Scrum Preparation

SCRUMMAGING PREPARATION

It is never too early in the season to begin the technical and physical aspects of scrummaging. The following ideas can be tried and fine tuned leading in to a playing season, and then utilized as a fifteen minute warm up before trainings during the season or even before games, by selecting what you consider to be appropriate for your group from within all the activities.
In the first instance it is a good idea to do at least four sessions that start with much discussion and practicing and take at least an hour, before slowly picking out what is best and finally cutting it down to a fifteen minute warm up.  Full and live scrummaging sessions will still be required during the season.

The importance of accuracy and understanding the technical requirements can never be overemphasized as well the psychological edge that can be gained in a game through having a superior scrum still counts for a huge amount.

Most of these activities can be found in the ‘Rugby Smart’ DVD presentation (able to be viewed on ‘Coaching Toolbox’) which will outline the technical and safety aspects.

Individual Preparation   
Pelvis: thumb & forefinger on hips / push hips forward – hollow in back / bend at hips first – then knees    Tension: chest; core; legs / tongue on roof of mouth; belly button through to spine; squeeze toes in to ground (TTT: tongue-tummy-toes)
Head position: head in neutral (as if in normal position when standing upright) / eyes looking over the top of a pair of glasses when in crouch position / if head is up it will drop forward on the hit which is a safety concern

Stability: weight on full foot / chest in front of knees / squeezing toes but not up on toes
# ‘hit’ and ‘hold’ on the scrum machine. Push chest and elbow through on the hit. Squeeze the arms and maintain body position on the ‘hold’.

Body Awareness Activities
Shoulder crawl:  starting across the shoulders of a partner he will help you around his neck and return to the start position.
Leg swing:  Swinging player holds partner around the neck / the swinger holds partner around the waist / swing the player backwards and forwards on alternate sides of the body.
Centering: player stands upright / partner lifts leg by the ankle / with both feet on ground standing player bends over slowly to touch his toes / player then comes up slowly / this snaps the vertebrae / partner tries to lift foot by the ankle again and because the body has been centered the foot should stay rooted to the ground.

Abdominal Exercises
a) Player lying on back with feet directly up in the air held by partner who is standing facing the feet above the players head / player on ground holding the ankles of the standing player / standing player pushes partners feet towards the ground; left and right / player on ground resists the push and gets his feet upright as quickly as possible / continue in this manner
b) Player lying on his back: perform a cycling motion whilst right elbow to left knee and so on
c) Player lying rigid on his back / partner takes up a position facing him and standing at his head / standing player grips the lying player behind his neck and lifts him slowly and lowers him slowly / player on ground attempts to stay rigid
d) Tunnel: two lines facing each other and binding up and coming together as in the front row of a scrum / players then unbind but stay pushing against opposite player / then pass the lightest person through the tunnel without touching the ground
Specific Technical and Physical Activities  
a) 1 v 1:  on knees in a pushing position /  coach calls “hips” – place hips forward and hollow in back / “grips’ – squeeze grips tight; tense the abdomen and place the tongue on the roof of the mouth / “pressure” – players get to their feet and take the weight / Coach calls : ‘left – right – backwards – forwards’ (depending on where he is standing implies the direction) / Players must maintain good body shape / take small steps – move outside foot first when moving sideways
b) 1 v 1: similar activity with another player lying across the backs of the two scrummagers
c) 1 v 1: players already in the pushing position / attacker pushes chest, elbows; hips through without moving his feet / tries to squeeze forward and down on his opponent by 5-10cm / maintain the pressure and lock out / defender takes the weight
d) 1 v 1: attacker & defender / attacker tries to move defender off his position / screw him etc / defender has a cone under his chest and must try to maintain his position over that cone or return to it as soon as possible
e) 1 v 2: 1 is the attacker and tries to squeeze forward / drive forward / defenders take the weight
f) 3 v 3: two normal front rows / practice engagement techniques
g) 3 v 3 (front rowers) : Group 1-loosehead and hooker bound up with a lock in position / Group 2 tighthead packing down with a lock and a flanker pushing on him / start with one team being passive and the others attacking and build it up if possible / really hard work for the core
h) 5 v 5: (back 5 players only . Locks and backrow) / 2+2+1 against each other / must stay straight and resist pressure

•    These are but a sprinkling of ideas that are available on this site. The important thing is to get your package organized before the season commences and ensure that there is at least one session each week prior to the main training, or to commence/ finish   the main session.  Keep a close eye on the development each week and demand an intensity and accuracy that will ensure improvements.

As the season commences you will be able to be more specific as to the requirements and technical aspects to be improved. By using this method the players will see that you are well organized and will respond accordingly.