Switching positions

Question
I have a question about switching positions.
I have played rugby in my high school for about a year now and have just started playing club rugby. Because of less numbers at school, there are less big guys to play the forward positions so I was stuck at 2nd row. I like the position but my coach at school told me that next year when I went to the A team and when I went to club rugby I would be playing full back. He said this was because of my speed, catching skills, kicking skills and my size. (6'3" 210 pounds) Now that I am in club I have been put to fullback. Are there any tips that you could give a 2nd row going to fullback?

Answer
Hi Bill,

The big thing you will need to keep up on is communication. The phyical attribute are there for you so you need to focus on feild position during the different phases  of the game. This will differ depending on your teams chosen strategy.

Prior to the game or practice ask your coach for 3 key things he wants you to focus on during the game. Keep it simple and understand it will take a while to get it. You may want to think of the next season as your own personal rebuilding season.

Mistakes will happen so treat them a learning exteriences and move on.

Work on your kicking accuracy, distance will come work on accuracy first. Practice taking high ball at training

During the game work with your centers to determine field position. On attack look to come into the line as an extra center or wing. Be sure to quickly return to your full back position if the ball gets turned over.

On defence you are better to be too far back than ome up to close. It is easier to run on to a ball than turn and chase it.

When catching stand facing the side line - that way if you miss the ball will still go backwards and not be a knock on. For the same reason look to back up another catcher when they are under high ball.

Here are some links for you:

All technique: Scrum, Running up the Ball, Tackling



http://www.rugbysmart.co.nz/plan/technique.html



http://www.rugbytactics.com/



http://www.talkrugbyunion.co.uk/



Skills and Technique, video:



http://www.joberrugby.com/