Let the
game
be the
teacher

Dear Coach,

Using games in training is acknowledged throughout the coaching profession - from grassroots to the top of the professional game - as one of the best ways to coach rugby skills and tactics.

So why should you use games in training?

• Competitive - tries are scored and points awarded. Players have to work hard to win

• Relevant - games get players practising under match conditions, at a level of intensity you control

• Easy to set up - you only need a ball and a few players to run a constructive training session

• Active - players are active, not queuing for the next drill, and are involved in both attack and defence

• Flexible - players take responsibility and are free to experiment, make mistakes and learn through experience. Games are suitable for all players of all age and standard.

• Effective - there are plenty of opportunities for skills to be reworked outside of repetitive (and boring) drills

• Outcome focused - games concentrate on the result, winning more matches, not on creating a team of "robots"

• Greater variety - different games mean different decisions to make, problems to solve and skills to use

• Energetic - games are a "sneaky" way of introducing fitness and footwork into your training regime

• Promote teamwork - games foster team spirit, enforce team values and motivate the players in training

• Games are fun to participate in, watch and coach... and no referee is needed!

That's why I have launched a new coaching manual of 48 rugby games, focused entirely on the skills and tactics needed to win rugby matches.

Designed for all players, whatever their skills levels, 48 Rugby Skills Games is the ultimate resource for any coach who wants to replicate match-like conditions in their training sessions.

Click here to download the foreword from the manual. By Lynn Kidman, a world expert on athlete-centred coaching, the foreword explains about the importance of games in training.

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Practice key skills

The games in 48 Rugby Skills Games cover the range of attacking and defending skills, to help your players improve in every department:

Competitive scenarios

The games are all competitive, with clearly defined objectives and scoring systems. They are divided into 3 categories:

Small-sided games give players the chance to practise their rugby skills in different situations. Since there are minimal numbers of players involved, play is intense, fast and furious.

The two teams frequently change from attack to defence, ensuring all the players will get plenty of opportunities to be involved in both sides of the game.

Conditioned games focus on isolating rugby skills in a game with constrained rules. These games avoid obvious repetition, enabling skills to be continually reworked. There is a more defined attack and defence, resulting in a more rugby-like game.

Players get plenty of chances to test out "what works". They will find their own solutions to common rugby problems - solutions that naturally will play to the team's strengths.

Game situations look to replicate match day conditions and scenarios, giving the players plenty of opportunities to test their skills under pressure.

These games are as close to playing a "real" match as you will get in training.

Click here to download the "Game finder" from the manual to see details of all the games included.

Simple to understand, easy to use

Clever design

I designed Rugby Skills Games with you, the coach, in mind. Each page follows the same format:

Introduction – An explanation of the game, and the skills and techniques it focuses on.

Set up – Showing everything you’ll need to run the game, from the suggested number of players, to the size of the area, and the number of balls and cones.

Game notes – The simple game rules, like "allow rucks", "don't allow kicking", "swap the teams after each tackle", "give the attack five goes to score".

Scoring – Key to meeting the game's objectives and keeping it competitive. In many cases, scoring is simply "1 point for a try", but sometimes it's more sophisticated, to reward good play. For instance, "2 points for stopping the attack getting over the gain line".

What to call out – Never be lost for words with these concise phrases to address the key factors of each game.

Coaching notes – Ways to adapt and develop the game to suit your players, or to introduce the game into a session.

Skill area – The key skill be practised, covering: tackling, handling, support play, rucking, mauling, kick & recover, attack, and defence. All the games address footwork, team work and decision making too.

Category – Indicating the type of game: small-sided game, conditioned game, or game situation.

Key – Making sure you can differentiate between runs and passes, and pitch markings and try lines in the illustrations.

Illustrations – Three pictures clearly showing you how the game is set up and developed, and highlighting the key techniques involved.

Captions – Explaining the key points of the game.

Two free sample games The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so the saying goes, and I couldn't agree more. So I've selected two games from the book that you can download immediately for free. Give one a go with your players and I'm certain you'll be rushing back from training to place your order. Sample Game 1 is a small-sided game called "Run backs". A kick behind the defence will be a key part of many of your opponents' attacking strategies. "Run backs" will develop quick thinking in your defence and teach the players new ways to counter attack from these kicks. Click here to download "Run backs". Sample Game 2 is a conditioned game called "Boxed in". Close to the try line space is at a premium. "Boxed in" works on handling skills, communication and vision in a tight, flat, crowded area. Attackers will have to be innovative to find and exploit space. Defenders will need to work together to protect the try line. Both sets of players will have to work hard. Click here to download "Boxed in". Playing the games The suggested pitch sizes and the number of players involved in each game are guidelines only. You can easily vary these depending on how many players have turned up to training, or the skill levels of your players. The equipment you need is minimal, usually just a ball and a few markers to indicate a try line. At first the games may be chaotic, with lots of mistakes. However, as the players learn to take better options under pressure, you'll see a marked improvement in their decision making and in the application of their skills. And not just in training, but in competitive matches too.

The games included: Tackling Jackler Intense defence Gang up Goal line stoppers Sidewinders Passing & handling Rule of 2s Hot box feet Gather and go Triangle turnovers Fast, slow, fast Quicker, wider Precision passing Squeezers Ninety-nine Boxed in Neat and tidy Support play Response rates Mismatch vision Super loopers Smash and go Rucking Ruck stops here! 3 seconds, 3 rucks Twist and turn 3-away 8 balling Mauling Maul demons The rock The maul lives! Drive in Kick and recover Get your kicks Run backs Get back Grubber soul Chip-chop Catch and go Cross kicks Airtime Attacking as a team Stretchers Manic attack Discomfort zone 360 attack Recycle lanes Bunch busters Flashback Second front Defending as a team Mission, control Wall of defence Wide boys

Available in PDF and as a hard copy report

You can buy 48 Rugby Skills Games in two formats:

An A4 PDF document you can store on your computer. You can help the environment by saving trees and using less chemical-based ink by only printing out the games you need for the day.

An A4 spiral bound colour manual for your bookshelf, desk or kitbag. Spiral bound means you can use it without having to hold the page open as with most bound books. You can copy or print as many copies as you like for distribution to your players and colleagues in your club.

Or, get both formats. Combine the benefits of immediate PDF delivery and the ease of printing individual drills, with the practicality and durability of the colour printed version.

100% risk free

48 Rugby Skills Games is only available from Better Rugby Coaching and can be ordered using this secure website for your peace of mind. I also offer a "no questions asked" money back guarantee, so your order is completely risk-free.

In the unlikely event that you are not entirely satisfied with 48 Rugby Skills Games you can return your copy within 90 days for a full refund - that way, you risk nothing.

All the inspiration you need

48 Rugby Skills Games is an instant reference and the only source of inspiration you’ll need to create match-like conditions in your training sessions.

It will take the chore out of struggling for new ideas, and is perfect for any coach running weekly sessions who is facing the challenges of balancing the need to prepare for training with the constant demands of modern life.

What’s more, if you can’t make a session you can give the manual to a parent or assistant, safe in the knowledge that even novice and beginner coaches will be able to run the games.

Yours in rugby,

Dan Cottrell
Editor, 48 Rugby Skills Games

P.S. - Getting your team to practise these games could change the way they perform in the match and make a big difference to your season.

P.P.S. – Remember, with my 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee you risk nothing when you order 48 Rugby Skills Games. You can cancel your order within 90 days for a full-refund.