Update: April 16th, 2008

  
I've just received an email from Canada with several interesting questions. Maybe my answers will be useful to others.

Hello Alan,

I just received my (GRASSROOTS RUGBY) CD and appreciate it very much. I have been looking it over and I'm sure it will help our boys with their upcoming season. School aged boys start their rugby season in the spring here in Canada.

I just have a few questions for you:

On your CD you have a few plays illustrated which show the ball coming back against the flow after 2 forward balls. As well, on your website you outline the 'Maori' line out play which is basically the same premise.

Question 1: My question is, how do you run this without the first pod of forwards who are just getting out of their ruck, getting in the way of the backs who are now sprinting back against the flow. Aren't those forwards now sitting in the #9-#10 channel?

Reply: This reply needs a bit of explanation so I'll try to set the scene and answer your questions one at a time.
My idea of attack play is that all successful attacks hinge on a sudden switch of intention. What do I mean by this? Well, it's the very rare try that comes about by a player or players acting predictably. It takes something like a side step or an unexpected banana kick to bring it off. Hence my general injunction is, "Bang, Bang, Switch!" This means in its simplest form if you make two consecutive passes to the left you'd better look for an opportunity to pass to the right to make a break. Move the ruck right twice and then box kick left - well, you can think of plenty of examples. The point is to get your squad to understand the concept and to be ready to put it to work on the field. You'll be amazed how they respond when it finally sinks in. So to answer your first question: If your players are expecting a switch and they've run a few examples in practice they'll automatically get out of the way. (BTW you always have to have a call for "All forwards get out of the way of the back line!" just in case but that's a standard, anyway.)

Question 2: Is this strategy effective during open play?
Reply: Yes.

Questions 3 and 4: Is there a simple way for the #10 to communicate to the forwards on set pieces what the backs intentions are? How can our #10 easily communicate whether they are going to run or kick and where the first break down will be (short side, middle, wide side of the field). By knowing this our forwards should be able to take proper angles to get to the breakdown first.How can the #10 call this on the fly and let everyone know his intentions?

Reply: Remember it ain't a switch if you give it away so basically the other players have to look. If 10 has the ball he's automatically the centre of attention.
In first phase after a set piece how about a colour for the side, an animal for run or kick and initials or nickname for the striker (Note: the striker MUST be identified! Short, middle or wide is great in theory but the player who is going to actually strike must have the time to prepare to do it. Likewise, the other players must know whether they are dummy runners, ball carriers, ball deliverers or supporters.) - so the forwards should know at least the basics also. If they know who's going to strike they know which pod will support the first breakdown - and hence which pod will support the second and in which direction etc.

Question 5: Is there a simple and effective way for our #10 to call plays during phase play. How can he let the back line and fullback know what play to run on the fly without it being overly complicated?

Reply: Probably not. In second and subsequent phases giving notice of intention is much more problematic but this is where "Bang, Bang, Switch" comes into its own. (Note again here that "Bang, Bang, Switch" does NOT mean a rigid two actions in one direction followed by a reverse; it means that the moment that you have caused the opposition to expect your tactic is the time to switch!)

Question 6: What are your feelings on a cadence for the 'put in' in the scrum. Does this just alert the opposition when to drive? If we don't have a cadence, how can we insure we are getting everyone to drive at the same time when our hooker puts the ball in?

Reply: I'm agin a cadence! I'm for fifteen minutes of work by your scrum-halves and hookers at every practice in the pre-season so that they can perfect their timing - they'll find a method to use that doesn't involve a call - but they'll need someone to give the Ref's calls. Then the hooker communicates with the rest of the pack - probably by a sudden in-breath that he's ready, they all listen for the Ref's "Engage", - and HIT! on the "E". The same goes for the shunt - a sudden in-breath by the hooker and SHUNT!

I should add that the exact timing of your scrumming will depend on the relative strength of your scrum. A weaker or lighter pack must hit quickly, shunt immediately and get the ball away. A more dominant pack can indulge in the luxuries of e.g taking time to promote their tight head.

Final word: Sorry. It's hard not to be a bit didactic when answering questions like these. What I've wanted to do is show you that practice needs to be aimed at finding and then solidifying a set of intentions and expectations appropriate to the squad. By the end of the season - sooner we hope, of course - they should be able to read their team-mate's body language for guidance.

Thanks for all your effort with this CD and please let me know if you add to this.

Thanks,
Bruce
Canada

A few other announcements:

Great news! Because we've recently reached our preliminary sales target for
GRASSROOTS RUGBY we can now offer the CD for the unbeatable price of £9.95 or $19.50 which is, close as dammit, a 50% reduction!

Please note that this price still includes delivery costs WORLDWIDE.

A new drill for backs has been added. I'd previously added some Pick and Go drills to the the Drills page and have begun a general expansion of this page. See Backs drills

You may also be aware that I've recently launched a new rugby blog. About: Rugby will be informative and, I hope, controversial.

Rugby Coaching Notes has been an ad-free zone for more than ten years but I've decided that it's time to try to make some money from it. To do this I've set up affiliate relationships with some quality merchants - you'll see their links on the right. If you're contemplating buying rugby gear please use them. For my part, I undertake to upgrade the site regularly and, hopefully, become even more relevant to your rugby experience. I have quite a few ideas for improvements and expansions - watch this space!

THE COMMANDMENTS
1. TICKER is the most potent quality a team can possess. Helping to build the team's TICKER is everybody's business, every day.

2. Your first task on the pitch is always SUPPORT.

3. Move FORWARD.

4. Challenge your team-mates to TAKE THE BALL AT PACE.

5. POSSESSION is paramount. Guard it wholeheartedly and use it wisely. Don't drop the ball -- or throw or kick it away, either!

6. Boost your AWARENESS in matches AND at practice. You can't make good decisions unless you look and analyse!

7. It's NEVER over till it's OVER! Take the field committed to play full out for 90 minutes.