The Art of Falling Over
How you fall makes a big difference to how well your side keeps the ball.
Over 65% of rugby is now played at the breakdown. It is what happens to the ball carrier at the tackle that we are most concerned about, because good ball presentation is a crucial factor in maintaining possession.
The art of not falling over
Rugby is a game that is supposed to be played on the feet. Players who deliberately fall over can be penalised. So, with or without the ball, it is good to practise staying balanced as much as possible and certainly around contact.
Techniques to perfect the art of not falling over are:
- Lower body position near contact with knees bent, feet shoulder width or a little more apart, head up, elbows bent, hands up to fend.
- Use ladders/agility work and then confined spaces with lots of players moving about to build feet, body and space awareness. Develop the skill level so players can keep balanced by hopping on one foot, jumping with two feet together, skipping and then running normally.
Falling in style
Perfecting the art of falling allows the player to:
- Present the ball at all times as they are falling.
- Land on the ground in such a way that it reduces the level of impact.
- Pass or present the ball from the ground in the most beneficial way.
Learning to fall in style
- Always start in slow motion and build up the pace from there.
- Learn to fall from kneeling down first.
- Hip hits the floor first from a kneeling down position.
- Turn shoulders towards own goal line if at all possible.
- Ideally ball is always in both hands, but practice with just one hand as well.
- Ball out, away from body, with elbows bent before hitting the floor (so can offload if necessary).
- Ball into chest when hitting the floor (to prevent losing control).
- Ball out after impact with both hands and arms fully outstretched.
Developing falling in style
- Use a tackle bag on the floor.
- From a standing position, crumple at the knees and hit the hip into the bag.
- Remember "ball out, ball in, ball out".
- Run to the bag, crumple, "ball out, ball in, ball out".
Developing the drill
- Have a supporting player who can take an offload.
- Have a supporting player who may be close by or further away, giving the faller a decision to make about passing or presenting the ball.
- Introduce a tackler.
The art of getting up
Since the game is played on the feet, then a player on the floor has no rights. So don't let players languish on the ground, encourage them to get up, and get back in the game.