Sunday, September 9, 2007

How to practice the pattern and get fit

Team of 15 starts at try line (if b-side is short they just play short)
Coach at mid field calls a pattern the team must set-up at mid field.
Team jogs to 22, runs 3/4 to 40 meter line, and sets up pattern at 50 meter line.
Patterns to be worked on:
-5 man offensive lineout off the top
-5 man offensive lineout maul
-Offensive scrums at various points across the field, run 8 man pick right and left, 8 man pick and pass to 9 to right and left. Make sure everyone talks about right hand blind.
-Penalty pattern (run quick tap, kick to touch and form lineout)
-Defensive lineout with team executing first phase defense, simulating second phase set-up and then simulating second phase turnover and quick attack, or coach kicks to backs for counter attack.
-Defensive scrum simualte 8 man drive, calling balls out (left or right) and froming second phase defense.
-Kickoff return pattern (setup quick ruck center, read gaps and attack, or kick for territory)
-Kickoff pattern (kick high for hang time and deep to 22, two men on, two men beyond, and 4 in fringe defense, backs ready to counter attack quickly) coach can kick to team to simulate counter attack.
-22 pattern
With everything (except 22s) team jogs, 3/4, then sprint to mid field, quickly set up pattern coach calls, runs the first phase pattern, and when they get the ball run dynamic phases across field, then attack back until the opposite goal line is reached. Use pick and jams, running scrum half, runners off the fly half, and hands to backs to get across field. Emphasis fitness, decision making, playing the pattern, and most importantly quick assembly, communication, and execution. This practice is essentially how to execute the pattern. You will wear down all division 2 teams with this pattern.