Open Side Transition

Focus

Defensive, Run & Carry, Gameplan/Strategy.

Skills

Kicking, Handballing, Tackle.

Purpose

Fast, fluent movement must occur for a quick transition down the open side. In this drill, one player in particular must make several high-intensity efforts to maintain defensive pressure.

Players

21⁺

Ages

6⁺

Balls

Cones

Distance (max)

160m

Setup
Each turn, coach in the pocket must feed balls to (A), hold and reset a tackle bag
Step 1
(A) runs in and tackles the bag. Coach then rolls a ball for (A) who recovers, gathers and handball quickly to (B)

The tackle must be hard and the player should hit the ground
Step 2
(B) runs across the face of goal and handballs to (C) in support. Meanwhile, (A) begins chasing (B & C)

If (A) does manage to catch (B) or (C), simply tag them or lightly push them, tackling from behind risks serious injury.
Step 3
(C) then sees (D) leading forward and wide to the open side, and hits them with a kick
Step 4
(E) and (F) continue the run in waves by running down the wing creating 2 overlapping runners. They share the ball with hands if the positioning is right, until one of them kicks to leading (G)
Step 5
(G) marks and sprints to coach to return the ball.