They don't know what to do after the tackle
Players stand around a tackled player, nobody knows whose ball it is
Why it happens
- Rucks are new at this age. Nobody has shown them the steps after the tackle.
- Tacklers don't know they need to release and get up.
- Support players don't know whether to go in or stay out.
What to say
✓ Say this
- “Tackle, release, get up.”
- “Ball carrier: land, turn, place it back.”
- “Closest player: step over and stay on your feet.”
✗ Not this
- “Get the ball!” to every player at once.
- “Everyone in!”
- Leaving it to the referee to sort out.
The drill ladder
Move a group up a level only when they hit the "ready for next level" sign. It's fine for groups to be on different levels.
Land, turn, long place
How it works
- Players jog around with a ball. On the whistle they go to ground on their side, as in Fall and roll.
- On the floor, they turn towards their own team and place the ball back at full arm's length.
- Pop up and go again. Add a buddy who shouts “place!” and picks the ball up.
Coaching points
- Land on the side, chin tucked, ball in two hands.
- Long place: arms stretched back towards your team, so the ball is away from the tackler.
- Get up straight away. The ball doesn't belong to the player on the floor.
Ready for the next level when: Every player lands safely and places the ball back long without being told.
Tackle, release, roll away
How it works
- Tackler kneels, ball carrier kneels side-on with the ball.
- Tackler wraps, rolls the carrier to the ground, then lets go straight away and rolls away from the ball.
- The tackler gets up on the far side. The carrier places the ball back long. Swap after 3 goes.
Coaching points
- Tackle, let go, roll away, get up. Say it out loud.
- Never lie on the ball.
- Get up on your side of the ball, not on top of it.
Ready for the next level when: Every tackler releases and rolls away without being told, 5 times out of 5.
Step over, kneeling defender
How it works
- One player lies on their side with the ball placed back long. A defender kneels on the far side of the ball.
- The support player arrives from behind the ball, steps over their teammate and gets low and strong: wide feet, bent knees, head up.
- The kneeling defender pushes gently. The support player holds the position for 3 seconds. Rotate roles.
Coaching points
- Arrive from behind the ball, not from the side.
- Low and strong: shoulders above hips, head up, eyes on the defender.
- Stay on your feet. If you fall over the ball, reset and go again.
Ready for the next level when: Support players arrive from behind and hold a strong position over the ball 5 times out of 5.
2v1 ruck at walking pace
How it works
- Ball carrier walks into a kneeling tackler, who tackles at the hips and rolls them gently, as in Kneeling hip hug.
- Carrier lands, turns and places long. One support player steps over from behind. One defender walks in from their side to try to pick up the ball, staying on their feet.
- If the support player gets there first and stays strong, the attack keeps the ball. Rotate all four roles.
Coaching points
- Support player: you're racing the defender. Go as soon as you see the tackle.
- Both the support player and the defender must stay on their feet. Hands on the ball only when you're standing.
- Tackler: release and roll away so the ball is clear.
Ready for the next level when: Support arrives first and on their feet most of the time, and the ball is placed long every time.
Ruck touch
How it works
- Touch rugby. When touched, the ball carrier goes to ground, turns and places the ball back long.
- One attacker must step over the ball before it can be played. One defender may come through from behind the ball, on their feet, to try to pick it up.
- Everyone else stays out. No diving, no hands on the floor. Play on from the placed ball.
Coaching points
- Only a small number of players ruck (check the rules page for your age group). Everyone else holds a line.
- Praise the first player to step over, not the pile.
- Ask “did you need to go in?” after a crowded ruck.
Ready for the next level when: Rucks are two or three players, on their feet, and the ball comes out quickly nearly every time.
Common coaching mistakes
- Explaining rucks without practising the steps.
- Live rucks before players can land, place and step over at walking pace.
- Everyone piling in. Teach who goes and who stays out.
- Only coaching the ball carrier and forgetting the tackler.
Related problems
BreakdownLaws
The tackler lies on the ball and won't release
Tacklers hold on after the tackle, and the referee keeps blowing the whistle
RuckContactOur rucks are a mess
Pile-ups, players off their feet, the ball stuck under bodies
DefenceLawsThey're offside all the time
Penalties at every ruck, players hanging around in front of the ball