bob dwyer rugby workshop coaching manual

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’s Rugby Workshops Pty Ltd

BOB DWYER RUGBY WORKSHOPS | Coaching Manual

PAGE 3

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.

How to use this Manual

F 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

PAGE 5

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!

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!

“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.”

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

ESSENTIAL LEVEL | Introduction

PAGE 17© Bob Dwyer’s Rugby Workshops Pty Ltd

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

ATTACK – GENERAL Page

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 25. Dummy Pass ......................................................................................................... 28

6. Straight Running ...................................................................................................30

7. Unders Run ............................................................................................................ 32

8. Circle Ball ................................................................................................................34

9. Taking the Overlap/Gap – Drift Defence ...................................................36

SESSION 310. 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 516. Attack from Lineouts ........................................................................................58

ESSENTIAL LEVEL


ESSENTIAL LEVEL | Table of Contents

PAGE 19

ATTACK – COUNTER-ATTACK Page

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 Tackle20. 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 Tackle25. 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 Practices29. 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

T he Intermediate Section advances our philosophy of moving

from technique to skill acquisition to their application in game-

related 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.


SESSION 10 36. Support from Inside to Out ..................................................................104

37. Taking the Overlap/Gap..........................................................................106

An Introduction to the Intermediate Level


INTERmEDIATE LEVEL | Table of Contents

PAGE 103

SESSION 11 Page38. Support from Outside to In ...................................................................11039. Taking the Overlap/Gap ..........................................................................114

SESSION 1240. Overs Run .....................................................................................................11641. Tackle Contest Options ............................................................................118

ATTACK fROm SET PIECES

SESSION 1342. 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 13946. Combination Tackling ..............................................................................14047. Combination Tackling – “2 v 1” and “2 v 2” ....................................14248. Combination Tackling – “3 v 2” .......................................................... 14549. Defending at the Breakdown ............................................................... 14650. Defending No.9 Pass to First Receiver ............................................. 14851. Big Defensive Practice ............................................................................. 150

KICKING

SESSION 18 52. Kick selection ..............................................................................................15253. Kick selection – Pressure ...................................................................... 15454. Kick selection – Grubber/Chip Kick .................................................. 155

T 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 “back-

four”, 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.


SESSION 19 160

55. Tackle Contest Options .......................................................................... 164

56. Continuous Play ........................................................................................ 168

57. More Tackle Contest Options ............................................................... 172

58. Continuous Play ........................................................................................ 176

SESSION 2059. Cross-field Running .................................................................................. 178

60. Continuous Play ........................................................................................ 182

An Introduction to the Advanced Level

ADVANCED LEVEL | Table of Contents


ATTACK fROm SET PIECES Page

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

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 ball-carrier 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.

SESSION 3Practice 10: Support Play

ESSENTIAL LEVEL ATTACK | Session 3 | Practice 10


PRACTICE 10: SUPPORT PLAY

•Withgroupsoffiveinbacklineformation,revisetheClearing Pass,

Catch and Pass and Straight Running described previously.

•Nowusetheplayerinthescrum-halfpositiontosupport the ball as it is transferred along the line.

•Iftheballisdropped,thesupportplayermustbeimmediatelyonhand

to secure the ball.

•Iftheballreachestheendoftheline,thelastball-carrierexecutesa

circle ball transfer to the supporting player.

•Varytherolestoensureeachplayertakesthescrum-half/support

role in turn.

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.

Practice 11: Realignment



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.

© www.seiserphotography.com

PRACTICE 11: REALIGNmENT – Part 1

•Groupsofsevenalignedinbacklineformation.

•Theballismovedfromthescrum-halfandalongthebackline.

•Coachcalls“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.

•Ballisfedfromthetackledplayertothescrum-halfandalongthe

new backline.

109

12

12

10

1315 14

11

1115

13

TACKLE

Practice 11: Realignment

PRACTICE 11: REALIGNmENT – Part 2

•Exerciseisrepeatedwiththecoachcallinganew“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.

109

12

13

14

11

1511



PAGE 43

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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.

Practice 12: Tackle Contest Options



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.

© www.seiserphotography.com

PRACTICE 12: TACKLE CONTEST OPTIONS – Part 1

•Groupsofsevenalignedinbacklineformation,butwiththreeorfour

“forwards” providing support for the attack.

•Whencoachcalls“Tackle”, the first arriving forward will attach and

drive, rip and feed the scrum-half and the attack will continue.

109

12

13

14

11

1511

Improve your skills with Bob’s “Coaching Tip of the Week” at www.bobdwyerrugby.com

Practice 12: Tackle Contest Options


PRACTICE 12: TACKLE CONTEST OPTIONS – Part 2

•Thepracticeshouldbeextendedtoachieveanyoneofthethree

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.

•Realignmentofplayer(s)outsidethetacklezoneisessentialtokeeping

the attack going.

•Extendthepracticetoincludedefenderswithtackleshields/suits.

7

12

7

9

12

7

12

OPTION BOPTION A OPTION C


PAGE 47

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.”

Practice 13: Continuous Play



PRACTICE 13: CONTINUOUS PLAY

•Thegroupshouldbesomethingresemblingateam,withsome

opposition. If possible, say, a group of twelve in attack – six forwards

and six backs – with possibly nine or ten in defence.

•ProceedasinPractice 12, with the defence now becoming involved

at the tackle contest. Arriving support players continue driving forward

and/or recycling, as in Practice 12.

•Lookfor:

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.

•Playshouldproceedwithout any delay, but with no panic.

Speed in everything – drive at the tackle, speed of foot, speed of

recycle – is our aim.

•Ifabackcanbeeffectiveon the ball at the tackle contest, he

should go in and be effective. If not, he must realign with urgency.

•Continuousplayfromhalfwaytothegoalline.Scorethetry!

Continue play even if there is a minor infringement.

•Wearelookingforaction with no hesitation!

bob dwyer rugby workshop coaching manual

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