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Under 11/13 – Decision Making

Test Your Coaching – Decision Making
Decision making can only be effective if players are taught to look around them as the game is in motion.
A commonly used coaching phrase is to ‘TUB’. This refers to look at THEM (where are the opposition; what are they doing; what will they do next) – look at US (where are you team mates; what are they doing; what do I need to do now) – know where the BALL is.
If you can get players in your team doing this, then their game will improve dramatically.

Key Factors

  1. Scanning -  TUB (THEM -US – BALL)  
  2. Look at the opposition as the player runs in to position at the tackle/ruck area.
  3. Players need to be able to run quickly, but with their head up and looking around.
  4. Look at the team member inside as they are running so that they can anticipate what that player is going to do and where they are going to go. The player will then know where to go.
  5. Players should already be sorting out their defensive spacing or attacking formation on the way to the tackle/ruck.
  6. Look at the players outside so that you know how many there are and where they are.
  7. Where are the spaces that need to be attacked or defended?
  8. Keep scanning (Them – Us – Ball) when you are set up. Your position might need to change quickly.
  9. Run fast – look around (scan) – get in to the best position – change position if necessary

ACTIVITIES
1-Them – Us – Ball.  
To help players become more aware of what is happening around them during play so that they make better decisions both with the ball and away from the ball.
Main concern to remedy is players being focused on the ball only, both on attack and defence and in attack making choices purely based on a ‘call’ which often leads to unnecessary contact.  Key: ‘looking on the run’.

  A ball is placed at each cone. On “GO” (A, B, or C) the attack will run to the cone and attack in direction of the arrow.  The coach will call “GO” once again before the player at halfback decides on what he is going to do. They need to discuss on the way to the ball the direction they will attack (which may change) and begin to run in to appropriate places on the field. The last couple of attackers need to look for obvious spaces on either side or create a second line so that they can run in to a hole from behind the initial attack line. The attack must score from the initial play with attack players running in to support positions.
The defensive group roles are as follows: First player runs to the far ‘post’. (A/1/or whatever it’s called). The second player takes up a position on the close post. We will imagine that there are two players in on the tackle.  The next two players are going to take up the close positions on the side the attack looks to be going so they need to be TUB’ing so that they know where to go. That leaves only two players (in this drill) who must take up an appropriate position based on what the attack are doing. The defence needs to be forming the line as they run to the tackle area so they need to know where the attackers are taking up their positions and where their team mates are going.

When the attack starts the defence can experiment with two methods: racing up together / holding and pushing from the inside.
The attack can run from the base; pass in to space; kick to a free player. It will be important that they know where their team mates are and where the defence is strong, before they receive the ball. Players must be looking for spaces as they support and be prepared to run a long way to get there.

WHISTLE: if a whistle is blown at any time the group must stop and close their eyes. Different individuals will get asked questions: who is inside you?  Who is in front of you?  Who has the ball?  What is your next decision?

2-Them – Us – Ball. (Part 2)

 A ball is placed at each cone. On “GO” (A, B, or C) the attack will run to the cone and attack in direction of the arrow.  The coach will call “GO” once again before the player at halfback decides on what he is going to do. They need to discuss on the way to the ball the direction they will attack (which may change) and begin to run in to appropriate places on the field. The last couple of attackers need to look for obvious spaces on either side or create a second line so that they can run in to a hole from behind the initial attack line. The attack must score from the initial play with attack players running in to support positions.
The defensive group roles are as follows: First player runs to the far ‘A’ position. The second player takes up a position on the close ‘A’. We will imagine that there are two players in on the tackle.  The next two players are going to take up the close positions on the side the attack looks to be going so they need to be TUB’ing so that they know where to go. The remaining players will take up positions based on where the attacking players are.
As both the attack and defence are running to the ruck they will be calling out the person’s name opposite them, [ the attack should also be looking for spaces behind the defence;] the person’s name inside them (same team) and the number of players outside them (own team)
When the attack starts the defence can experiment with two methods: racing up together / holding and pushing from the inside.
The attack can run from the base; pass in to space; kick to a free player. It will be important that they know where their team mates are and where the defence is strong, before they receive the ball. Players must be looking for spaces as they support and be prepared to run a long way to get there.
The attack will continue until the coach calls out the next ruck (1-2-3) at which time that ball is dropped and the same process takes place as the players run to the next phase.  For this phase the defender from ruck 1 who went to the far ‘A’ position will drop back to fullback. (To lessen the defenders. Doesn’t have to be done)
The same process will happen one more time, this phase another defender (first ‘A’) drops out on to the wing. In each case the attack should be attacking the spaces through good decisions based on ‘looking and ‘communicating’ with each other.
Players will continue the scanning process and calling out at each phase.

WHISTLE: if a whistle is blown at any time the group must stop where they are and close their eyes. Questions can be asked.