How to Coach Rugby

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Rugby is a sport that combines the physical challenges of American football and the grace of soccer. This intriguing sport has been popular in Europe and Australia for decades but has recently grown in the United States. Whether you coach a school-sponsored team or a club in your community, you need to know the right way to coach rugby to athletes unfamiliar with its rules.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Appreciate injuries that are common to rugby players. Web sites like Rugby Coach outline the dangers of concussions and other injuries in the sport (see Resources below). Distribute this information to your coaches and players before practice starts.

Step2

Work on tackling and pursuit of the ball during practice. In rugby, the ball is pitched backward to teammates who have an open space to run down for a conversion. You should utilize one-on-one drills where the tackler must develop the right angle to a ball carrier to get the tackle.

Step3

Watch your players pitch the ball laterally and backwards to determine areas of weakness. Pitches that are lofted or end up behind the receiver cause turnovers that can be costly at the end of a game.

Step4

Teach your players how to participate in a scrum. Scrums occur at the start of play or during a match to restart play. Eight players from each side can enter a scrum and fight for possession of the ball.

Step5

Build a high scoring rugby time by practicing conversions. Conversions can take place at any point in the field since they originate from the starting point of a successful try. You should have your team spend part of each practice kicking conversions from all parts of the field.

Step6

Start you team off on the right foot with speed and agility drills during practice. Simple sprints can help your forwards move up the field quickly and avoid obstacles to a try. Plyometric drills focus on the reaction time of an athlete's lower leg and help your players gain a step on defenders.

Tips & Warnings

Review your team's playing attire to ensure they conform with rugby rules. Standard rules for the sport require that padding is limited and uniforms contain no parts that could potentially harm another player. Failure to adhere to uniform rules can lead to penalty kicks and player disqualification.