If
he is marking the Winger then the Fullback is
open…so we give the ball to the Fullback
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WEAK SIDE WING PLAY
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Weak Side Wing Play
Flyhalf takes ball and passes to Inside Center.
Flyhalf immediately loops the Inside Center
who fakes a pass back to him. Inside Center
the passes back inside to the Weakside Wing.
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SCRUM DOWN WEAKSIDE PLAY
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Scrum Down Weakside Play:.
Scrum Half goes hard and fast to right, he either scissors or dummy
scissors with wing. If he dummy scissors he can cut up field to make
space for the Fullback. The Scrum Half always has the option to kick to
space if needed.
NEW Defensive Strategies
1.
All players must be re-introduced to the basics of Front, Side, and from
Behind tackling.
2.
Players will utilize a Match Up Defensive Scheme with positioning on the
Inside Shoulder for the Flyhalf and Center Positions.
3.
If opposing Fullback comes into a line the Defensive Winger must come in
to defend extra man. Fullback has last man in an opposing line whenever
an overload is present. (Unless opponent is inside our 22 meter Line)
4.
When overload is not present the Winger takes the last man.
Tackling Concepts
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Focus on Offensive Player’s CORE (Hips and Midsection)
•
Keep Elbows IN and Hands UP to ensure a stronger position to deliver a
hit.
•
Use space between your arms to keep opponent’s CORE in your field of
vision.
•
Stay on the Balls of your Feet and LEAD with your lead foot NOT your
arms to make a tackle.
•
Keep your head up and face your target when making ANY tackle. Eyes
open and face up.
•
Use PUNCH and WRAP technique when making contact in a tackle.
•
Power Drive Through Tackles once contact is made
•
GET TO YOUR FEET AND RECOVER THE BALL FROM YOUR
OPPONENT. POACH!
DEFENSIVE POSITIONING ON SCRUMS
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Defense of Scrum: Man Defense
Fullback takes last man. Wing pinches in. Inside
Shoulder Positioning on Flyhalf & Centers. Outside
Should on Last Man.
Only Exception: Inside 22 meter line
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DEFENSIVE POSITIONING ON SCRUMS
Inside of 22 Meters
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Defense of Scrum inside 22 Meter Defense with Offensive Fullback IN THE LINE
Fullback marks opposing Fullback. It is unlikely they will kick so defensive Fullback can
come into the line. However… Scrumhalf Floats down line behind defenders to cover for
a potential Chip Kick. All Defenders line up on Inside Shoulder except Winger.
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DEFENSIVE POSITIONING ON LINEOUTS
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Come up in flat line…
no gaps!!!
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Defense of Lineout: Slide Defense.
Fullback can stay home for a kick. Defenders line up opposite their
opposing number and come up in a straight line, angel out to the
inside shoulder of the outside opponent. Last man in line out has
Flyhalf. Exception: Inside 22 meter line
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DEFENSE ON SPLIT LINE SCRUM DOWN
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Come up in flat line…
no gaps!!!
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Defense of Scrum Middle: Man Defense
Scrum Half right. Flanker takes left. Communicate! Scrum half does
NOT follow the ball around back of scrum.