Principles of play
Coaching guides
The ideas behind every good team, in attack and in defence, and how to build a training session around one of them.
- In attack
- Go forward: gain ground towards the other team's line by running, passing or kicking.
- Support: stay close to the ball carrier, ready for a pass or to protect the ball in contact.
- Keep the ball alive: keep play moving from one phase to the next instead of letting it stop.
- Put the defence under pressure: use depth, width and changes of speed so defenders must decide quickly.
- Score: everything above is there to finish with points.
- In defence
- Contest the ball: at the tackle, the ruck, the maul, the line-out and every restart.
- Go forward: get off the line together and take away time and space.
- Support each other: stay connected across the field and cover behind.
- Win the ball back, then turn it into attack.
- Building a session around one principle
- Choose one principle as the session's focus. The Smart Session Builder's objectives, such as attack, defence and breakdown, follow these ideas.
- Pick games that reward it, for example a point for every pass out of contact when the focus is support.
- Ask rather than tell: "Where was the space?", "Who could you pass to?"
- End with a game where the principle decides who wins.
- Young players learn the principles best through games, not long talks: keep explanations under a minute.