Sevens Preparation

SEVENS   1- Preparation

Sevens is a simple game which requires the two main basic components of fitness and speed. These can be developed during the process of learning the game and developing your game patterns and strategies.
The game itself is about retaining and regaining the ball, using the vast spaces on attack, destabilizing the defence through team patterns and individual threats, clarity and physicality at the contact, and the continuity aspects leading to scoring. Defensively the team must understand the patterns and operate as a unit, as well as dominating physically.

A good way to learn the game is to actually play a full on game at training with the appropriate coaching as you go. This article will provide you with a few simple ideas that can be used as warm up and fitness activities before entering in to the game. At the same time the coach can introduce some of his patterns.

Patterns
•    Wide balls with a threat at the end of the line:  start unopposed then move on when ready until you ultimately have 7 versus 7.  Using the full width of the field the ball is passed from one touchline to the other.  Players move forward with the ball and become a threat. The outside three players will run the pattern – second to last player wraps the last player (last player has ball). Third to last player runs an inside line on the angle. Fourth player moves in to the pocket. Ball carrier can dummy either player and go for it / pass to either player after threatening the defender in that channel / pass back to the pocket man if the defence has the numbers. Then continue on with either bursting support if a penetrator has run (a couple of support passes in the next 20 metres) or continue with the play to the far side of the field using the same pattern. The players must work hard to get back in to a good position.
•    2 v 1; 3 v 2; 5 v 4:   9 players required.  2 attackers start on the try line with 1 defender 15 metres away. The two players attack the single defender who then joins the two attackers so that you have three attackers. The three attackers than attack two defenders on the 10m line. After the penetration the two defenders join the attackers to become a group of five. This five attack four defenders who are spread across the far 22m line.  Players must be scanning (TUB: them-us-ball) so that they support in the best possible positions and the ball carrier makes good choices.  Use as much of the field as necessary and run at full pace.
•    Shadow Defence:   11 players required. Attack comprises 7 players along the 22m line facing off against 3 defenders and a sweeper behind them, with the defenders being 5m away. The attackers move the ball backwards and forwards along their line with the three defenders shadowing the ball. On “down”, the defenders drop t the ground and do a press up while the attack quickly move forward and attack the sweeper. The three defenders get up after their press up and turn and chase, working with the sweeper in trying to force the attack near the sideline and closing it down before the attack scores at the far try line.
•    Chase/Shut Down:  Requires five players.  Two attackers on the 5m line/try line and another attacker standing by the goalposts.  One defender is 5m away from the attacking pair whilst the other defender is on the half way.  On “go” the two attackers draw and pass and link up with the third attacker. The defender turns and tries to shut down the attack with help from the sweeper who directs and works with him to stop the attack getting to the halfway.   
It is possible to make up any number of relevant games with the only limitation being your imagination. Watch the players in the game situation and then develop a game that will improve an aspect that you haven’t been happy with.