Every coach has their own favourite and time-tested activities they use regularly. Players are likely to be familiar with them and the coach has confidence in them to do the job. With the need to build in activities to put the players under pressure, many coaches will look outside their area of expertise to seek something new. With good planning this can work very well, however too often we see these activities introduced at a time when the players are looking to refine what they are already doing.
Pressure can be applied in many ways - for example reducing time and space or bringing in some physicality. Another method (and one I would use before physicality) is creating competition within the group. Many activities can be modified to allow groups to compete in a race-type format. Catch-pass is the most obvious, but with some thought we can use a race mentality when getting into shape, setting a lineout or working the breakdown area; the options are endless.
A coach could introduce into one of their favoured activities a race to create pressure. This keeps the players in a familiar set up however they now get pressure applied through their opposition. Another by-product is it can introduce a new level of intensity which can motivate the players and push them out of their comfort zone.
The reason I would do this before adding physicality is the race may highlight technical issues that could prove disastrous if discovered in a physical activity.
Below is a simple pass race activity.
Two teams start with the ball on cone 3. The ball is quickly passed along the team to score on cone 1.
Each player must run-catch-pass while never crossing the white line.
Teams then realign between cone 1 and cone 2. Again run-catch-pass, scoring on cone 2.
Teams now realign between cones 2 and 3. Ball is passed from cone 2 and scored on cone 3.
Always run-catch-pass.
No miss passes.
Look for straight running, good spacing and realigning to width before depth.
First back to cone 3 wins. Simple!
Pressure can be applied in many ways - for example reducing time and space or bringing in some physicality. Another method (and one I would use before physicality) is creating competition within the group. Many activities can be modified to allow groups to compete in a race-type format. Catch-pass is the most obvious, but with some thought we can use a race mentality when getting into shape, setting a lineout or working the breakdown area; the options are endless.
A coach could introduce into one of their favoured activities a race to create pressure. This keeps the players in a familiar set up however they now get pressure applied through their opposition. Another by-product is it can introduce a new level of intensity which can motivate the players and push them out of their comfort zone.
The reason I would do this before adding physicality is the race may highlight technical issues that could prove disastrous if discovered in a physical activity.
Below is a simple pass race activity.
Two teams start with the ball on cone 3. The ball is quickly passed along the team to score on cone 1.
Each player must run-catch-pass while never crossing the white line.
Teams then realign between cone 1 and cone 2. Again run-catch-pass, scoring on cone 2.
Teams now realign between cones 2 and 3. Ball is passed from cone 2 and scored on cone 3.
Always run-catch-pass.
No miss passes.
Look for straight running, good spacing and realigning to width before depth.
First back to cone 3 wins. Simple!
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