Behind Enemy Lines

May is our cross-sport coaching month.  It has been so interesting talking to coaches from other sports, particularly other invasion games where there is so much cross-over.  It’s really interesting to learn about their coaching philosophies, how they are trying to develop great decision makers and their approach to working with their group of players.

This week we look to another invasion game, Rugby. We have spoken to a number of netball coaches that like to insert some of the rugby rules into regular netball practices, such as running with the ball and aiming to receive the ball over the end line (See previous posts; AvD: Time Limit and N-S-E-W). The next session you’re feeling a little creative (and prepared for chaos), why not take it one step further with a game of touch rugby…with a difference. This week we spoke to Rugby Coach Giles Heagerty…

Giles is a level 4 qualified coach working as a PE teacher at Manchester Grammar School, Director of Rugby at Macclesfield RUFC, Head Coach of England Counties Under-18s and an England Rugby Coach Educator.  A very busy man!  Giles started coaching whilst at university and following a career-ending back injury, got more involved in coaching.  This saw him leave a career in recruitment to ultimately become a teacher.

Behind Enemy Lines

(And by enemy we mean friendly opposition )

To win the game, players must score the most points by scoring tries within a time frame.

• Players can run with the ball.
• Players must pass the ball backwards when throwing.
• Players can kick the ball forwards.

For all Touch Rugby Rules click here.

• 2 teams of 7.
• 2 attackers behind the defensive line of players (could be 1 if numbers are low).
• Defence can choose whether to mark the attacking players or not.
• The two attackers can roam wherever they like behind line.
• At any point, the attacking team can kick pass forward to the attacking players behind the line.
• If the attack receive the kick pass on the full, they can take 5 steps toward the try line. If they catch on the bounce, they stay where they are. Kicking encourages people to look for space behind the line, as well as support play for those who the ball is kicked to.
• If the ball is tuned over then the attackers become defenders, and vice versa. This means two players from the now attacking team must work to get forward and the two now defending must work to get into the defensive line.

Adaptations

• Increase/ decrease the defenders restrictions,
• Increase/ decrease the area playing in, or certain players are allowed in.
• Apply rules to include skill development e.g. the attackers behind the defensive line can only go on the wing; this will focus accuracy of kick pass to players in a smaller area on the pitch.
• Add time restrictions that encourage release of ball.

This practice allows lots of decision making. It encourages support play and for players to look up to appreciate where the space is. It also encourages a good degree of depth to see more of the pitch…as well as supporting the development of communication.

Thank you to Giles for sharing this game!

You could also do this on a netball court, with a netball…why not add netball rules into this game to create a hybrid?  Challenge your players to identify the skills that they are developing and seek their input for adaptations.

And so we say ‘ta ra’ to another week.  If you’re at a loose end over the weekend and fancy a bit of reading, Sport England have announced their new strategy this week.  Volunteering and coaching is alluded to a lot, in case you’re interested, here are the headlines;

• Funding to get children and young people active from the age of five.
• Working with the sport sector to put customers at the heart of everything they do, and using the principles of behaviour change to inform their work
• Piloting new ways of working locally by investing in up to 10 places in England – a mix of urban and rural areas
• Investing up to £30m in a new volunteering strategy, enabling more people to get the benefits of volunteering and attracting a new, more diverse range of volunteers
• Helping sport keep pace with the digital expectations of customers.
• Working closely with governing bodies of sport and others who support people who already play regularly, to help them become more efficient, sustainable and diversify their sources of funding.

Find the full report,  here.

Thanks for reading coaches, we hope you enjoy trying ‘Behind Enemy Lines with your players.’ Make sure to let us know how it goes @ENCoaching_ !  Happy Weekend!

Team Coaching

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