Being aware of where they are, and being aware of what to do with their bodies is the ultimate key to success.
New contributors Curry Hitchborn and Cruz Velasquez use basic wrestling concepts including hinges, footwork, tension and control - to help players become more comfortable, safer and confident in contact.
Ideal for players new to contact or as a contact warm-up.
Course contents
Coach Curry Hitchborn and wrestler Cruz Velasquez discuss how wrestling techniques, such as hinges, footwork, and maintaining tension, can improve a rugby player’s body awareness and provides specific training to become Comfortable for Contact
A tackle and being taken to ground is unique to contact sports.
Knowing how to fall helps new players become more comfortable with the unique experience of the tackle.
Cruz demonstrates how players can safely break their falls to absorb impact during contact.
our ability to win those collisions over time is entirely dictated by how much of that we can maintain and control.
Curry and Cruz introduce a simple contact activity – ‘Pumelling’ for players to gain leverage and maximise their power.
Where was he getting his power from? Same foot, same shoulder.
Rugby is a sport of physical connection. Our ability to win those collisions over time is entirely dictated by how much of that we can maintain and control.
Curry and Cruz start their series with simple contact warm-ups learning how to fall safely and using same foot, same shoulder contact to develop tackle preparation.
Every player generates power differently. It’s about helping them find what works for their body.
That first step is crucial. It called the Penetration Step.
Cruz demonstrates how to use wrestling technique to step in close with ‘shoulder ’on’ and hips close in to tackle ‘the Scarecrow’.
Another step into a safe dominant tackle.
And now, we’re actually going to take ‘The Scarecrow’ down.
Cruz add another ‘step’ – stepping around ‘the Scarecrow’ and taking them down in a dominant position ready to ‘jackal’.
While maintaining safe position for the tackler and tackled player.
Go off the physical picture
As Curry Hitchborn (all 6ft 8in of him), details we as coaches need to account for players of differing heights and growth stages going into contact.
Put players in a position to be successful based on their body shape.
From the community
Great stuff here. Will be sure to share with my coaching staff and players. Kinaesthetic awareness for the win! Educational and appropriate.
lovely
full of details. very good
Love this content! For a coach who’s never wrestled, this is gold!
