New to rugby and doesnt know what position to choose

Question
I'm 13 and I recently started to play rugby and joined a team. The season hasn't started yet so I decided to join summer training. I'm doing fine with the drills and everything, but heres the problem, sometimes the coach likes to have these friendly matches at the end of training by splitting us up and when he does that I don't know what position I am since I wasn't assigned a position. The coach told me to play the same position I was last season, but I just joined when the season ended so I don't have a position. My friend tells me to just play any position, but I end up looking like I have no idea of what I'm doing.

I want to know where I'm suppose to stand in the beginning of a match if I'm a forward. I also wanna know what position may suit me: I'm 13 years old, about 5 foot 5, I'm not considered fast so I don't think I should be a back.

I'm not really asking for a position specifically, but just what to do when I have a practice match in training because its really embarrassing.

Answer
Hi Martin,

The fact is you do not know anything. Accept this fact - your are in the learning faze of your game. Your friend is right, play whatever position you are most attracted to. If you can't get that position learn the one you are in as well as you possibly can. You WILL change positions a few times over the next few years. I started at lock, then prop, then flanker, then prop then hooker, a go at #8, center. Both flanks, both sides of the scrum at prop. It all made me a better overall player and I know know a lot about the game. I know now that I like prop and hooker so I focus on those.

Your job know is to learn and have fun.

I suggest the book "rugby for dummies" but that is theory. Watch a lot of rugby on tv and focus on the guys in your position. For training and skill tips look on You Tube.

Here is some tackling tips too:

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