Hi! I play rugby at the scrum half position for the under 16 team even if i'm only 14. ?

Question

The problem is that I have problems tackling big lads. How could I overcome my fear and also be physically ready? And how could I improve my passes and my speed? thanks for your help

Answer 1

I played fly half and was always up against bigger guys. I used to get smashed at times and my first year, my tackles were c**p, i got dropped and worked on my tackling. In the second year i used to tackle guys lower down just below the waist. It Used to prove effective and they would lose that motor in the legs. You have to remember that courage is the only thing that can get you over the fear. Work on your technique and you will eventually be pulling off good tackles every single time. Its not about smashing them in the chest, but about stopping them moving forward.

To improve my passes i used to practice a few drills. I used to practice throwing at a target on a wall. Usually like an archery target. I would also improve my spedd by running short distances in quick bursts. I would also run with a weight tied to my back. The main thing about rugby is technique and courage. If you work on these two things, it dsnt matter how small you are. I came through it in one of the toughest school in Africa to play rugby.  

Answer 2

Hi I am a blindside flanker for an under 17 colts team and we have a good scrum half but his replacement is only 13 and is about 4 foot 9 he isnt well built but just grabs onto what hje can and even if he doesnt bring the big lads down he acts as a speed bump and slows them down for one of us to clear up

hope this helps

Answer 3

Whenever i played at school level, i was a tighthead prop, and considerably bigger than everyone in my team, and even those in teams a few years years above.

Regardless of this, the best tackle that I was ever on the recieving end of was performed by a small skinny winger, probably less than half my weight.

The secret is technique. He didn't try and wrap me up with the ball to prevent an offload, and he didn't go for a big collision. He went in low, and took me around the ankles.

He completly removed my feet from me, and i went down like a sack of ****. Bulk is good, but technique wins any day.

Answer 4

i was in the same position as you. i was 15 years old and was thrown in by my club to play Colts level rugby against 17-19 year olds, and i'm a scrum half as well

i'm fairly quick and was quicker than most of the 18 year olds i was playing with, so that wasn't an issue for me, but i did have trouble tackling them from time to time, as some of them where a lot lot bigger than me.

i just put in a lot of time at the gym, and built up my upper body strength and bulked up a lot. in the first few months of the season, i'd put on about 20 pounds of muscle, and not only did it help make the tackling easier because i was bigger but it helps with confidence.

Obviously a lot of tackling is down to technique, so you just keep having to practice, and you will get better and you will start to overcome your fear.

as far as passing goes, like one other poster suggested, using a weighted rugby ball will help alot, and i did alot of work with medicine balls as well. It all helps

good luck

Answer 5

All I can say when it comes to tackling big lads go for the legs keep low or you will end up on your **** your self, also if you miss the tackle go after him ankle tap him and hold him down till the tackle is called

Good Luck!

Answer 6

get a weighted rugby ball, they;re reasonably cheap and make a huge difference.  My roommate is a halfback and his pass was originally 16 feet accurately.  Its now about 26 feet.

As for fear, you'l get used to it.  Don't do anything dirty because big guys usually get punchy.  Personally, there's nothing irespect more than a smaller player who can play physical rugby.  After a while you'll start seeing everyone as the same, just another opposition player.  Remember, they can't run without their legs.

Answer 7

Which code? League or union?

EDIT:

union? you soft person! Try Slamming into them during Rugby League.

Rugby League is faster and so much better!