Features, Rugby Templates Rugby

Don't dawdle: Decision Making and Handling under Pressure

As the well known saying goes, time waits for no man, which is why when it comes to attacking your players will need to be fast to catch the opposition's defence out of position. To capitalise on ball turnover this week's session looks at fast breaks, ball handling and quick decision making. Read on to learn more!

This simple to set up session is ideal for all players and can be easily adapted to make it a tag only or a full contact session to suit all levels, beginners or advanced.

To help your players run into space with a good support line we've designed this decision-making session which allows you to call the shots - deciding how many defenders should run out to face the oncoming attackers. If you only shout one number out your attackers will have an easy 5v1, however if you want to make it tricky why not call out four defenders to give you attackers only the slightest of advantages in a 5v4 drill.

Get your attackers working on their decision-making skills when under pressure while also looking at how your defenders cope in overload situations - will they communicate and break down the attack or will they just break down?

Ace up your sleeve - Conditioning and Attacking Patterns

This week's Session is a tale of two sessions - starting with a half hour conditioning introduction and then progressing onto a one hour Attacking Patterns finale. Read on to learn more!

Stage 1 begins with some running ladder work (if you don't have ladders use cones instead) and focuses on quick acceleration, changing direction, slowing down and speeding up.

Once your players are nice and warm we then progress onto stage 2 - getting your players to understand attacking patterns and react to their surroundings. Throughout the course of stage 2 you should get your players to remember ACE.

• Attack at pace, Commit the defender and Evade by changing direction

During this stage players will constantly be making snap decisions - do they feint and go it alone or should they drop their shoulder and play the pass? Players should be looking to react to the defender and attack the space which the defender leaves when they inevitably move.

Keep an ace up your sleeve with this conditioning and attacking moves session!