Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshop Coaching Manual by CommStrat

Introduction

Welcome to the Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops Coaching Manual The structure of the manual is based on my belief that all quality play in rugby derives from quality execution of quality technique. Insistence on quality technique, executed under the pressure of game-related practice sessions, is therefore essential if we are to achieve our goal of successful performance. This manual will give you the direction to enable you to achieve this. An American Football coach once said, “You can’t win without good players, but you can sure lose with them. This is where the good coach comes in!” I believe that a good coach is one who has the enthusiasm, the determination and the courage to insist on quality execution of quality technique at all times. It’s a Bob Dwyer quote which says, “Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect.” It will require all of these qualities, all of the time, to achieve perfection. Don’t let your players down!

BOB DWYER RUGBY WORKSHOPS | Coaching Manual

Each Practice in the manual – there are 77 of them – lists the Key Principles of quality technique which are essential for quality execution. These lists must become an intrinsic part of every coach’s work. My advice is that you must never allow faulty technique to go uncorrected at any practice session. This will require vigilance! As you progress through the manual, constant reference back to the Essential Level section will be required. I recommend that you design warm-up sessions which contain groupings of all of the basic elements of the game. These basic elements are the tools of trade which every player needs – properly sharpened and ready for use. Adherence to this philosophy will prove most rewarding. Quality preparation for the game of rugby requires a number of separate elements. The most important is quality, game-related rugby practice and I am confident that the bobdwyerrugby.com website will provide that. Other elements are physical preparation – fitness, strength and speed-agility-quickness (SAQ®) – and mental preparation. Detailed information can be found in Links for SAQ®, and in Coaching Support/Psychological Skills for mental preparation.

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How to use this Manual

rom beginning to end, the Coaching Manual is ‘the perfect working rugby curriculum’.

As is normal with a curriculum, it should be followed in sequence – as it is presented. Later Sessions will require the knowledge and expert application of earlier sessions. Indeed, consistent revision of the ‘essential basics’ should form a part of every Practice. The Manual is divided into three Sections: Section 1. Essential Level Section 2. Intermediate Level Section 3. Advanced Level Each Section is divided into the following sub-sections: Attack – General Attack from Set Pieces Attack – Counter-attack Defence Kicking Each Section contains a number of Sessions, each of which is designed to last about 90 minutes – the length of the average coaching session. Each Session contains a number of Practices. Each Practice is designed to develop individual technique leading to skill application and culminating in a game-related scenario which requires the application of all the practices in this session.

BOB DWYER RUGBY WORKSHOPS | Coaching Manual

For example, Session 1 begins with Practice 1: Catch and Pass, and continues through Practices 2: Straight Running and 3: Clearing Pass. This Session culminates in Practice 4: Taking the Overlap which requires the game application of Practices 1, 2 and 3 combined. It is very important that the session ends with the game application of the acquired techniques. This gives meaning to each of the skills and their place in the ‘real game’. It will give satisfaction to the players – and do wonders for the coach’s standing! “When I analyse a game, whether it be junior, senior or international, I feel that I can attribute all so-called errors, or poor choices of option, to flaws in technique. I can see poor passing technique, poor catching technique, poor lines of support, poor re-alignment, poor tackle technique, poor kicking technique, poor communication, poor visual awareness, poor kick return, poor kick chase – these can also lead to poor discipline.” The application of our philosophy – “practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect” – will ensure that you place great emphasis on technical competence, that is, performing the techniques and skills of the game perfectly at all your coaching sessions. Uncorrected poor technique will undoubtedly limit the development of your team and the level of your team’s performance. This will eventually frustrate both you the coach, the players and your supporters!

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ESSENTIAL LEVEL Introduction

Dedication and Commitment As a coach, you must: Be a good communicator Have courage and enthusiasm Invest in your development Always prepare thoroughly Be a good role model.

ESSENTIAL LEVEL | Introduction

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ESSENTIAL LEVEL The Essential Level Section provides you with the building blocks which are fundamental and “essential” for the accurate execution of all and any play in the game of Rugby. As you move forward through the Intermediate Level and Advanced Level Sections, a revision of each of these building blocks should form part of each of your practice sessions. You may perhaps design warm-up sessions which contain various combinations of each of the practices detailed in this section.

A word of warning: Don’t mistake “ESSENTIAL” for “simple”. My experience is that many elite teams cannot accurately, let alone perfectly, execute many of the exercises listed in this section. This does not mean that they are not winning teams, but it does mean that they are not playing to their potential, surely a sad situation. Neglect these sessions at your peril.

For tips on Effective Coaching, see “Coaching Support” at www.bobdwyerrugby.com

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ESSENTIAL LEVEL

ATTACK – GENERAL

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SESSION 1 1. Catch and Pass �� 20 2. Straight Running �� 22 3. Clearing Pass �� 24 4. Taking the Overlap – Man-on-man Defence �� 26 SESSION 2 5. Dummy Pass �� 28 6. Straight Running ��30 7. Unders Run �� 32 8. Circle Ball ��34 9. Taking the Overlap/Gap – Drift Defence �� 36 SESSION 3 10. Support Play �� 38 11. Realignment ��40 12. Tackle Contest Options ��44 13. Continuous Play ��48 Summary of Essential Level Attack ��50 ATTACK FROM SET PIECES SESSION 4 51 14. Individual Roles �� 52 15. Attack from Scrums �� 56 SESSION 5 16. Attack from Lineouts �� 58

ESSENTIAL LEVEL | Table of Contents

ATTACK – COUNTER-ATTACK

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SESSION 6 61 17. Take the Overlap – Man-on-man Defence �� 62 18. Take the Gap – Drift Defence �� 64 19. Beating the First Line �� 66 DEFENCE SESSION 7 – Positioning Attackers and Making the Tackle 20. Defensive Footwork �� 70 21. Positioning the Attacker �� 72 22. Upper Body Driving Tackle �� 73 23. Lower Body Driving Tackle �� 74 24. Tackle Channel �� 75 SESSION 8 – Front-On Tackle and Chasing/Covering Tackle 25. Front-on Driving Tackle �� 76 26. Front-on Passive Tackle �� 78 27. Narrow Tackle Channel ��80 28. Chasing/Covering Tackle �� 82 KICKING SESSION 9 – Types of Kick Practices 29. Spiral Punt �� 84 30. Grubber �� 88 31. Chip Kick ��90 32. Drop Punt �� 92 33. Place Kick �� 94 34. Drop Kick �� 96 35. Banana Kick �� 98

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An Introduction to the Intermediate Level

he Intermediate Section advances our philosophy of moving from technique to skill acquisition to their application in gamerelated scenarios – in attack, counter-attack, defence and kicking. This Section builds on Essential and combines various skills , acquired therein. Don’t forget! This is a Working Curriculum and, for best results, must be followed accordingly. Successful attack is not about scoring tries, nor is it about making line breaks. It is purely and simply about “asking questions of the defence”. Coaches will learn how to compose challenging questions! Accurate support play is vital for fluency in attack. Coaches will learn all aspects of support play – from inside-out and from outside-in. Options available at the tackle contest are expanded, thus enabling the attack to pose still more questions to the defence. The fundamentals of team attack, from both scrums and lineouts, are introduced. Accuracy in this area is vital, although sadly not common, if we are to impose our attack on the opposition. Intermediate Defence will cover both unit and team defence, including phase-play defence. Our unit skills move forward to ‘combination tackling’ and ‘2 v 1’ and ‘3 v 2’. Defending at the tackle contest is covered in detail. Intermediate Kicking moves forward into the area of Kick Selection, allowing the coach to apply pressure to the kicker in his choice of options. ATTACK – GENERAL

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SESSION 10 36. Support from Inside to Out �� 104 37. Taking the Overlap/Gap �� 106

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL | Table of Contents

SESSION 11 Page 38. Support from Outside to In ��110 39. Taking the Overlap/Gap ��114 SESSION 12 40. Overs Run ��116 41. Tackle Contest Options ��118 ATTACK FROM SET PIECES SESSION 13 42. Attack from Scrums �� 122 SESSION 14 43. Attack from Lineouts �� 128 COUNTER-ATTACK SESSION 15 44. Counter-attack from a Kick �� 130 SESSION 16 45. Counter-attack from a Ball Turnover �� 134 DEFENCE SESSION 17 - Intermediate Defence 139 46. Combination Tackling �� 140 47. Combination Tackling – “2 v 1” and “2 v 2” ��142 48. Combination Tackling – “3 v 2” �� 145 49. Defending at the Breakdown �� 146 50. Defending No.9 Pass to First Receiver �� 148 51. Big Defensive Practice �� 150 KICKING SESSION 18 52. Kick selection ��152 53. Kick selection – Pressure �� 154 54. Kick selection – Grubber/Chip Kick �� 155

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103

An Introduction to the Advanced Level

he Advanced Section will enable you to explore the old saying, “There is no defence to perfect attack!”

Attack covers building and sustaining pressure on defences through urgency and continuity of attack. The Practices will enable both the coach and the players to become more instinctive and less prescriptive. All of the phases of play will provide easily-read options which will allow for instinctive recognition of the opportunities available. This will lead to clinical execution and more tries. Defence explains various patterns, including “back-three” and “backfour”, and the principles of “kick-chase”. The meaning of, and necessity for, “shape” in our defensive line is explained and practised. Kicking offers specific game-related scenarios for the various kick options and poses more questions for the defence to answer. Throughout this Advanced Section, allow the players “to explore the practice”. You may be surprised with the outcomes.

ATTACK – GENERAL

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SESSION 19 160 55. Tackle Contest Options �� 164 56. Continuous Play �� 168 57. More Tackle Contest Options �� 172 58. Continuous Play �� 176 SESSION 20 59. Cross-field Running �� 178 60. Continuous Play �� 182

ADVANCED LEVEL | Table of Contents

ATTACK FROM SET PIECES

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SESSION 21 61. Attack from Scrums – Back Row Plays �� 184 62. More Back Row Plays �� 188 SESSION 22 63. Attack from Lineouts ��190 COUNTER-ATTACK SESSION 23 64. Counter-attack from a Kick �� 192 DEFENCE SESSION 24 65. Defending a Ruck �� 194 66. Counter-rucking �� 196 67. Defending a Maul ��197 SESSION 25 68. Recognising the Threat �� 198 69. Close-quarter Spotting ��200 70. Defending the Inside Shoulder �� 202 71. Maintaining Shape and Communication ��204 KICKING SESSION 26 72. Game-specific – Box Kick ��206 73. Game-specific – Drop Punt for Field Position �� 207 74. Drop Punt to Wide Receiver ��208 75. Game-specific – Banana Kick �� 210 76. Game-specific – Banana Bomb ��212 77. Game-specific v Instinctive ��214

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159

SESSION 3 Practice 10: Support Play KEY PRINCIPLES Do not interfere with the intentions of the ball-carrier. Stay on hand but with enough width and depth to allow you to stay with the ball-carrier as he changes his line or pace. When you observe the ballcarrier moving into a tackle/ contact situation, you should move closer to give active support. Note: More on the options available in this situation is given in the next session. The aim of the support player at the tackle/contact situation is to help the ball-carrier to stay on his feet and to keep driving forward. If you want the ball, you must call for it clearly and urgently, and then move into position to receive the pass. Note: Once called for, the pass must be delivered or a dummy pass executed.

ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 10

PRACTICE 10: SUPPORT PLAY

• With groups of five in backline formation, revise the Clearing Pass, Catch and Pass and Straight Running described previously. • Now use the player in the scrum-half position to support the ball as it is transferred along the line. • If the ball is dropped, the support player must be immediately on hand to secure the ball. • If the ball reaches the end of the line, the last ball-carrier executes a circle ball transfer to the supporting player. • Vary the roles to ensure each player takes the scrum-half/support role in turn.

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Practice 11: Realignment

KEY PRINCIPLES Players inside the ball, chase the ball, as per our Key Principles in Practice 10. Players outside the tackle zone, stop, run backwards and outwards as described in Practice 8. Do not wait for the looping players to carry the ball forward for you. Run backwards with urgency to take immediate advantage of the quickest possible recycle. Note: You must strive to be always behind the ball. It is a basic principle of the game of rugby that you cannot benefit from being in front of the ball.

ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 11

Notes for coach The session is executed without any “forwards” participating. The aim is to educate players in the urgency required in moving from a totally ineffective position in front of the ball, to a most effective position behind the ball.

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Practice 11: Realignment

PRACTICE 11: REALIGNMENT – Part 1

TACKLE 12 10

11 11

• Groups of seven aligned in backline formation. • The ball is moved from the scrum-half and along the backline. • Coach calls “Tackle!” Ball-carrier stops and turns, facing scrum-half. Inside players loop into their re-formed backline positions. Outside players retreat backwards and outwards to re-form a backline. • Ball is fed from the tackled player to the scrum-half and along the new backline.

ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 11

PRACTICE 11: REALIGNMENT – Part 2

12 9

• Exercise is repeated with the coach calling a new “Tackle!” The original ball-carrier in Part 1 of this Practice has now resumed a position in the reformed backline. • The “Tackle!” call continues in the same manner until the backline runs out of space, whereupon the backs realign again on the open side of the “tackle”. The exercise continues from the halfway line to the goal line.

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Practice 12: Tackle Contest Options

KEY PRINCIPLES As stated previously in Support Play, the prime aim of the arriving player(s) should be to continue the advance of the ball towards the tryline. Support for the ball carrier, a secure “sealing-off” of the ball, and strong leg-drive are all essential. Although our intention should be to stay on our feet and continue our drive forward – and thereby attract as many defenders as possible – it is possible that the bound players go to ground with the ball. This is not a problem. Recycle the ball without delay.

ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 12

The arriving player can then make a decision whether to: a) continue the drive bound together, or b) continue the drive, rip the ball and continue the forward run, or c) continue the drive, rip the ball and transfer to another arriving player. Note: This could be a transfer to another forward arriving at pace, or to the scrum-half. These actions must be completed without hesitation. We must not have a stop-start attack. Key Principles of Practices 10 and 11 must still be stressed.

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Practice 12: Tackle Contest Options

PRACTICE 12: TAckle contest options – Part 1

12 9

• Groups of seven aligned in backline formation, but with three or four “forwards” providing support for the attack. • When coach calls “Tackle”, the first arriving forward will attach and drive, rip and feed the scrum-half and the attack will continue.

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ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 12

PRACTICE 12: TACKLE CONTEST OPTIONS – Part 2

12 7

OPTION A

OPTION B

OPTION C

• The practice should be extended to achieve any one of the three possibilities described in the Key Principles: a) continue the drive bound together, or b) continue the drive, rip the ball and continue the forward run, or c) continue the drive, rip the ball and transfer to another arriving player. • Realignment of player(s) outside the tackle zone is essential to keeping the attack going. • Extend the practice to include defenders with tackle shields/suits.

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Practice 13: Continuous Play

KEY PRINCIPLES The Practice is really a combination of everything previously covered in Session 1 though to Session 3. All of the Key Principles contained therein should be in evidence. Remember, “only perfect practice makes perfect!”

“Let the players explore the practice. This will give them ownership.”

ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 13

PRACTICE 13: CONTINUOUS PLAY • The group should be something resembling a team, with some opposition. If possible, say, a group of twelve in attack – six forwards and six backs – with possibly nine or ten in defence. • Proceed as in Practice 12, with the defence now becoming involved at the tackle contest. Arriving support players continue driving forward and/or recycling, as in Practice 12. • Look for: a) the attacking team forcing more and more defenders into the tackle contest, and b) urgency in continuity of the attack and in realignment of the backs. • Play should proceed without any delay, but with no panic. Speed in everything – drive at the tackle, speed of foot, speed of recycle – is our aim. • If a back can be effective on the ball at the tackle contest, he should go in and be effective. If not, he must realign with urgency. • Continuous play from halfway to the goal line. Score the try! Continue play even if there is a minor infringement. • We are looking for action with no hesitation!

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