Position Specific – Hooker

A coach has much to do beyond a game plan if he is to provide guidance for each individual in his team. There is the physical development which as the player gets older needs to be specific to the position of the player, the technical knowledge, understanding and practical application of game aspects and the the psychological skills that help develop confidence, concentration and attitudes beneficial to the game such as aggression and mental toughness.

In this article we will consider the technical and game understanding requirements for a hooker.

When opening up a website to check on the progress of Dane Coles, the hooker for the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise, the statistics provided were 71 tackles made, 11 tackles missed, 86.6% tackle success, 8 turnovers conceded, 70 ball carries, 257 metres made, 17 defenders beaten, 8 clean breaks, 13 off loads made, 46 passes, 3 open play kicks and 1 lineout steal.

The Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman, who played 7 more games, produced the following stats.  156 tackles, 10 misses, 93.9% success rate, 6 turnovers conceded, 61 ball carries, 89 metres gained, 3 clean breaks, 3 defenders beaten, 3 offloads, and 17 passes.

These statistics emphasise that there is much to do beyond the basic scrummaging and lineout requirements and nowadays the player is judged on a greater variety of skills than ever before. To reach the top level the modern rugby player must demonstrate a high degree of skill in a number of areas but he will still be required to master and dominate the basic scrummaging, lineout and contact skills.

The two lots of statistics also outline Coles as being a hooker who can play like a flanker and Coltman as a hooker who plays more like a prop than a loose forward. When players reach this level selection may be determined upon what best suits the team, but as they are growing up the coach needs to find out what special skills the individual has which are additional to the basics and develop these as best he can.

The player profile assessment criteria for a hooker will obviously be based on the level and age of the player with consideration given to some of the following requirements for the position.

SCRUMMAGING:

One thing the stats don't measure is the strength and effectiveness of the hooker at scrum time. More importantly though his team mates will know how good he is and the opposition will soon pick up on the strengths and weaknesses.
The hooker is expected to be a strong scrummager and if he is then there is a focal point around which to build. His conditioning programme requires upper body strength and trunk flexibility but as well as being strong he needs to be a communicator and leader in the scrum.
He will set the height of the scrum and take control of the mechanics and coordination. Of course his main role is to win the loosehead ball. The technical aspects can be researched elsewhere. These are crucial to his success and need constant work and development.

LINEOUT:

Perhaps the biggest single judgement factor will be on the success ratio a team has at lineout time. Generally this reflects back on the hooker even although there are a number a factors not related to the throw that can go wrong. However, if the hooker is a consistent thrower and provides the team with confidence then this will be huge in the outcomes over a season or during a game.

As a matter of interest Dane Coles' Hurricanes team were 13th in the lineout percentages at 81.37% and the Highlanders were 3rd at 88.2%.  You should be aiming at 75% plus with your club or school team.
The mastery of throwing at the correct height and pace and the correct distance and keeping it straight requires a huge amount of practice where the technical skills must be reinforced consistently and the hooker has the opportunity to throw in to opposed lineouts.

In a defensive lineout the hooker may have to fulfill a number of roles. He could be the loosie at the front guarding the blindside with his life. He might be at the very back of the lineout acting as the loose forward, or he might have a role to play as a lifter in the lineout itself.

If he is to perform to potential he needs to take up the role that best suits his make up and consistently play in that position so he understands the requirements and can develop the technical detail. His physical and mental make up will determine his role.

There is big responsibility for a hooker at scrum and lineout both as a communicator and leader. Once these set plays are over he then needs to contribute fully at phase play. Hooking and throwing are not enough on their own although they are still the basis of his game.

CONTACT:

Tackling in close and front on will be crucial as well as being able to fulfill the tackling role a defensive line at phase play. This will entail being able to keep the structure in the defensive line, stay connected with his inside and outside man, and make the correct decision on whom he will tackle. Then of course there are the technical requirements of front on and side on tackles to stop the man and slow the ball. The tackle is not completed until the tackler is back on his feet and recovering the ball or taking up the space or taking up a defensive role. There is much to do.

These skills as mentioned in the tackle recovery must be taught and practiced also.

Carrying the ball in to contact, beating a defender, keeping the ball, offloading in or through the tackle are all skills that need to be mastered for the team to maintain continuity. It is not sufficient anymore for the hooker just to set up a ruck so he needs practice situations where he has to make a decision based on what the defence are doing, how many numbers there are and what his support players are anticipating.

The support players in contact must be able to clean out to clear the ball, or protect the ball from the opposition, pick the ball and drive or pass, or run on to the ball to receive an early pass or an offload. These decisions all require the player to be looking and thinking ahead so the coach needs to set up various scenarios in his practice sessions.

Tactically the hooker should be asked to carry out a role suited to his size and speed. Coles for example will often be found running in openfield play whilst Coltman tends to be a close in runner.

RUN & PASS:

Of course the major development has been selecting tight forwards who can run and pass and get in to good support positions, so this player needs to practice the variety of passing techniques whether in close and popping or in the attack line at phase and passing to his left or right.

Plenty of game type activities will ensure he knows when to pass, whom to pass to, and when not to pass.

KICK OFF RECEIPTS:

The hooker may also have a role at kick off receipts where he will be required to lift the receiver and protect him or join the drive once the ball has been taken in. His role may be as a runner from this platform or he may be required to know his role from a split kick off if the ball is kicked to the other side. Where does he go? What is his role now?

If he is the loose forward type hooker he may be better suited to a role once the ball has been taken in by the receiving mini unit of players.

PERSONAL STRENGTHS:

The coach needs to discover what his player is really good at that if developed will give him a skill that places him in a different category than his opposite. He may be an explosive ball carrier so situations should be set up for this to happen. He may be a big hitter in the tackle so he could practice being the third man out in the line and come in and blindside the ball carrier. He may be fast on his feet and able to beat the first defender each time so make sure he receives the ball in midfield and is coached in the offload. There is bound to be something. Liam Coltman's very high tackle percentage suggests that this area is  something he prides himself on.

A check list could be drawn up by taking a topic and researching the requirements on The Coaching Toolbox. There is a seasons work here. Start simple and keep revisiting and developing the aspect of play not only over the season but in the following seasons.

This is just a summary of what a hooker needs to develop to improve. You must research each skill by viewing it on television, a video, reading and researching the detail, or talking to an appropriate person. Preferably doing all of these would be the ideal.

Good luck.