How fantastic to come to a school, carrying this net with rugby balls and see everybody smile and go: “Hey, we are going to play rugby!”

Yes! back to Comenius College, Capelle for the thirteenth time already. The school runs sport orientation classes where 15-16 year olds try different sports. I take care of the rugby clinics for many years now.

LPM Stage approach

With four clinics to run and 45 students participating, I had a great opportunity to copy the LPM Stage approach by splitting the group in three teams, do general movement on the pitch with two teams while working more technical with the third. 

One of my learning goals this summer joining Pierre Villepreux and co. for 5th time was to better understand how and when to present the new ball. With players who are totally new to the rugby tactical concepts it feels like a blank canvas to experiment more.

Splitting the group in three

Again, this is based on the three types of participation: Leader, Follower and Satellite. I explain this in this blog post. I had to rely on the teachers to do this and they did pretty well I think.

Setting up the pitch

We work on a soccer pitch and I set-up like this:

So lots of space in the game to use. Lots of running required, also be me, working the perfect spot for that new ball while watching play develop.

Tactical versus Technical

In this three team rotational set-up we work on the tactical development, eliminate technical difficulties by simply feeding a new ball AND we work on technical development in that second grid.

Because so many mistakes are made, I try to keep the contest out of it a bit by not keeping score, give each team 5 consecutieve starts and encourage “Go on!” / “Advantage”. But, always difficult for the soccer players who like to appeal on mistakes by the opponents (surprised?).

Lesson 1

Lots of enthusiasm already in the 1v1 Duel exercise directly after the warming-up. Made the three teams and worked the sideline start drill again in the below set-up with three groups of attackers and defender, to immediately create those different support groups. The initial run into space went very well, but finding space and go forward was more difficult. It was more finding that “Leader” than continue the initial Go Forward.

The players mentioned the duel exercise for the third team was really helpful. This specific exercise is discussed in this blogpost. 

Reflection on Lesson 1

Theo was in my Under 18 team at Hilversum and helping me out. He did a bit of coaching but new to this approach. He liked it all very much, surprised how effective it all is. Realised when he was feeding the new ball he actually encouraged a hockey style circle the ball back to the other side approach rather then encouraging to continue the go forward. He also recognised how having three little groups of attackers would set them up for different support roles (good student!). That second group of attackers should be targeted with that second ball. 

We decided to focus on this in Lesson 2 and go for the 4v1+1+1 for the third team.

Lesson 2

Part of the warming-up was getting more comfortable with that oval ball, some judo falling techniques and making contact in the tackle. Split up in the three teams using the same set-up as in Lessons 1. Theo ran that 4v1+1+1 but taking the ball forward after the off-load is still difficult. The game went well, but here too, most players providing deep support.

Reflections on Lesson 2

All the students were very surprised with two players scoring multiple tries! “Where they here last week?”. Somehow they used the week to internalise it all and came out stronger second time out. We need to work on that taking the ball forward, have just the right exercise for it!

Lesson 3: Scrum time!

Time to get really physical and introduce the scrum. As part of warming up I do those Craig White Partner Carriers, always lots of fun with these and good to get into the mood of binding and pushing. Dees helped me this clinic and was good with advice on binding and stuff.

Next an important drill passing – catching while continue forward – loop around drill. Took some time to get going but the students got there in the end.

We ended in the game set-up and saw some lovely tries being scored. Dees trying to recruit one of the girls for URC!

Take aways: all looking promising towards next week’s final lesson which will be a game, scrum restarts and all!

Lesson 4: Game time!

Four lessons in a row, excited to see the game progress using scrum restarts and real kick-offs. With only three lessons to work it all I never bothered with line-outs. In spite of the rain the game went very well, lots of tries and tackles, support running and most of all lots of fun. One of the girls: “Perhaps rugby is something for me?” and us shouting in disbelief “Perhaps?”. She was great in Open Play AND at Tight Head!

Wrapping it up and showing respect creating the tunnel, see you all next year!

Rugby family

Players enjoying it all, teachers with big smiles, and with Dessie in USA and Sanne at the Police Academy I took Theo and Dees to help me out. Both very excited with the LPM set-up too. Play rugby after just three hours work? Yes, it is possible.

All these exercises are part of the SuperCoach Online tool, find more about his here.

Thanks Norbert from Ultimate Sports for supplying all the balls and gear AND that All Blacks Jersey for Bjorn.

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