Session plan
Under 18 rugby training session plan
An under 18 rugby session should run about 75 to 90 minutes and look close to a senior session: warm-up, scanning and breakdown work, units for forwards and backs, then a high-tempo game where decisions are made under fatigue. The difference is careful contact load and close attention to technique.
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Players
- 18 to 35 players
- For
- Under 17 and under 18 club, school and academy teams
- Focus
- Breakdown decisions, scanning, units and game tempo
- Equipment
- Balls, Cones, Bibs, Hit shields or contact pads
The session, block by block
| Time | Block | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 min10 min | Warm-up with A-skips | Jog, mobility, A-skips and three build-up runs to near full pace. Finish with a few minutes of handling in small groups.A-Skip drill |
| 10 to 22 min12 min | Them, us, ball scanning | Attack and defence in a 30m channel. Players call the opponent opposite them and the team-mate inside them before each phase. Freeze play and question them on what they see.Them Us Ball Scanning drill |
| 22 to 34 min12 min | Floor, seal, clear, pick | Groups of four pop the ball around; on the call the carrier goes to ground and the other three take the seal, clear and pick roles, calling them out loud.Floor Seal Clear Pick drill |
| 34 to 48 min14 min | Tackle and jackal transition | Tackle, a clear release, back to the feet, come through the gate and win the ball. Walk it, jog it, then a few competitive rounds.Tackle and Jackal Transition drill |
| 48 to 63 min15 min | Units: forwards lift, backs shape | Forwards work on safe three-player line-out lifts at front, middle and back. Backs run their attacking shape off set piece with a coach feeding.Three-Man Lift Unit drill |
| 63 to 78 min15 min | Seven on four continuous | Seven attackers against four defenders. Score, turn and attack straight back the other way. Start at touch, add contact once it flows.Seven v Four Continuous drill |
| 78 to 87 min9 min | Opposed game | Even numbers, full width, at the contact level your plan allows. Coach the breakdown and scanning cues from earlier blocks. |
| 87 to 90 min3 min | Cool-down | Walk, stretch and a short team talk on what to carry into the weekend. |
| Total | 90 minutes | |
Coaching notes
- Players at this level can take more responsibility. Ask them to run parts of the units block and to referee the gate in the breakdown drills.
- Keep live contact to the blocks that need it, and plan the week so the hardest contact is well away from match day.
- Line-out lifting must follow your union's age-grade rules and be coached by someone who knows the technique.
- Track who is training on top of school, representative and other sports, and lighten the load for anyone carrying a lot.
Safety
- Follow your union's age-grade rules for contact, scrums and line-outs. They decide what this age group is allowed to do.
- Warm up properly before any contact, and only move a group to the next contact stage when they are doing the current one well.
- Pair players by size, strength and experience for contact work, not by friendship groups.
- Know the signs of concussion and stop any player you are worried about. If in doubt, sit them out, and follow your union's return-to-play guidance.
- Have a first aid kit, water and someone with current first aid training at every session.
Questions coaches ask
- How is an under 18 session different from a senior session?
- The structure is similar, but the contact load is managed more carefully and technique is coached more. Many under 18 players also play for school, club and representative sides, so total load matters.
- How long should an U18 rugby session be?
- Usually 75 to 90 minutes. Longer than that and quality drops, especially in the second half of the session.
- What should under 18 forwards and backs work on in units?
- Forwards usually work on set piece: line-out lifting and calls, and scrum technique under your union's rules. Backs work on attacking shape, passing at depth and their kicking game.
- How do I train decision-making for under 18s?
- Use opposed games with overloads and little rest, and ask players questions instead of telling them answers. Scanning habits like them, us, ball help them see the picture early.