Sequences
Once you have got them going to the right areas of the pitch with your channels the next development step is to sequence a series of plays that follow one after the other.This can be as simple as
��Start in A, backrow move/lineout peel right, hit up with runner into B then move ball wide to C or back to A.
The players must understand that the current move is actually just a starter for a subsequent move(s), which will have to be as precise as the set phase.
Most times a sequence is taking advantage of a specific defensive pattern or shape�.(see this page for more on this http://www.geocities.com/rugbycoaching/tipsoct.html )
�..Or to open up space to attack eventually.ie go from A to B in two phases then back to A after the second runner�.and sometimes a sequence is set up to attack their weakest players with your strongest runners or make their best players make a lot of tackles and leave them out of the game in tackles/rucks or tired for when you then attack with your best attackers
�.this months move section has 2 such sequences http://www.geocities.com/rugbycoaching/movesapril2002.html
There are also some examples here at gameplanner�..
http://www.gameplanner.co.uk/products/index.cfm?ss=pn5&pa=03&f=1
It is difficult enough teaching the moves and purpose of 1st phase of play. If you add in the fact that 1st phase is only the beginning of a sequence of plays, hopefully resulting in a try after the nth phase, then you have the real challenge of coaching�putting together the jigsaw , playing chess not checkers or draughts !
From Rod McQueen
"I guess the thing we really have to work on is that when we get into that attacking zone we have to be more ruthless about our execution, and maybe simpler.""You must have the ability to create something out of all situations."
Macqueen said players had to be "multiskilled", while the essence of attack was to have variations to moves rather than "tricks up your sleeve".
"When talking about attacking moves, it has more to do with options. You have got to have options off everything you are doing. It's no use just having one move ... you've got to have several options off it. It is always the best way to go, instead of resorting to tricks. A trick works only once."
And remember this previous post�.On the brumbies success.
....."To beat them you have to control possession and be so strong ... because a lot of what the Brumbies do runs off three phases."First phase, Larkham will get rid of it and stay out of the play - it will be off [inside-centre] Rod Kafer; second phase, Larkham will come back into it - they'll look for runners, but he may have a go himself; and the third phase, Larkham will really have a go..... He uses both feet well, and moves the ball through his hands very effectively. He recognizes that he can attack at the same time as moving the ball, which means he draws the defense on two fronts. That starts to prey on the minds of a defense
. .."It had to happen because there's a lot more tackles being made these days. There's a lot more phases in the game, a lot more time with the ball in play. Guys who weren't making tackles before have to do it now, and they are.."You only have to look at the tackle sheets for front rowers. They're making six to 10 tackles a game this year. Last year it was an average of four to seven and before that anything from one to four a match."
Their ambition was to be an attacking side that controlled defences, but the process of this becoming a reality was difficult. It was usual from set piece to have one play to break the gain line; after that you played what you saw. They had to change that thinking to move the ball to different positions on the field to produce situations where their best attackers ended up against the opponents' worst defenders. This ended the 'impulse' play; each movement had to be particular.
Play what�s in front of you
It's important to not to be constricted by your plan, but able to adapt, and improvise and play what you see in front of you. So you may have a channel you are going to or a zone you are working out of with a specific sequence but you must be adaptable to how they defend or what the defense does during a specific play or sequence or even how they are defending during a game ,and be able to see what the option is NOW and not just blindly go thru the sequence or stick with the same gameplan�..
There has to be a certain amount of ad-libbing, with the perfect scenario revolving around the player making the ideal decision on the field as the gaps open and close.
A team needs to go into the big occasion with the full range of options: the flexibility to play it wide, or tight, or somewhere in between. You then judge each game on its merits and plan a specific approach based on the opposition, the conditions, the players available to you.�
By analysing matches and identifying situations in which space is likely to occur you should be able to teach your team the possible incidences in a match where space can be found. Training should be organised with the aim of familiarising the teams with these scenarios and how best they can exploit the space once they've found it.
A good way to think about space is to visualise the opposition's defensive line-up as a wall. Somewhere in that wall is a door - space. The door isn't always open but it's never locked. Once your team locates that door they can pass through to the other side.
So if the play you have run has made a break for you or created a ruck or maul and you see any of the following you could get out of the pattern and play the space that is in front of you�
When the opposition is grouped ( in rucks and mauls ) use the ball wide.
When the opposition is spread , penetrate through them , to bring them in , re-creating space.
If the opposition is flat , kick to space ; if they can be committed -draw and pass ; and if they are some distance away , run straight to commit them before passing . Finally , if there is no one in front of you , keep running.
If there is lateral space available , ruck the ball quickly from the tackle ; if there is no lateral space, create a maul to create space.
In counter attack , stand , pass and support if the defense is converging ; pass run and kick to space if the defense is spread but aligned and organised ; and kick to space if it is flat.
Check this page out for more on this�.
http://www.geocities.com/rugbycoaching/movesnov.html