First 5/8 - New to position

Question
My 13 year old son has just been put into the first 5/8 position on his rugby team. He has good passing skills and is a speedy runner but often lacks confidence to be an aggressive tackler.

His coach feel he has potential to be a good leader in the first 5/8 position but he needs some strategies and tactical play ideas to help fulfill his role.

He needs to know what exactly his job is and how he can best perform it.

He has never played this position before and has not been given any pointers or specifics about how to play the position.

What advice can you offer and what sorts of strategies and tactics would you recommend he practice.

When he is not playing this position he slots in as 2nd 5/8 or centre after 2 years playing on the wing and not enjoying it. He would also like suggestions for these positions.

Thanks

Answer
Hi Nina (also my Daughters name!)

I am a forward specialist so I usually defer to the technical description of a back position to provide the key duties of said position. I do this because in most cases a young player simply needs some core duties to tick off a mental "list" as a game is played.

A fly-half is crucial to a team's game plan. They are usually the one who calls set moves, or makes tactical decisions. They need to be quick-thinking in a game; such as the speed at which a situation is deteriorated, they need to be able to communicate with all their backs and adapt them to the attacking or defending situation. Usually, the fly-half is the kicker of the team, a role often shared with the centres or fullback. A lot of fly-halves are goal kickers, and make most kicks for the team, whether it's tactical, or for touch.

Try this link:

http://www.rugby-sidestep-central.com/rugby-fly-half.html

A tool for learning 1st 5/8 / Fly half / #10

http://www.rugbysportswizards.com/Player/Dan_Carter/First_5|8_Positional_Pack.ht...

The position is learned via a mix of theory, trial and error and learning from betters. Whatch a lot of professional rugby if you can taking special effort to actually note the actions of the #10 as he plays.

As for tackling:

The aim is to make a tackle to stop the play/player. Drive in hard and execute the tackle forcefully and wrap the player up well with your arms. The game of rugby moves fast enough that this will be enough to give your team the advantage.

Below is a past answer to a similar question. If you focus on the line of the players shorts / jersey or the string of their shorts then size will not be an issue. If a player is really big then letting them go buy and tackling from behind and sliding down the legs will bring them down. A firm grasp around the waist then drop down with all your might while squeezing their legs together.

Your head should go to the side that is "out of the way". If the player is running at you going to the left you head should go to the right side and vice versa. If the guy is running directly at you it would be best to put you head on the side the guy hold the ball but really don't over think it on that angle. The big thing is to drive your shoulder into the guys gut or lower sternum.

When tackling from the side the rule of thumb is "cheek to cheek" face to butt.

Here is a simple method for improving your tackle. When a player is moving towards you (or vice versa) do not look at their body as a whole, instead focus on the point of center between their hips. Often a coach will tell you to "eyeball" the "string of their shorts". This focus will allow your brain to only register the runner's center of gravity: the "mass" of their torso or core. No matter what a runner's arms, legs or head does the torso is usually stagnant.

Keep your feet active, stay on your toes either moving towards them or running in place. Close the space between you and the runner swiftly but stay in control. This is to limit the runner's options as much as possible. If you over commit to running into the tackle the player has a better chance of stepping you.

Focus on the "string of their pants" and drop your center of gravity to set up the hit. Bend at the knees, eyes up, straight back, hips lower than your shoulders like a prop in a scrum. Aim the shoulder to that string."Punch" into the players core with your shoulder and wrap the player up with your arms. Drive hard with little punchy steps of your legs.

To summarize:

1. keep the feet active "live"
2. focus on the "string of their pants"
3. drive the shoulder through the "string of their pants"
4. wrap the player up and drive with the legs in short steps.

Don't try to pick the player up, this is dangerous and will probably get you penalized. Drive hard with the shoulder and legs

This link to UTube is VERY good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJ39bbq2uU