Commentary on the Indoor Tournament

 Commentary on the Indoor Tournament

Last weekend, our children participated in an Indoor tournament. Despite being at -9 degrees Celsius, rugby doesn’t stop! For children up to 16 years old, the option is to play Touch Rugby in a sports complex.

I’m happy because I can see a remarkable improvement in their game.

• In the first tournaments, the game was chaotic.
• Now, we can see a more organized style of play, especially in defense.
• The defensive line is now clearly visible.

This improvement has been achieved in six months, with three and a half months of Indoor training.

Next Steps in Training

From now on, in addition to continuing our defensive work, it might be time to focus on:

• Passing
• Support play

Modern rugby is a game of evasion, based on continuity, player movement, and space utilization.

Key Aspects of Continuity

1. Evasion

   • Teach players to avoid contact and keep the ball moving through passing.
   • Passing should not be seen as a last resort.

2. Passing

   • Introduce drills to improve passing technique.
   • Since these drills may not be the most exciting, it’s best to dedicate only a small part of each session to them but work on them consistently.

3. Support Play

   • Players close to the ball carrier (within 3 meters) are crucial.
   • Key factor: communication.
   • The ball carrier must sense that teammates are nearby and trust them to keep the play going.
   • Distant players (beyond 3 meters) should occupy strategic spaces, positioning themselves where they can be most useful.

Defense: The Challenge of Indoor Rugby

• The goal is to disrupt the opponent’s continuity.
• In Indoor rugby, this is more difficult due to the lack of contact.
• In contact rugby, the tackle makes stopping the opposition easier, allowing the defense to:
  • Get into position
  • Advance
  • Recover the ball