Gap attack
SmartSessions Ready made rugby coaching plans
8 APRIL 2009. ISSUE 117
Core Skills
Gap attack
In open play we want our players to identify the gaps in the defence AND move the ball towards those gaps AND then go through the gaps. This session works on these simple ideas, which you know are not so easy to execute.
2. Developing your passing and running lines.
Session planner
What you tell your players the session is about
1. Improving your vision to spot a gap in the defence.
Warm up 7-10 mins
3. Improving your decision making skills.
Session 5-7 mins
Development 10-15 mins
Game 10-15 mins
Warm down 7-10 mins
Activity
Kit
Outcome
Warm up
Balls
Preparing players for passing, catching and running
Session: gap attack
A 30m wide by 20m long area, with cones to mark out “gates”
Improving the ability of the players to spot the gap in the defence and exploit it
Development: adding pressure
Same as the main session
Developing under more pressure to see the gap and go through it
Game: conditioned small-sided game
A 40m wide by 30m long pitch
Creating gaps against a game like defence to exploit
What to think about
Where it fits
Player skill: Decision making / Passing & handling / Footwork & evasion Tactical skill: Attack patterns Other Core Skills Smart Sessions covering this area: 47 Attack a zone 68 Weight the pass 99 Problem solving 102 Runner from the deep 112 Adapt in attack
• Are the players able to spot the undefended area? If the attackers are unable to spot the gap while running forward and passing, let the defenders get into position first. Then have a five second delay before the attack begins. This will give the attackers more time to spot the undefended gap. • Do the players use a variety of methods to move the ball to the gap? With the defence putting pressure on, ask the attack how they could get the ball to the player with the space in front of him. Look for answers such as using a miss pass or a “screen pass” (a pass behind another player).
Click here to download the index www.rugby-coach.com/downloads/SSJIndexOrder.pdf Rugby coaching plans you can take straight on to the field
www.rugby-coach.com/sessions/ www.rugby-coach.com/sessions
What you tell your players to do 1. As the defence gets into position look for the gap. 2. Communicate where the gap is to your team mates. 3. Run towards the defence and pass the ball to the player with no defender in front of them.
What you get your players to do Split your players into groups of three with a ball. Line them up opposite three wide “gates”, each with a number. Shout a gate number and the players run forward, passing the ball to the player in front of that gate. Develop the exercise by adding more players and gates.
What to call out • “Look up and scan” • “Everyone move onto the pass” • “Identify the key player” • “Support the ball after you have passed it”
Gap attack ground covered direction of run
pass
ª
Gap attack 3 1
2
3
The attack has to run and pass the ball into the gap you shout out.
Finding the gap
Development Split your players into teams of five attackers and four defenders. Have the attackers align themselves in an attacking formation. Start the four defenders from the side of the area. They each run out to take up position opposite one of the attackers. As soon as they get in position, the attackers have to run and pass the ball to the player opposite the empty “gate”. Initially, restrict the defenders so they cannot drift or slide, but must stay opposite their attacker. Alternatively you can secretly allocate an attacker to a defender, leaving one player free. Start with touch tackling.
The defenders run round and through a “gate”. When they reach the gates, the attack can move forward to attack the gap.
Ever increasing defence
Game situation Split your players into teams of 12 attackers and 4 defenders. There should be plenty of opportunities to spot the gaps and break through the defence to score. However, after every score, the scoring player joins the defence until the defence has more players than the attack, making it more and more difficult to break through. Play with touch rugby until the players get used to the decision making, then make it live contact.
Session created by Colin Ireland
Start with 12 v 4. Each time a try is scored, the scorer joins the defence.
www.rugby-coach.com/sessions/ www.rugby-coach.com/sessions
8 APRIL 2009. ISSUE 117
Core Skills
Gap attack
In open play we want our players to identify the gaps in the defence AND move the ball towards those gaps AND then go through the gaps. This session works on these simple ideas, which you know are not so easy to execute.
2. Developing your passing and running lines.
Session planner
What you tell your players the session is about
1. Improving your vision to spot a gap in the defence.
Warm up 7-10 mins
3. Improving your decision making skills.
Session 5-7 mins
Development 10-15 mins
Game 10-15 mins
Warm down 7-10 mins
Activity
Kit
Outcome
Warm up
Balls
Preparing players for passing, catching and running
Session: gap attack
A 30m wide by 20m long area, with cones to mark out “gates”
Improving the ability of the players to spot the gap in the defence and exploit it
Development: adding pressure
Same as the main session
Developing under more pressure to see the gap and go through it
Game: conditioned small-sided game
A 40m wide by 30m long pitch
Creating gaps against a game like defence to exploit
What to think about
Where it fits
Player skill: Decision making / Passing & handling / Footwork & evasion Tactical skill: Attack patterns Other Core Skills Smart Sessions covering this area: 47 Attack a zone 68 Weight the pass 99 Problem solving 102 Runner from the deep 112 Adapt in attack
• Are the players able to spot the undefended area? If the attackers are unable to spot the gap while running forward and passing, let the defenders get into position first. Then have a five second delay before the attack begins. This will give the attackers more time to spot the undefended gap. • Do the players use a variety of methods to move the ball to the gap? With the defence putting pressure on, ask the attack how they could get the ball to the player with the space in front of him. Look for answers such as using a miss pass or a “screen pass” (a pass behind another player).
Click here to download the index www.rugby-coach.com/downloads/SSJIndexOrder.pdf Rugby coaching plans you can take straight on to the field
www.rugby-coach.com/sessions/ www.rugby-coach.com/sessions
What you tell your players to do 1. As the defence gets into position look for the gap. 2. Communicate where the gap is to your team mates. 3. Run towards the defence and pass the ball to the player with no defender in front of them.
What you get your players to do Split your players into groups of three with a ball. Line them up opposite three wide “gates”, each with a number. Shout a gate number and the players run forward, passing the ball to the player in front of that gate. Develop the exercise by adding more players and gates.
What to call out • “Look up and scan” • “Everyone move onto the pass” • “Identify the key player” • “Support the ball after you have passed it”
Gap attack ground covered direction of run
pass
ª
Gap attack 3 1
2
3
The attack has to run and pass the ball into the gap you shout out.
Finding the gap
Development Split your players into teams of five attackers and four defenders. Have the attackers align themselves in an attacking formation. Start the four defenders from the side of the area. They each run out to take up position opposite one of the attackers. As soon as they get in position, the attackers have to run and pass the ball to the player opposite the empty “gate”. Initially, restrict the defenders so they cannot drift or slide, but must stay opposite their attacker. Alternatively you can secretly allocate an attacker to a defender, leaving one player free. Start with touch tackling.
The defenders run round and through a “gate”. When they reach the gates, the attack can move forward to attack the gap.
Ever increasing defence
Game situation Split your players into teams of 12 attackers and 4 defenders. There should be plenty of opportunities to spot the gaps and break through the defence to score. However, after every score, the scoring player joins the defence until the defence has more players than the attack, making it more and more difficult to break through. Play with touch rugby until the players get used to the decision making, then make it live contact.
Session created by Colin Ireland
Start with 12 v 4. Each time a try is scored, the scorer joins the defence.
www.rugby-coach.com/sessions/ www.rugby-coach.com/sessions
