How can i imporve my sidestep? for rugby union... (more detail inside)?

Question

okay i am 14 and i play rep and club rugby union. and i start and play the hole time at fly-half but i cant seem to score a try and i havent got one in about a year and i think it is becouse of my speed and side step so does anybody no how i can train and what to do, to get a side step like william ryder and get faster at the 100m!

Answer 1

Mr fly-half - I have played scrum half and fly half for many years and at many levels and I can tell you that fly-halfs dont score many trys. What fly halfs do is organise the back play to orchestrate others scoring trys - mainly wingers.

Fly halfs mostly score points from penalty, conversion and drop kicks. Concentrate on upir kicking game and you will be a more useful team member.

As to the business of scoring trys.

Firstly if you counted up the amount of times a fly half runs 100 mtr compared to 5,10,25 mtrs in a game you will conclude that you are better off developing explosive speed over these short distances from a standing start. The explosive speed will score you more trys than running 100 mtrs fast - leave that to the wingers and fullbacks.

Second most fly half trys are from backing up other players by following the ball and being on the spot to receive a pass close to the line. Loop around your backline.

Third develop a running game by getting your half back to pass the ball to the spot ahead of you so that you can run onto the ball. when you are moving it is easier to have an effective side step.

A good move to execute once per game is when you have an attacking scrum inside the 22mtr line. get your inside centre to run straight pass him the ball and double around and receive a pop pass. This will open up a gap between inside and outside centre for you to explode 5-10-15-20 mtrs and score a try underneath the posts without a hand on you.

The side step is a bit tricky to explain over the email. YOu need to practise sideways jumping lunges. When you do your fitness work practise running up to lampposts or similar and side stepping them off both feet.

Also use a dummy pass.

good luck, enjoy and practise lots

ross

Answer 2

The BBC have a great "Sports Skills" section on their website and there's a very good video of Shane Williams the Welsh wing doing a side step master class. He's a genius side stepper, one of the most elusive backs in world rugby - so hopefully you'll find some useful tips.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/sol/newsid_...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_un...

Answer 3

I suggest a lot of drills that involve fast footwork such as the grass ladder, a column of cones that u can weave in and out of, and adjust the distance apart of the cones, for a quicker or wider sidestep.  Don't forget to move the ball across to the outside shoulder as u round the cones.  And maybe even a bit of hillwork to concentrate on your calves ~ with springwork off the toes.  

Best of luck and just a note ~ people always remember the brilliant pass or kick that set-up the try so don't focus so much on scoring but rather doing as much as you possibly can at your position and the try, when it comes, will be a bonus!

Answer 4

This really helped me

Get two elastic resistant bands and tie them around your waist. Next move laterally three steps left then right.

This will improve your quickness tenfold

PS ankle weights= great