The ‘Go to Ground’ kids rugby training drill is an excellent training activity to develop childrens rucking skills, ruck presentation skills, alignment and organisation in attack and of course passing and handling skills.
This rugby drill can be performed with all age groups including mini rugby players, junior rugby players as well as seniors.
‘Go To Ground’ Drill
Key Learning Objectives
A. Ball Presentation of the Tackled Player
i. Introducing different ball placements
- Pencil/Long Present- The tackled player’s body is parallel to the touchline and their feet are pointing towards the opposition try line
- Jack Knife- The tackled player bends his body at the waist as much as possible so that both his feet and hands are pointing back towards his own try line
ii. Staying in control of the ball when placing
iii. Stretch back as far as possible with ball in two hands
B. Understand the Basics of a Ruck
i. Ruck composition
ii. Roles
iii. Body positions
C. Attacking realignment from a ruck
Drill Diagnostics- How Does This Drill Work?
- Use a minimum of 7 players equally spaced across the field/training area.
- One player in the line holds the Buzzball.
- On the coaches instruction, the player holding the Buzzball runs forward.
- The coach will vibrate the ball through the remote control device to signify a tackle.
- The player will go to ground and present the ball.
- Two nearest supporting players will create a ruck over the ‘tackled’ player on the ground.
- Remaining players realign with depth and width
- Scrum half moves the ball away from the ruck and the ball gets passed across the line until such time the coach presses the remote control device again and the above sequence repeats.
Drill Summary
- Organisation and communication are key elements in a rugby player’s development
- The drill requires players to communicate effectively to retain possession, team organisation and structure
- Tackled player needs to be busy on the floor and present ball as clean as possible
- Nearest supporting players need to ruck beyond the ball, spine in line, shoulders above the hips and leaving the ball alone.
- Remaining players need to organise and realign with depth and width in readiness for next phase of attack.
- Outside half/first receiver needs to communicate to scrum half of where and when to pass the ball.
- All outside backs need to run straight and at pace with hands raised as a target in readiness to receive the ball and pass the ball quickly across the line.
Drill Progressions
- Add more attacking players
- Introduce some defenders as opposition to pressurise the skills
