Tag Rugby Tactics and Tips

Trotter

Firstly, If I should have posted this into the existing tag sticky, I apologise to the mods.

I'm wondering if the more experienced tag players here might share some basic tactics and tips that they've found to work well?

My team has been playing for 2 years and we're not doing too bad at all. We have a few very good sprinters and sometimes its difficult to catch them if they burst from the rollback. (Due to me being too unfit to catch them mostly!)

We've been working on the basics of running back behind the receiver and into the line once we've passed the ball in order to spread the ball wide in the attack and its starting to come together. Is this the right approach?

In defence, we're working on holding one strong line and trying to get the line to move as a unit. We used to pick players to mark but maybe this is a better route to defending well.

I'd love some tips anyway, and I'd be interested to know if our new approach is the right one.

Again sorry if this should be part of the sticky!

Tim Robbins

Trotter wrote: »

I'd love some tips anyway, and I'd be interested to know if our new approach is the right one.

There's an infinite amount of tips and I'm sure plenty would love to help. But it might be easier to just focus on one area.

Is there any particular area you'd like tips on?

Trotter

Tim Robbins wrote: »

There's an infinite amount of tips and I'm sure plenty would love to help. But it might be easier to just focus on one area.

Is there any particular area you'd like tips on?

Well.. how would you utilise a couple of very fast, very fit runners within a normal team without the usual chasing game starting? I'd love to know how to get the best from the team with them without it turning into 7 v's 2 game with the other five playing catch up.

Some common and well used coaching drills would be good too. I got some from the board here about a year ago and they worked really well. Stuff like running in lines, hands out and the passer runs behing to the end of the line etc.

Tim Robbins

Trotter wrote: »

Well.. how would you utilise a couple of very fast, very fit runners within a normal team without the usual chasing game starting? I'd love to know how to get the best from the team with them without it turning into 7 v's 2 game with the other five playing catch up.

Some common and well used coaching drills would be good too. I got some from the board here about a year ago and they worked really well. Stuff like running in lines, hands out and the passer runs behing to the end of the line etc.

Yes I hate that chasing crap. I feel for you.

You need to get them thinking lines of running and about exploiting space.

Have a drill where you have 3 attackers versus 2 defenders.

This is to teach the principle of the overlap. The first two attackers should check the first two defenders, and the overlap attacker then should score. This also teaches the principle of the winger or last man to hang deep and time their run correctly, otherwise the overlap is wasted as a covering defender whose already being checked will reach the last man.

If they can't do this, go to 2 attackers versus 1 defender, which of course is easier.

If they get the hang of it, you go to 4 versus 3 (which is more difficult).

So they all have the principle of the overlap and checking defenders i.e. exploiting space the next thing is to create space.

Start off 2 versus 2.

Is there anything the ball carrier can do to try to create space for the other attacker?

The easiest thing is if he runs in the middle of the two defenders and tries to check both of them. Unless the defense react correctly by realigning correctly, there'll be space for the player on the outside.

They get the hang of this, then it's 3 V 3.

The first player checks his opposite man and then you try the same again 2 v 2.

Keep it 2 V 2 and 3 V 3. And now introduce switches.

The ball carrier runs at 45 degrees and calls "switch" and the receiver also at 45 degree but the other way and always so his run is behind the ball carrier back side at the switch.

Again the defense have to realign quickly or they'll be broken. They should go in meet each other (but never cross) and then they should go back out.

It's difficult for a defense to do this correctly. One of them will usually be out of positions.

The ball carrier if smart should know which one is out of position and then should make the decision:

1. Dummy the switch
2. Complete the switch

Now feel free to ask questions on the above. There's plenty more: loops, decoy runners, skip passes and all that but I think it's better if you drive what you're looking for as there's no end to amount of tips on this.

Tomtom364

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Start off 2 versus 2.

Is there anything the ball carrier can do to try to create space for the other attacker?

The easiest thing is if he runs in the middle of the two defenders and tries to check both of them. Unless the defense react correctly by realigning correctly, there'll be space for the player on the outside.

They get the hang of this, then it's 3 V 3.

The first player checks his opposite man and then you try the same again 2 v 2.

thought id throw this up there.

if the ball carrier runs at the outside defender and the reciver runs a parallel line defences may not adjust and so you can create space on the outside.

if the defence does adjust, a quick step back inside may force the defence to hesitate which allows you to pass to the outside man. but you have to be quick with the pass.

(note: i play contact rugby, and only little tag, but i am a running back so this is the kinda thing i do)

Tim Robbins

Tomtom364 wrote: »

thought id throw this up there.

if the ball carrier runs at the outside defender and the reciver runs a parallel line defences may not adjust and so you can create space on the outside.

if the defence does adjust, a quick step back inside may force the defence to hesitate which allows you to pass to the outside man. but you have to be quick with the pass.

(note: i play contact rugby, and only little tag, but i am a running back so this is the kinda thing i do)

Yeah that's a good one if there's space on the outside. I'd usually like the winger hogging th touchline and if the insde attackers to that, they have to run the inside (or switch) line.

Peter B

On my team we reckon if you do have one or 2 fast people, put them on the wing every now and then. Then they more then often have a 1 on 1 instead of being crowded in the middle where they don't get a chance to build up speed and are facing multiple tacklers. It causes heaps of tries for us.

Also just make sure if they get a breakaway your team runs back to cover the girls and on your attacks make sure you have girls supporting.

On the roll backs, don't use you leg (rugby league style), just roll it back with your hands. It is far more accurate. Also the person rolling back should stand as straight and as big as possible protecting your scrumhalf from the tackler.

On you final tag in your own half you must kick it long.

Mr.Applepie

Find girls that can run and catch and you will do well.
In most of our matches last year we didn't get more tries then the oppostion but still won because most of our tries were girl tries.

Amabokke

Trotter wrote: »

Firstly, If I should have posted this into the existing tag sticky, I apologise to the mods.

I'm wondering if the more experienced tag players here might share some basic tactics and tips that they've found to work well?

My team has been playing for 2 years and we're not doing too bad at all. We have a few very good sprinters and sometimes its difficult to catch them if they burst from the rollback. (Due to me being too unfit to catch them mostly!)

We've been working on the basics of running back behind the receiver and into the line once we've passed the ball in order to spread the ball wide in the attack and its starting to come together. Is this the right approach?

In defence, we're working on holding one strong line and trying to get the line to move as a unit. We used to pick players to mark but maybe this is a better route to defending well.

I'd love some tips anyway, and I'd be interested to know if our new approach is the right one.

Again sorry if this should be part of the sticky!

Been playing tag for many years and been to all ireland twice. I remember one year we destroyed the other teams because of girl tries. There was only 3 rugby players in our team and one really fast girl.

In practice we told the girls when they get the ball to take the opposition on and that gave them confidence. In some instances we only allowed girl tries. That forced the guys to pass and made sure girls keep up. When we got to the matches it paid off.

We were an average team and came up against really good teams with fast runners. The fast runners would run through and score a try, then when we made a break a girl was always on hand and we're back in front.

In one game the opposition scored 12 guys tries (never using their girls) and we scored 9 girl tries.

In defence you can have a fullback but your defence have to be water tight (first time tags important).

Diom

Drill:

Run up the field with four people in a line (horizontally).
Ball starts with person on left
Carrier passes to the right and runs behind all the other players to re-join the line on the right hand side.
Repeat until you reach the top or side of the field.
If you reach the side switch the direction of passing.
Be sure that the person you pass to runs ONTO the pass.
Keep the players close together.


Tips:

Keep the girls on the wing on offense, and one place in from the wing on defense.
Never have two slow people together in the defensive line.
ALWAYS keep the line...go the pace of the slowest player when in defense.

Luckycharm

Just some basics hold ball in 2 hands it keeps defenders guessing plus means you can pass both ways.
Eyes open and always attack the space if there is any.

In defence keep one straight line doesn't matter how fast it comes up once it is straight. If there is a break make sure to try and stop them passing to girls as girl trys against will kill you.

Main thing is to enjoy it and don't take it too serious. I see far too many teams taking it too serious and simply does not look like they are enjoying.;)

daveharnett

My advice would be to practice the offload.
The idea is to draw two defenders, then as they are tagging you, get your hands forward and pop to a supporting player at pace. they should be past the defensive line before they even get the ball.

Because attackers always get the benefit of the doubt with tag/pass timing and forward passes, it works really well. OFC defenders will eventually get wise, and the outside defender will try to intercept. You should be a couple of tries to the good at that stage though.