How Rugby Makes Better Football Players (This First Appeared in Gridiron Coach Magazine)

By Alex Goff

Your High School season is over. Your players are already making plans to play other sports during the winter and the spring. What should they play?

In the spring, especially, football coaches find themselves at odds with their players’ choices. But what if your players could play a sport that not only keeps them in shape for football, but actually makes them better football players? The sports is out there, it’s called rugby, and strangely enough some football coaches won’t let their athletes play the game.

High-school age rugby is played throughout the USA, culminating in a national championship tournament in late May. The game itself is an ancestor of football, and is similar to a no-huddle, wishbone gridiron game with all two-way players. Forward passing is not allowed, so the ball must be advanced by hard running and intricate lateral passing. After a tackle, play continues as teams for essentially a compacted line of scrimmage and try to drive each other off the ball. Players and football coaches who have been involved in both sports agree that playing rugby can make for better football players, and more dedicated athletes.

The improvement in fitness, hand-eye coordination, and tackling technique after a season of rugby is phenomenal," said Mark Bullock, who served as head football coach and head rugby coach for Kentwood High School in Kent, Washington before becoming the USA Under-19 rugby coach. "I always recommended my football players to play rugby is they weren’t playing a spring sport.

Everyone Plays the Ball

In rugby, every type of play handles the ball at least a few times. Every player is expected to be able to pass and catch, tackle, and break tackles.

"You’ll have players tackling and trying to break tackles which is great for contact skills in the off-season," said Dave Hodges, former pro football player and currently the captain of the U.S. national rugby team. "They will be working on fitness and should continue on with there strength and explosive exercises. They will be handling the ball, which will benefit hand-eye coordination. If they want a sport that complements football, rugby is much closer than the other sports played in high school."

"The ball handling skills are almost unmatched in American sport," explained Tom Billups, who was a starting offensive lineman for Augustana college during the school’s 49-0-1 stretch in the 1990s. Billups later took up rugby and played professionally in Europe, and for the USA a record 44 times. A physical trainer by profession, he is currently the USA Rugby strength and conditioning coach. "The development of the sense of space, timing, and teamwork are even greater than those in basketball. The total number of sets of hands that are involved in a well worked try [touchdown] is much greater than any in basketball."

Everyone Runs

There are stoppages in rugby, but not after every tackle. A well-played game of rugby requires backs (the runners) and forwards (like linemen) to run great distances as they work to retrieve the ball and launch another attack. Playing that way for 80 minutes requires fitness that can only help an athlete when he plays football.

"The aerobic requirements are dramatically different between rugby and gridiron," said Billups. "I can still remember my first senior side rugby match for the Quad City Irish in the Midwest. I must have asked how much time was left a dozen or more times. The continuity was the most drastic difference from one sport to the other. The concept of continued play asks the American football player to continue to react, scan, and process information rapidly. The assignments I remember from National Championship college football were more like, ‘you block the guy in front of you at the line of scrimmage.’"

No Pads!

Actually rugby players can use pads. The scrum cap, designed to protect the ears, is much like a 1920s football helmet, only a little softer, and players can also opt to wear foam padding over their torsos. However, rugby certainly doesn’t have the padding football has, and that makes coaches worry about injuries.

But those who have played both sports say that playing a tackle sport without pads forces you to use good tackling and driving techniques. Football pads can be used as weapons, while rugby players have no such luxury.

"The neuromuscular recruitment that is required to control your body in a tackle in rugby is much greater than that of a tackle in gridiron football," said Billups. "American football is much more of a collision sport now than it has ever been, where a rugby tackle still requires a wrapping of the arms to be a fair and legal."

"It’s a great way for plays to gain courage," said Fred Jones, who coached both rugby and football at Vacaville High School in Vacaville, Calif., before becoming the fulltime football coach and athletic director. "Varsity football can loom so huge, and rugby can give younger kids the opportunity to get out there, get into contact, and participate in a related sport."

Culture

Athletes follow their role models, and it’s an unfortunate state of football that coaches are constantly trying to get their players to emulate what they see their heroes do in the game, but not what they do on the sidelines.

Rugby is a little different. Complaining to the referee, excessive celebration after scoring, and playing to the crowd may be discouraged in both sports, but in rugby it’s simply not part of the game at any level.

"From a culture standpoint, rugby can improve the American high school football in more ways than a coach can count," said Billups. "The mere fact that, in rugby, you address the referee as ‘sir’ — can you image that in American football? That there isn't this towel-whipping, look-at-me behavior we see kids emulating. Score a try, and leg it back to halfway to get ready to go again is the way it still is in our game. No touchdown dances or athletes taking off their helmets to show their mugs for the cameras."

Rugby Helps Football

Can rugby make a good football player? Consider the story of Richard Tardits. He grew up playing rugby, then one day, as a student at the University of Georgia, he walked on to preseason football practice.

"He didn’t even know how to put his pads on," said then head coach and now Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley. "We put him in tight end and asked him to fire out and block, and he fired out and tackled the guy. So we figured we better put him on defense pretty quick."

As a linebacker who had never played gridiron before, Tardits learned quickly, and in one scrimmage sacked the quarterback five times.

"I gave him a battlefield promotion right there," said Dooley. "I gave him a scholarship. He had such explosiveness."

Upon graduation, Tardits had made all-conference as a linebacker, and had set a record for sacks at Georgia that still stands. He went on to play in the NFL for New England and Arizona.

After his NFL career was over, Tardits returned to rugby, playing for the United States 24 times.

"All those things he learned in rugby, mobility, running, reaction, and tackling, can help develop a young athlete," said Dooley. "Richard went on to have quite a career in both sports."

"It’s an excellent way to provide continuity between football seasons," said Jones. "I suppose there’s a risk of injury, but a lot of things carry a risk of injury. It’s a wonderful tool in the development of young football players."

Football can also create great rugby players. Second-team All-ACC tight end Dan Lyle of VMI took up rugby while waiting for an NFL tryout. The tryout came, but by then he had shown a great talent for rugby and was hooked. Lyle is now one of the three best at his position in the world in rugby, and plays professionally for Bath in England.

Great Opportunities

Rugby offers athletes opportunities that gridiron cannot. Rugby has a national championship, for one, an Under-19 and senior national team, and a chance to travel the world.

"The culture of rugby is worldwide," said Billups. "You can go to any country on Earth, you can find a rugby team, and an immediate friend. Having heard I played for the USA, an acquaintance asked, ‘how much money do they pay?’ It’s never about the money. A sport where the highest honor you can receive, to play for your country is still coveted in the professional era should be admired by high school football coaches. The issue of character is white-hot in the NFL right now. Why would a football coach not want a kid who values the efforts of his teammates, plays with extreme passion, and after taking a knock, picks himself up and gets on with it?

"My experiences in college football I wouldn't trade for anything. I was lucky to have a great coach and tremendous teammates who played to their potential every weekend in the Autumn. But I would have loved the opportunity to learn about all the rugby represents at an earlier age."

The consensus among those who know football and rugby together is fairly clear: if you have a player on your football team who you wish would get a little stronger, a little fitter, and a little more aggressive, then have him play rugby. Rugby is fun, it’s different, but still enough like football that he’ll be able to play, and it makes you a better football player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stretching…..

 

We want flexibility from our stretching. The stretch should be for 20 seconds or more and should never be painful to do.  Body position for stretching is important for it to be effective. It is better to stretch for shorter periods more frequently, than to stretch for long periods, but seldom.

 

THE NECK

 

With you right hand pull your head to the right shoulder, standing upright. Perform the same stretch with the left. Next, push your head towards your chest, with your hands on the back of your head. Finally, put your hands on your forehead and push forward with your head, using your hands as resistance.

 

SHOULDERS

 

Keep your upper arm parallel to the ground, forearm vertical. Hold the right elbow with the left hand and pull it across to the opposite shoulder. Reverse the stretch.  Next, with a straight right arm, have your thumb point downwards. With your left hand pull the right (straight) arm down towards the left hip. Reverse the stretch.

 

BICEPS

 

Hold onto the post or a player beside you. Keep your thumb down and turn your body away from the arm, letting your shoulder roll in.  It sounds complicated, but do it against the edge of a door and you will see how easy it is. Reverse arms.

 

TRICEPS

 

Put your hand behind your head and with the opposite hand pull the elbow behind the head. Switch arms.

 

PECTORALS

 

Put your hands up in the fashion of someone holding you up at gunpoint.  Have a friend behind you gentle pull your arms backwards by the elbows. Make sure this stretch is not painful. If it is, you are stretching it too much.

 

 

 

 

 

WRIST AND FOREARMS

 

Place your arm down by your side. Twist it so that your palm is facing outwards. With the opposite hand reach across and pull upwards on the back of the hand. Switch arms. Next, with your arm out straight in front of you, elbow locked, reach with the opposite hand and grasp the palm of the extended hand.  Pull the hand towards your body until you feel the stretch in your forearm.

 

BACK EXTENSORS

 

Lie on the ground, pulling your knees up to your chest with your arms curling up into a ball like a hedgehog.

 

LATISSIMUS DORSI

 

On the ground sitting in your heels, bring the torso forward by stretching your right arm forward, right hand on the ground in front of you, keeping your hips up but still sitting on your heels.  Place your left hand over the right hand, turning your hips to the right (the side you are stretching). You should feel the stretch from your shoulder blade to your armpit.

 

ABDOMINALS

 

Lie on the ground and extend your arms downwards, with your palms on the ground.  Keeping your arms straight and your hips on the ground, lift your upper body to look like a cobra before it strikes.

 

QUADRICEPS

 

Lie on your stomach and with your right hand pull your left foot up to your buttock. Switch sides.

 

CALF

 

Standing with one leg forward, keeping the back straight, lunge forward over your forward leg, both knees bent and both feet flat on the ground.  Switch legs. Perform the stretch again, but the second time keep the back leg straight.

 

GROIN

 

Sit on the ground with bent legs in front of you with the soles of your feet touching each other.  Place your hands on your ankles and try to brings your elbows to your knees, pushing downwards on your knees if possible.

 

HAMSTRINGS

 

Lie on your back, one leg in the air, knee straight. Have a friend hold the heel of your raised foot and push gently towards your body. Perform this stretch with your toe pointed, and pulled towards you. Also, have your friend provide resistance from the left and right sides while you push against his or her hand. Switch legs.

 

TENSOR FASCIA LATA/ILIO-LIBAL BAND

 

(The muscles running up the side of your leg from the knee to over your hip bone.)

 

Stand up straight. Take your left leg and step behind your right, keeping the left straight (stretching the right). Allow the right knee to relax, rotate, and bend away from your body. Switch legs.

 

BUTTOCK

 

Sit on the ground with both buttocks on the ground and your back straight.  Lift one leg, bending at the knee. With the opposite forearm on the outside of the lifted knee, push against it so that it moves towards the other leg.  Use your other arm for support. Switch sides.

 

 

 

PLAYING A MATCH

 

Ÿ         A match is started by a kick-off from center, which must travel forward ten meters. If the ball does not travel forward ten meters or if it goes into touch, the team can choose either a re-kick or a scrum at center. If however, the ball does not travel ten meters and the opposing team chooses to play the ball, play continues.

Ÿ         After the kick-off, any player who is on-side may take the ball and run with it.

Ÿ         Any player may throw the ball or kick it.

Ÿ         Any player may give the ball to another player.

Ÿ         Any player may tackle, hold or shove an opponent who is holding the ball.

Ÿ         Any player may fall on the ball.

Ÿ         Any player may take part in a scrum, ruck, maul or line-out.

Ÿ         Any player may ground the ball in the in-goal area.

Ÿ         Whatever a player does must be in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

Ÿ         The referee is the final judge of all action.

 

 

THE PLACE KICK

 

          While there are some standard basic guidelines for successful place kicking, the majority of players develop their own personal style and routine that they are comfortable with and gives them a consistent strike.  It is a “feel” for the ball that individuals must develop.

 

 

Key Points:

 

Ÿ         Tilt the ball forward on the tee and watch the contact point at all times

Ÿ         Face square onto the ball

Ÿ         Try to use the same routine when lining up and approaching each kick

Ÿ         Approach the ball in an arc, without rushing acceleration

Ÿ         The non-kicking foot should be pointed at the target with your ankle in line with the middle of the ball

Ÿ         The non-kicking foot should be the width of your hips from the ball

Ÿ         On contact, your shoulder should face the target, opening up the hips

Ÿ         Head should be directly above the ball to ensure the force is directed through the ball

Ÿ         Make contact with the bone on top of the instep

Ÿ         End up on the toes of the supporting leg

Ÿ         Transfer weight through the ball

Ÿ         Follow through to touch the hand of the balancing arm

 

It is important for players to be able to correct their kicks and make the necessary adjustments.

 

 

For right-footed kickers

 

If you miss left it is probably because:

-your left foot is facing left

-your left foot is too close to the ball

-your left foot is behind the ball

 

If you miss right is probably because:

-your left foot is facing right

-your left foot is too far from the ball

-your left foot is ahead of the ball

 

 

 

Basic Outline of Players for Selection Purposes

 

 

Position Name

 

Jersey Number

General Role in Game

Physical Qualities

Loosehead prop

1

Front-row in scrums, lifts in line-outs and runs with ball in penalty plays

Known for strength, usually stockier players with a solid base

Hooker

2

Hooking the ball in scrums, throws the ball in during line-outs

Shorter and stockier, able to strike the ball in scrums

Tighthead prop

3

Same as loosehead

Same as loosehead

Lock

4 and 5

Second-row in scrums, usually lifted in line-outs

Typically the tallest players on the field with strong legs

Flanker

6 and 7

Back-row players in the scrum, support both forward and back play

Speed and strength in forward play, able to support back play as well

Eightman

8

Back-row of the scrum, can pick the ball off the scrum, support in back play

Speed and strength in forward play, able to control scrum and pick up ball

Scrum-half

9

Putting the ball into the scrum, servicing the ball to the backs, controlling forward loose play

A fast player who is fit, strong passing ability and good knowledge of general play

Fly-half

10

Control of the back players, calling plays, and kicking

Strong passing and kicking abilities, able to communicate and think quickly

Winger

11 and 14

Coverage on the side and back of the field, execution of plays

Typically the fastest players on the field, strong tacklers

Inside center

12

Execution of plays in the backs

Strong runner with the ball, strong passing and play execution abilities

Outside center

13

Execution of plays in the backs

Same as inside

Fullback

15

Coverage of the back of the field, kicking

Strong kicking ability, able to read field and cover accordingly

 

 

The Maul

 

A maul occurs when a player carrying the ball is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball-carrier’s team-mates bind on the ball-carrier.  All the players involved are on their feet. There are at least three players involved- the ball-carrier and at least one player from either team.

Players joining a maul must have their head and shoulders no lower than their hips, and must be caught in the maul or have a proper bind (whole arm).

Players must not voluntarily collapse the maul and must endeavor to keep their feet. 

A maul ends when the ball leaves the maul or a player with the ball leaves the maul. A maul ends unsuccessfully if the maul remains stationary, or the ball is unplayable, and a scrum is ordered by the referee. The ball is thrown in by the team not in possession when the maul began. If the referee cannot decide which team had possession, the scrum is awarded to the team moving forward before the maul stopped. 

 

 

TEACHING THE PASS AND CATCH

 

          The first lesson will provide an opportunity to introduce the activity and the expectations of the unit.  To begin students will familiarize themselves with the sport of rugby; this will often be their first exposure to the game.  For skill development students will soon discover they will be able to use transferable skills and sport specific skills from other sporting areas. A series of lead up activities will quickly give the students confidence and the realization that they possess many of the skills utilized in the game of rugby.

 

THE BASIC SKILLS

 

Basic Pass

 

·        students should recognize how to break down the pass into three stages- preparation, execution, and follow-through

 

The pass in the game of rugby must always be backwards. Referees may allow for the ball to be passes straight across, but more often than not it will be called a forward pass.  In the basic pass, the person waiting to receive the ball should have both hands out, providing a target for their teammate.  When passing the ball, you want to hold the ball with both hands on the side of the ball. The ball should be held vertically, with the tips pointing up and down. The ball is brought across the body and released at the side, towards the target using the wrists.

 

Sport Specific:

-both hands on the ball

-catch and pass the ball with your fingertips

-transfer the ball smoothly and rapidly

-pass the ball to space and allow the teammate to run onto it

-step toward the player you are passing to

 

Transferable Skills:

-wide base of support

-shoulders square to the target

-eyes on the target

-apply force in the direction of the target

-release object at a point where it will hit the target

-maintain balance and be ready for the next movement

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receiving

 

Sport Specific:

-open hands as a target for the ball

-catch the ball with your fingertips

-reach for the ball and take it early, stepping toward the player you are receiving the pass from

 

Transferable Skills:

-strong base of support

-provide a target for the sender

-keep your body between the ball and the defender

-focus eyes on path of object until received

-receive object with hands

-absorb force of object

 

 

Figure 1 Note the follow through and step in by the passer, the hands out and step in by the receiver

 

The Playing Field

 

The Field-of-play: the area between the goal-lines and the touch-lines. These lines are not part of the field-of-play.

The Playing Area: the field-of-play and in-goal areas.  The touch-lines, the touch-in-goal lines and dead-ball lines are not part of the playing area.

The Playing Enclosure: the playing area and a space around it, not less than 5 meters where practicable, which is known as the perimeter area.

In-goal: the area between the goal-line and the dead-ball line, and between the touch-in-goal lines. It includes the goal-line but it does not include the dead-ball line or the touch-in-goal lines.

The “22”: the area between the goal-line and the 22-meter line, including the 22-meter line but excluding the goal-line.

 

SAFETY:

 

Post-pads should be secured on the uprights if playing on an area with posts. The grounds should be checked to ensure there it is clear of debris which could injure a student (ie. Bottle caps, broken glass, nails, etc.). A thorough checking of the field is necessary at all times.

Each player should also be wearing a mouth guard at all times. Also, it may be in the students’ best interest to wear shin guards when they are learning the game, as rucking and mauling can lead to some bruised shins.  Proper jerseys should be worn, or at least shirts made of thick material, and leg-wear which fellow players can bind onto (wind-pants often are too slippery for a proper bind).  Further protection can be provided for players by wearing shoulder pads under their jerseys and scrum caps over their heads. This equipment can be looked at on www.ballsout.com

Playing areas should also be marked out using pylons or small plastic cones when possible. While flags are used in games, falling on one could lead to an unnecessary injury.

 

 

The Ruck

 

A ruck is a phase of play where one or more players from each team, who are on their feet in physical contact, close around the ball when it is on the ground.  Players are rucking when they are in a ruck and using their feet to try and win or keep possession of the ball.

All players forming or joining a ruck must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips. A player joining a ruck must bind onto the ruck with at least one arm around the body of a team-mate, using the whole arm. Placing a hand on another player does not constitute binding.

All players forming, joining, or taking part in a ruck must be on their feet. Also, they must endeavor to stay on their feet, and must not voluntarily collapse the ruck or jump on it. Players must not handle the ball in a ruck or pick the ball up using their legs.

Players on the ground in or near the ruck must try to move away from the ball. These players must not interfere with the ball in the ruck or as it comes out of the ruck. 

 

A ruck ends successfully when the ball leaves the ruck. A ruck ends unsuccessfully when it becomes unplayable and a scrum is ordered by the referee.  The team that was moving forward immediately before the ball became unplayable in the ruck throws the ball in. If neither team was moving forward, the attacking team will be awarded the put-in.

 

 

The Scrum In Detail

Forming a Scrum…..

A scrum takes place where the infringement or stoppage happened, or as near to it as is practicable in the field-of-play. The placement of the scrum is marked by the referee as he or she places their heel on the ground to show the “mark”. The opposing front-rows then line up on either side of the mark. The mark can be moved across the field a short distance by the referee to allow for safer play. This occurs frequently under wet conditions, as the second-row players need firmer ground to lock out and keep the scrum upright.

If the infringement or stoppage occurred less than 5 meters from the touch-line, the place for the scrum is moved out to 5 meters from the touch line. Also, if the infringement or stoppage occurs in the in-goal area, the place of the scrum is 5 meters from the goal-line.

A scrum must have eight players from each team. All eight players must stay bound to the scrum until the scrum has ended. Each front-row has three players in it and the two locks form the second row. When a team is reduced to fewer than fifteen for any reason, the number of players in the scrum may be similarly reduced. Where a permitted reduction is made by one team, there is no requirement for the other team to make a similar reduction. However, a team must not have fewer than five players in the scrum.

Before the two front-rows come together they must be standing not more than an arm’s length apart. This is a safety precaution, so that the players can keep their shoulders above their hips at all times.  The ball is in the scrum-half’s hands and ready to be thrown into the scrum.  The front-rows must crouch so that when they meet, each player’s head and shoulders will be level and remain above their hips.  The front-rows must interlock so that no player’s head is next to the head of a fellow team-mate.  A crouched position is the extension of the normal stance by bending the knees sufficiently to move into the engagement without a charge.  The engaging of a scrum is announced by the referee, with the typical command of “crouch….pause…..engage”.

Until the ball leaves the scrum-half’s hands, the scrum must be stationary. A team must not shove the scrum away from the mark before the ball is thrown in.

When a scrum is formed, the body and feet of each front-row player should be in position to make a forward shove. This position has been described as “taking a squat in the woods”. Feet should be firmly planted and spread a little wider than shoulder length to allow the player to squat down. Players must not cross their feet, although the foot of one player may cross a team-mate’s foot.

Until the ball is thrown in, a hooker must be in a position to hook the ball.  The hookers must have both feet on the ground, with their weight firmly planted on at least one foot.  A hooker’s foremost foot must not be in front of the foremost foot of either prop beside them.

When a player binds on a team-mate, that player must use the whole arm from hand to shoulder to grasp the team-mate’s body at or below the level of the armpit.  Placing only a hand on another player is not a satisfactory bind. All front-row players must bind firmly and continuously from the start to the finish of the scrum. The hooker may bind either over or under the arms of the props, keeping weight on at least one foot.

A loosehead prop must bind on the opposing tighthead prop by placing their left arm inside the right arm of the tighthead prop or by placing the left hand on the left thigh. 

A tighthead prop must bind on the opposing loosehead prop by placing their right arm outside the upper arm of the opposing loosehead prop. The tighthead prop must grip the loosehead prop’s jersey to keep themselves and the scrum steady, but not on the arm or sleeve. They must not exert downward pressure.

All players in the scrum other than front-row players must bind on a lock’s body with at least one arm.  The locks must bind with the props in front of them. No player other than a prop may hold an opponent.

If a scrum collapses, the referee must blow the whistle immediately so that players stop pushing. Also, if a player in a scrum is lifted in the air, or is forced upwards out of the scrum, the referee will blow the whistle.

As soon as the front-rows have come together, the scrum-half must throw the ball in without delay.

 

The scrum-half must be one meter from the side of the scrum, holding the ball with two hands, midway between the knee and the ankle. The ball must be thrown in a straight line, so that it first touches the ground immediately beyond the width of the nearer prop’s shoulders. The scrum-half must throw the ball with a single forward movement.  This means that there must not be any backwards movement of the ball and the scrum-half must not pretend to throw the ball in.

Play in the scrum begins when the ball leaves the hands of the scrum-half.

If the scrum-half throws the ball in and it comes out at either end of the tunnel, the ball must be thrown in again unless a free kick or a penalty has been awarded.  If the ball Is not played by a front-row player and it goes straight through the tunnel and comes out behind the foot of a far prop without being touched, the scrum-half must throw it in again.

All front-row players must place their feet to leave a clear tunnel in the scrum. Until the ball has left the scrum-half’s hands, they must not raise or advance a foot.  They must not do anything to stop the ball from being thrown in correctly or from touching the ground in the correct place.  Once the ball has touched the ground, any front-row player may use either foot to try to win possession of the ball. A front-row player must not voluntarily kick the ball out of the tunnel in the direction from which it was thrown.

A front-row player must not strike for the ball with both feet. No player may voluntarily raise both feet from the ground, either when the ball is thrown in or afterwards.  Front-row players must not twist or lower their bodies, or pull opponents, or do anything that is likely to collapse the scrum.  This includes voluntarily falling, kneeling, or forcing an opponent upwards out of a scrum.

Players must not try to win the ball by using any part of their body except their foot or lower leg.

A player who is not in the front-row must not play the ball while in the tunnel. 

When the ball comes out of the scrum in any direction except through the tunnel, the scrum ends.  A scrum-half must not take any action to make the opponents think that the ball is out of the scrum while it is still in the scrum.

The hindmost player in a scrum is the player whose feet are nearest the team’s own goal-line (typically the eightman).  This player may pick the ball up when the ball passes through the feet of the locks. When the ball is touched, the scrum has ended.

If a scrum is wheeled through more than 90 degrees, the referee will blow the whistle and order another scrum, with the opposing team having the put-in.

The Scrum – A  Review

The purpose of the scrum in rugby is to restart the play quickly, safely and fairly, after a minor infringement or a stoppage.

A scrum is formed in the field-of-play when eight players from each team, bound together in three rows for each team, close up with their opponents so that the heads of the front-rows are interlocked.  This creates a tunnel into which a scrum-half throws in the ball so that front-row players can compete possession by hooking the ball with either of their feet.

The tunnel of the scrum is the space between the two front-rows from either team. The player who throws the ball into the scrum from either team is the scrum-half.

 

Figure 1 The women prepare for a scrum in warm-up - note the scrumhalf to the right with the ball and the low and wide base of support by the players. More information on player positions is included.

 

GETTING TACKLED

 

          When getting tackled, it is important to recycle the ball and make it accessible to your teammates.

As the defense is approaching and about to make contact, hold the ball in two hands, turning with the impact of the tackle.  If your arms are free and no other tacklers are about to hit you, pass to a supporting player. If this is not possible, take the ball to ground, landing on the back of your shoulder, placing the ball so that you or your teammates can regain possession. You are allowed to pass the ball off upon contact with the ground, however this must be done with one fluid motion. 

You can lessen the force of impact on the back of the shoulder by rounding them (hugging the ball might help). Also, bending your knees and tucking your chin in will also cause less strain on the body.

When turning with the impact it is important to turn far enough to land on the back of your shoulder and not on your shoulder, as you want as big a surface as possible to break the impact with the ground (not hand or wrist, but back of shoulder, bottom, or legs). If you continue to carry the ball in two hands you will not place a hand out to break your fall, thus causing that hand to take considerable force and weight- yours and the tackler’s. 

 

 

Figure 1 The tackler has a low position, wrapping the ball-carrier's legs while the ball-carrier is anticipating the tackle and looking for support

Common Faults:

 

1.     You cannot turn for your support or you get turned the wrong way in the tackle – you need to be more aggressive in the contact, hit or be hit!

 

 

 

Figure 2 The ball-carrier has both hands on the ball, allowing him to control the ball at all times

 

 

2.     You lose the ball as you attempt to place it – concentrate on the turn with the impact, round your shoulders and place the ball with TWO HANDS.

3.     You place the ball but the opposition take it – slow down if your support is not there or place it close to your body and get up over it and be your own loose forward. Don’t lie there and wait for your teammates, thinking you have done your job. When your knees are off the ground you can pick the ball up.  This may mean getting tackled again and going to ground again, but all this had bought time for your support to get there.

 

 

Figure 3 The ball-carrier has turned and will be able to place the ball towards his teammates - note the amount of body surface he is using to take the weight of impact

 

 

 

 

 

A Note on Long-Body Rucking:

 

           Land on hands and knees. When players are held in a tackle and are not going anywhere, they need to drop down and lower themselves onto their hands and knees. First fall on one knee, then fall onto one forearm and the other knee, placing the ball between your legs as you go down. This is also called “laying an egg”, and allows for easier access to the ball for your teammates.

 

 

THE THROW IN

 

 

Catching at practicing lineouts is all based on relationships.  Firstly, between thrower and jumper, then between thrower, jumper and lifters, finally with everyone else.

          Lineout drills start around tiny points and focus on the skills required by each individual player.  First you have to identify who your best thrower is. Generally the job lands on the shoulders of the hooker but it doesn’t have to be the person in the number 2 jersey.  Once you have found the person, they will need to work relentlessly on visualization and technique. 

          Points the thrower has to focus on are the simple mechanics of the throw; weight transference from back to front while maintaining balance throughout, leading with the hips for as long as possible, keeping chin and chest up, ensuring the arm movement is led by the elbow and following through with the hand in the desired line of ball flight.

          When throwing, the ball should not pass behind the thrower’s head. Allowing the arm to go all the way back telegraphs where the ball is going and delays getting the ball into play.  The shorter the recoil time the more effective the delivery.  The thrower should aim to keep the throw sharp and release the ball as quickly and accurately as possible.

          The final aspect the thrower needs to work on is his or her concentration.  Emphasis must be placed on the need to block everything else out and for the player to think only of the throw, visualizing the path it is going to take.

 

 

 

Figure 1 Note the extension of the arms by the lifters (for more information on lifting in the lineout, check out www.cancoach.com )

Key Points:

 

 

During the throw it is important to bring the elbow into play by taking it forward and pointing it at the target.  The forearm follows forward down the same line, the wrist is released and the hand and fingers release the ball.  The fingers do not include the thumb, which is only used to stop the ball from falling out of the hands.  If it is used for anything other than a rest, you will find the ball falling short of the target.