Training - Passing, tackling, and rucking.

A great mornings rugby by all the U11s this morning, with some agressive running and rucking of the ball!

Getting things going as usual was couple of warm-up games of touch rugby. This is a good, fun way to get switched on, ... and get used to a bit of cold mud! Building on some of the lessons learnt from last week at Ruislip, the theme to this warm-up was recycling the ball at the ruck. The attacking player would pass the ball through the legs when tackled and the tackler would also take a knee to create a bit of extra space for the attacking team - a simpler type of 'non-contact' ruck.

To encourage and continue to develop our passing skills, the U11s took part in a quick passing refresher. Passing down the line through the hands, quicky and accurately. Splitting into two groups, the U11s then worked on separate tackling and rucking drills. In the tackling drill, to encourage getting low in the tackle, the tackler started on one knee. This enabled the tackler to work on wrapping their arms waist the attacker's waist and get into a good low and strong body position. A drill which we should look to work on and repeat regularly.

The rucking drill aimed to build on current rucking skills and to develop them further. This started with an initial one on one, contact and drive into the pad, working on strong body positions and the drive forward. Developing this, the ball carrier then drove into two defenders with pads, looking to drive low and hard through through the middle - again practising good body positions. The final development stage of this dill included two groups of players working in rotation. To start, the first player of the first group took the ball into the pad and went to ground. Two players then drove over the ball, forming the ruck, and the fourth passed the ball to the first player of the second group. The ruck was then set up by the second group and the drill repeated between each group. Each time players worked quickly to drive over and recycle the ruck ball. This drill too could help develop our quick ruck play.

The morning was rounded off with some great games, putting into practise the developing skills learnt that morning. Well done all U11s - some good hard work. Much fun was had by all with many not wanting, 'just one more play'! ... and enjoying getting particularly getting covered in mud! Next weekend, we are at Broom Road. Hopefully it will have dried out abit underfoot!