Contact Skills drill
Latch and Drive
Bind onto a carrier just before contact and drive as a unit without conceding obstruction.
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Players
- 3 to 10 players
- Intensity
- High
- Equipment
- Contact pad, ball, cones
- Space
- 10m x 10m grid
- Positions
- Forwards, centres
Setup
Contact pads held by one or two partners, a ball, and cones marking a scoring zone. Three players minimum.
How to run it
- The ball carrier runs forward and makes contact with the pads, turning the ball away from the defenders.
- The first support player binds face-to-face with the carrier - critically, this bind happens just before contact rather than out in open play, and the carrier must stay at the front and remain tackleable.
- The second support binds on the opposite side to form a front row of three, and all three drive forward to the end of the grid, through the shoulders and never the head.
- Start with passive resistance and increase gradually.
- Do 8 drives across 3 rotations so everyone carries, latches and binds second.
Coaching cues
- Bind just before contact, not in open play
- The carrier stays at the front and stays tackleable
- Low body positions, drive through the shoulder not the head
Common mistakes
- The latcher getting in front of the carrier or sliding round to make first contact, which is obstruction
- Binding far too early out in open play, which is where the tolerance runs out
Related drills
- Falling and Ball PresentationLearn to hit the ground safely and present the ball long, entirely alone.
- Ball Carry into ContactArrive into contact low, shoulder-first and legally, with the ball protected.
- Ball Placement Under LoadMake a long, clean placement with a body on top of you.
- Fend and Hand-OffCreate separation with a legal fend rather than a strike.
- Preparation for Contact WrestleBuild the shoulder position, connection and rolling strength that contact demands.
- Get Up Off The FloorFight to your feet under a body, which is what every phase of contact demands.