Session Notes

Contents

5.3 Session Notes

The following are the session notes for some of the Tokyo Gaijin’s trainings this year:

5.3.1 13 May 2007

11.15 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.: Warm-up

Light exercise / static stretching / dynamic stretching

11.30 a.m. – 11.50 a.m.: ‘Tamagawa Bridge to Bridge’

Basically a mid-distance (c. 15 – 20 minutes) run.

11.50 a.m. – 12.10 p.m.: Reverse Team Run

The backs have 10 minutes to form themselves into a forward pack, the forwards 10 minutes to form themselves into a backline. Then a 10 minute team run with the newly formed team. There are three aims to this drill: i.) to have fun; ii.) to gain some appreciation for what life is like for ‘the other side’; iii.) to develop general skills – it is realistic that a forward may find himself in the backline during a game or that a back may be required to join a maul or clear out a ruck.

12.10 p.m. – 12.40 p.m.: Forwards and Backs

Forwards: Scrum, line-out, and ruck basics (10 minutes). Mauling (10 minutes). Catching practice – improve our reception skills and strategies (20 minutes).

Backs: Run through moves.

12.40 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.: Team Run

‘Starting XV’ going through an unopposed team run with reserves swapping in throughout. The aim should be to run through moves at 75% with as few mistakes as possible.

1.00 p.m. – 1.15 p.m.: Touch

Two handed touch. Five minutes per half. No more than five players per team – to ensure there is adequate space and that everybody needs to get involved. Create more than two teams if necessary.

1.15 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.: Punishments / Warm down

Touch Losers: The losing team must ‘frog-hop’ the length of the touch field and back. If it’s a draw, both teams do it …

Latecomers: 3 minutes Prone Bridge (If you don’t last three minutes then you’ll need to do 10 press-ups for every 10 seconds under)

5.3.2 27 May 2007

11.15 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.: Warm-up

Light exercise (2 on 1’s) / static stretching / dynamic stretching

11.30 a.m. – 11.50 a.m.: Bridge Sprints

Everyone assembles. The team splits into forwards and backs. Each group runs out to the next bridge (c. 500m), the backs starting 20 seconds behind the forwards (and trying to catch them). Four sets (there-and-back, there-and- back) with one minute breaks between each set.

11.50 a.m. – 12.10 p.m.: ‘New Moves’ Session

Introduction of some new moves to the team – ‘Brumbies’ (a backline move) and ‘The Big Push’ (a lineout move).

12.10 p.m. – 12.30 p.m.: Forwards and Backs

Forwards: Mauling against the backs (10 minutes).

Backs: Run through their moves against the forwards (10 minutes).

12.30 p.m. – 12.45 p.m.: Touch

Two handed touch. Five minutes per half. Small enough teams to ensure there is adequate space and that everybody needs to get involved. Create more than two teams if necessary.

12.45 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.: Punishments / Warm down

Touch Losers: The losing team must ‘train-track’ the length of the touch field and back. If it’s a draw, both teams do it …

Latecomers: 3 minutes Prone Bridge (If you don’t last three minutes then you’ll need to do 10 press-ups for every 10 seconds under)

5.3.3 3 June 2007

11.15 am – 11.30 am: Warm-up

Light exercise (‘Chase the Ball’) / static stretching / dynamic stretching

 

11.30 am – 11.50 am: Suicides

Shuttle runs with a few extras thrown in.

 

11.50 am – 12.15 pm: Attacking Skills Session

Cuts, wraps, skips (and a few other options for how to pack your lunch).

 

12.15 pm – 12.45 pm: Forwards and Backs

Forwards: Work on mauling (introducing the ‘Dave Kelver Drill’).

Backs: Work on moves.

 

12.45 pm – 1.00 pm: Touch

Putting those sharpened up attacking skills into action …

 

1.00 pm – 1.15 pm: Punishments / Warm down

Touch Losers: Fire-mans Lift Suicides.

Latecomers: The ‘Calf Muscle Killer’.

5.3.4 10 June 2007

11.15 am – 11.30 am: Warm-up

Light exercise (‘Straight Running’ Drill) / static stretching / dynamic stretching

 

11.30 am – 11.50 am: Backwards Suicides + Ripping Drill

Shuttle runs with some backwards running thrown in (to work some different muscles). Ripping drill in between running (to cut down on rest time).

 

11.50 am – 12.45 pm: Attacking Skills Session

Practicing basic attacking skills: cuts, wraps, skips, running lines

12.45 pm – 1.00 pm: Touch

Putting those sharpened up attacking skills into action …

 

1.00 pm – 1.15 pm: Punishments / Warm down

Touch Losers: Chain-Running Suicides.

Latecomers: ‘Takeshi Takeda Super-Set’ (Named after a famous Gaijin not noted for punctuality)

5.3.5 17 June 2007

11.15 am – 11.35 am: Warm-up

Light exercise (‘Corner Point Passing’) / Dynamic Stretching / Static Stretching

11.35 am – 12.20 pm: Preparation for 10’s Rugby

5 mins: Discussing 'The Tens Commandments'

15 mins: Working on attacking formations

15 mins: Working on defensive formations

10 mins: 10's Team Run

12.20 pm – 1.10 pm: Preparation for Ryutsu Daigaku

5 mins: Team discussion of how we will approach this game

10 mins: Forwards: 'sack' and 'leave' line-out tactics. Backs: ‘Brumbies’ formation.

25 mins: All: Work on the ‘Buddha’ line-out move (first-half); the 'two-man' line-out formation (second-half); the spread defensive formation; and the split kick-off formation.

10 mins: Team run working through these options.

1.10 pm – 1.15 pm: Warm-down (‘Defensive Mirroring’)