Developing Attacking Rugby Skills

I have a pretty easy explanation of a skill and a technique.  A technique is an action by the player to make something happen.  A skill is the same action, but requires decision-making,  This probably is not the most rigorous definition, but it allows me to be able to manage my practice effectively.  If you want to see technical work on passing, check out the technical passing page.

Here are some approaches to developing passing skills that you can use in your practices.

Part of developing any skill is the approach you take as a coach.  This is an excerpt from a Lynn Kidman book called Player Centered Coaching (that every rugby coach should read) with Wayne Smith, the All-Blacks Assistant.  Smith excerpt

Here is a manual I have developed for my coaches at Penn State.  It has some approaches to coaching and a number of attacking skill activities, including some games.  Penn State Women's Coaches Manual

This is a good article that approaches developing attacking skills with games, and in particular using different channels to manipulate space.  Starting point for attacking play

Support is a key attacking skill, and something coaches do not think enough about.  Players make more decisions without the ball than they do with the ball!  Here is a support structure called the diamond.  Diamond support.

Kicking is a key attacking skill, and something else that is lacking in the US.  Here is a good article on kicking under pressure.  Here is an article on whether to spiral or end over end kick.  Spiral or punt

Pierre Villepreux is a guru of attacking rugby.  He was the first attacking international fullback, and has been a coach of Toulouse and an assistant to France.  His approach has been one that has influenced my coaching and I was fortunate enough to have him come and coach the Penn State Women for a couple of sessions last year.  After coaching for 15 years I thought I had a handle on it, until I saw him and realized I was a beginner!  The Penn State players said "you sort of coach the same way, but he explains things in one word that takes you 5 minutes to explain!"  Here are the principles I got from the session.  Villepreux principles