What do these photographs have in common?

12/02/2011

Yes, they are all of players carrying the ball wearing a USA Eagles shirt, and yes, they are all of Eagles playing for the Sevens team in the Sevens IRB World Series. Correct on both accounts. Anything else that is striking or that stands out? Besides the fact that I got the photographs from our friends at Rugbymag.com?

What about, that in all three cases, the ball is being carried in one hand?

Anyone familiar to my ramblings will be only too painfully aware that I am a great believer in coaching players to use clever footwork before contact. What you do before contact is directly linked to what kind of ball is produced after it. I still strongly believe that. And we can have a discussion (as a good friend of mine and I have just done via email) concerning the merits of carrying the ball in one hand or two until the sun goes down. But unless your name is Sonny Bill Williams, you are not going to be able to consistently pass the ball out of the tackle if it is in one hand.

Some players may lose the ball if its in two hands and I get the argument (thanks Pat) that there are occasions that some of your ball carriers are better served by keeping the ball close to their bodies, especially when driving forward to set up a ruck as part of your game plan. But thats in fifteens!

In sevens I think its critical that the ball is kept in two hands. It keeps defenders guessing, which can open up the space available to atackers. And if you can make a defender tackle you (and go off his feet), your hands should be free to offload to a supporting player coming from deep and at pace. Do this in Sevens, and more often than not, its try time.

Comments

College Coach

12/02/2011 13:51

Before the point of contact, yes, ball always in two hands (unless fending with one hand). Especially a few meters before contact, because it will keep the tackler off balance because the pass is a possibility.

At the point of contact, depends- may be able to dictate the point of contact better with one hand free, may be forced to drop a hand from the ball by a good tackler, may need ball in one hand to keep it protected from the tackler.

While in contact and offloading, again, depends- many crossover athletes are more comfortable, precise, and consistent offloading with one hand than two because it mimics acts in other sports like basketball and baseball and even tennis.

Regardless, great discussion point and thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience, and opinions.

Randall JOSEPH

12/02/2011 16:29

I discussed with one of my new HS players on Wednesday, on doing his footwork-ABC, and he was carrying ball in one hand and said 2 hands until you make your directional cut. One hand gives the defender a clue which way your cutting!

Jeremy Chugg

12/02/2011 19:32

i try to coach my lads to be able to move the ball from left hand to right hand and to two hands whilst attacking broken play. Different situations cause for different solutions. I do like to see the ball carried in two hands when ever possible. J x

Andy Gilbert

12/03/2011 03:15

I'm with you on this point coach. I have found being an undersized player for 20 plus years that having the ball in two hands allows me to protect it better and put passes into tight spaces when needed. Or on occasion, quickly pop it up off the deck. I prefer to teach new players to use two hands so they are more consistent in protecting or offloading the ball.

Author

Coach Andy Richards has been the head coach of Virginia Tech Men's rugby since December 2009. He previously coached at UNC-Chapel Hill, Raleigh Vipers, the North Carolina collegiate All Stars, UMBC and Baltimore-Chesapeake. He moved to the United States from England in 2002. Before then he coached and played for Barnstaple RFC, Windsor RFC and military teams throughout his 23 years in the British Army.