Hong Kong Rugby Football Union

Coaching Rugby Sevens

Introduction

The course aims to give the building blocks for coaching sevens rugby at all levels.

It is specifically designed with the characteristics Hong Kong rugby community driving the skill development and team systems.

The course content is not definitive; it provides a structured approach to coaching and building the game of sevens rugby.

It will provide information to develop individual and unit skills, playing philosophy, game plans and team tactics.

This will be achieved through understanding the game and player selection using a combination of group discussion, video analysis/ feedback and practical coaching sessions.

The Mystery of Sevens Coaching

• How do I coach sevens?• What’s the difference between 15s and 7s?• How do I build a game structure?• What skills do I coach?• What skills do we need?• Are the skills the same as 15s?• How do I engage the players?• Which players do I select?

How? – The 3M’s

Macro

Mini

MicroWhere and When?

Where and When?

Where and When?

The 3M’sM

icro

Individual Skill Development

PassingTacklingKickingLifting

Footwork

Min

i

Unit DevelopmentBuddy systemScrumLineoutMid – field 3Kick off units

Mac

ro

Team DevelopmentGame structureD SystemsWidthFlowShape (A & D)

Course Outcomes

• A framework to coach rugby sevens• Player selection• The individual skills and drills• The unit skills and drills• Team attack & defence• Themed games• Game/ player analysis

Course Outcomes

Exercise 1

What do you want?

In small groups discuss and record what you want to take away from todays course.

Understanding the Sevens Game

Team/ Squad selection

• Play Maker• Finisher/ Penetrator • Ball Winner• Ball Carrier

Player Roles and Responsibilities

Exercise 2

Using the work sheet provided write down the roles and characteristic that you think need are specific and high in priority of each player category.

Work Sheet

The Play Maker

• Controller and communicator• Team coordinator• Ability to see and play space• Implementation of attacking plays• Create space• Play in the runners• Positional flexibility • Team Defensive role – retains & controls shape

The Finisher/ Penetrator

• one v one attacking skills• Tackle line penertration• Accelerate into space/ gaps• Retain team width• Control depth and shape• Positive attacking options• Correct running line• Try scorer• Team Defensive role – control wide defence

The Ball Winner

• Tackle/ “bounce” skills• Offensive tackles• Ground skills – jackal, win space• Ball support player• Retention of depth off ball carrier• Tackle assists• Team Defensive role–lead defensive line speed

The Ball Carrier

• Positive ball carrier to defensive line• Ball retention in contact• Pull 2/3 defenders• Run the space• Correct running lines/ pull in defenders• Create momentum• Leg drive• Team Defensive roles-lead defensive line speed

The Units – Building the GameMicro, Mini, Macro

• Passing- individual/ unit/ team• Team width and flow• Skill sets• Ball presentation – prone/ long present• Attacking Contact area – buddy system• Tackle – 1 on 1, go dance go!• Tackle/ bounce• Defensive contact area – win the space, jackal• Defensive shape• Set Piece – Kick off, lineout, scrum• Teams games

The Attacking Game

Passing, Skill Sets, Width and Flow

• Passing and support techniques• Sevens Skill Sets – smile, A, X, Dummy X• Attacking Unit Development

- Passing flow and technique- Pass support- Skill set development

• Team Width and Flow

video

The Attacking Game

Contact Area and Ball Presentation

• Control the tackler – foot work• Work on the floor• The long present• Buddy system – supporting the ball carrier

- system 1 - “seal”- system 2 – “free”

Unit 1 - video

The Defensive Game

Tackle, Bounce and Contact Area

• Individual Tackle Technique – 1 on 1’ go dance go!

• Tackle/ bounce• Defensive contact area

-win the space - jackalvideo

The Defensive Game

Systems, Units and Sweeper

• Defensive Systems - 4-2-1- 6-1- Flat 7

• Defensive Unit development• Role of the sweepervideo

The Set Piece Game

Kick-off

• Kick-off attack - kicking technique & area - structure

• Kick-off receipt- centre, set, frame, fingers - one man lift - structure

video

The Set Piece Game

Lineout and Scrum

• Lineout - speed, set, lift, throw - player roles

• Scrum - Profile, hit, feed - Player positioning

Unit 2 - video

Theme Development Games

• 4v4, 5v5, 7v2• Touch/ touch grab• Off load game• Space game – 5v2, 6v2, 4v1• Tackle bag/suit games• Full contact grids and games

video

Game Analysis

Exercise 3

Use the work sheets provided identify two players with different team roles.

Follow the player’s game involvement and record his game contribution and actions specific to his team roles.

Consider both attack and defence.

Worksheet

Coaching Rugby Sevens

Summary &

Question