Due to small areas in most change rooms and the short time in between seniors and reserves, we needed to utilise this time as efficiently as we could. In the change rooms we do short running drills, short hands, short feet and stretching.
Out on the ground the warm up consisted of:
- 4 run-through drills over 50m
- Longer kicking from 30-50m extending out
- 2 x game sense activities
The players weren’t used to this type of warm up but understood that we needed to do these activities because the start of each game was an area that was letting us down from time to time. Getting the guys mentally prepared and thinking about the activities also helped when out on the ground.
Activity 1
This exercise encourages players receiving the ball to get their body behind it and to choose the correct option in giving off and also to shepherd and protect after releasing of ball - 2nd efforts. Players learn to time their runs past the player with the ball and what to do if they are not used. Using evasive skills gives more time with the ball if under pressure and creates numbers to get the ball past player A. This is a good decision making drill, where talk is critcal to the success of the exercise.
Activity 2
This drill is designed to improve concentration and reaction. Knowing what to do in "quick situations" plays an important role in a game and this drill prepares players for that. Turnovers can make this drill break down, so it is important that their skills are good. Obviously 1%ers are an important part of our game and this drill encourages players to do this and hopefully transfers to game day. Pressure is the other area that is often overlooked and this drill creates opportunities to execute under pressure. The goal of the exercise is to get past the blocker and lay the tackle.
