They don't know where to stand at a scrum
Players wander in, line up in the wrong place, or end up offside
Why it happens
- Scrums are new, and nobody has walked them through where everyone goes.
- The backs don't know where to line up.
- Different positions every week means they never learn one.
What to say
✓ Say this
- “Show me where you stand at a scrum.”
- Walk through it before kick-off.
- “Great, everyone was in place before the referee called it.”
✗ Not this
- “Just stand anywhere.”
- Shouting positions from the touchline mid-game.
- Changing everyone's position every week.
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.
Cone map
How it works
- Lay out cones where each player stands at a scrum (or a lineout). Each cone is a position.
- Players jog around, and on the call “scrum!” everyone runs to their cone.
- Swap positions every few goes so everyone learns more than one spot.
Coaching points
- Know your spot before the ball is down.
- Look at who's beside you.
- Use the same position names every week.
Ready for the next level when: Every player gets to their spot on the call without help.
Scrum walkthrough
How it works
- Walk the whole team through a scrum, unopposed: forwards bind and crouch, the scrum half puts the ball in, the ball comes back.
- Backs line up in their spots, then run a simple move from the scrum.
- Repeat from different places on the pitch.
Coaching points
- Everyone knows their spot before the ball goes in.
- Forwards: bind, crouch, hold. No pushing.
- Check your age group's scrum rules with the official RFU text.
Ready for the next level when: The team sets up an unopposed scrum and runs a move from it without stopping.
Scrum restart touch
How it works
- A touch game. Every time the ball is dropped or goes out, restart with an unopposed scrum.
- The team with the ball sets up their scrum shape and backs line up. The other team stands back 5 metres.
- Play on from the scrum. Count how quickly a team gets set.
Coaching points
- Speed and safety: set quickly, but bind properly.
- Backs in their spots before the ball goes in.
- Unopposed. No pushing.
Ready for the next level when: Teams set up a scrum and play from it quickly without help.
Freeze frame
How it works
- Play a normal game. Every so often the coach shouts “freeze!” and everyone stops where they are.
- Ask: “Who is free? Who could you pass to? Who needs to move?” Let players move themselves, then play on from there.
- Keep freezes short (under 30 seconds) and no more than one every couple of minutes.
Coaching points
- Ask questions. Don't move them yourself.
- Freeze when it's going well too, so they see what good width looks like.
- Use touch, or the full rules for your age group only once the drill ladder for contact is solid.
Ready for the next level when: When you freeze, most players are already in a useful space.
Scrums and safety
- Front-row play needs coaching from trained coaches. Ask your club before practising scrums.
- Practise binding and body position unopposed. No pushing against another team in training without trained coaching.
- Pair front rows by size and strength.
- Check your age group's scrum rules with the official RFU text.
Common coaching mistakes
- Explaining positions without walking them through on the pitch.
- Changing everyone's position every week.
- Shouting positions from the touchline in matches.
- Only practising scrums in the middle of the pitch.