Coaching Footy Run and spread

[Michaels]

Hi all,

I coach Under 16's and a lot of the boys are struggling a bit with the whole run and spread once we cause a turn over. even when we mark the ball in the middle of the ground after the play has been on one side of the ground, no one will react quick enough to run to the fat side of the ground and we end up just going back down the line to a contest.

each training session we run match simulation drills with defenders working the ball out of the backline under pressure (usually around 10 - 15 min duration) but im just wanting to see what other coaches have done or can suggest doing at training that will result in the players running into the space provided as soon as we have the ball.

is it one of those things to do simulation drills for literally the whole training session and just keep going over and over it and being really harsh on the guys who dont do it properly, or is there a different way i could maybe do things?

 

[aflife]

Just a few thoughts on this one.

Pre Game i know a lot of coaches discuss 50 things to do in the match that day from huge lists on whiteboards and they run through them. Eg. Defenders need to be accountable, look for switch, try and play on at all times, play this side of the ground, build the wall, tackle as much as possible in forward 50 ect.

Im not sure which coach said it but its useless to name that many things and its far better to concentrate on 3 things maximum. I'm not sure how many things you run through at the start of the game but maybe really concentrate on this. Maybe set a number target for each quarter for switching to the fat side. At the quarter breaks see if you have met that target.

As for training make sure everyone understands what run and spread is. The best way to describe spread is that when possession is taken pretend the ball is a hand grenade and that its about to explode. Players should bolt for there life in all directions creating options for the ball carrier.

 

[Michaels]

Its funny you say that about giving small targets. Our first 4 games have been grading games which are worth no points, and we were coming up a very experienced division 1 side 2 weeks ago. and all i asked the guys to do is to get 40 tackles for the game. just pressure the heck out of them.

And they responded really well, ended up getting 48 tackles including 22 in the last quarter and we had no bench from the 2nd quarter onwards due to injuries. so it was a great effort. and by them focusing on the tackle count, we ended up outscoring them in the second half.

but you are spot on, less is often more.. we did a drill last night which involved marking the ball at the top of the 50 and pushing back while i stood on the mark. they then had to wait till they heard the voice of the team mate running past out wide down the wing, switch it and so on.

worked really well and they enjoyed it. so i will include switch kicks / running into space as one of the stats we will monitor this week.

 

[jarrod87]

Just a few thoughts on this one.

Pre Game i know a lot of coaches discuss 50 things to do in the match that day from huge lists on whiteboards and they run through them. Eg. Defenders need to be accountable, look for switch, try and play on at all times, play this side of the ground, build the wall, tackle as much as possible in forward 50 ect.

Im not sure which coach said it but its useless to name that many things and its far better to concentrate on 3 things maximum. I'm not sure how many things you run through at the start of the game but maybe really concentrate on this. Maybe set a number target for each quarter for switching to the fat side. At the quarter breaks see if you have met that target.

As for training make sure everyone understands what run and spread is. The best way to describe spread is that when possession is taken pretend the ball is a hand grenade and that its about to explode. Players should bolt for there life in all directions creating options for the ball carrier.

Good description. I find with my players that the more you practice the better they'll get and the better they'll understand where to position themselves. Maybe start your drill without pressure so the players get an understanding of positioning then add some pressure and go from there. All the best

 

[Shane Hird]

Its funny you say that about giving small targets. Our first 4 games have been grading games which are worth no points, and we were coming up a very experienced division 1 side 2 weeks ago. and all i asked the guys to do is to get 40 tackles for the game. just pressure the heck out of them.

And they responded really well, ended up getting 48 tackles including 22 in the last quarter and we had no bench from the 2nd quarter onwards due to injuries. so it was a great effort. and by them focusing on the tackle count, we ended up outscoring them in the second half.

but you are spot on, less is often more.. we did a drill last night which involved marking the ball at the top of the 50 and pushing back while i stood on the mark. they then had to wait till they heard the voice of the team mate running past out wide down the wing, switch it and so on.

worked really well and they enjoyed it. so i will include switch kicks / running into space as one of the stats we will monitor this week.

Teaching kids how to 'spread' can be hard if you've got bunch in the team who don't like working hard when they haven't got the ball. If your team has the ball, train them to run sideways for a lead- not running backwards calling for the pass or doubling back for a front-on lead.

If you have a side that only has a handful of hard running guns and you struggle to match it with a better teams, use the word 'pressure' over and over again.

Pressure on the ball carrier....and....protect our ball carrier with shepherds, blocks etc.

Don't let them have an easy kick. Harass them and pile on the pressure when they have the ball ...and everyone else rush in to pick up the ball if the pressure causes the opposition player to spill the ball on the ground.

Weak teams that get smashed all the time don't chase and put pressure on the ball carrier.

Even if you have a team that don't have many skilled players, you can make a difference if everyone is constantly applying pressure. No pressure means faster, more aggressive opposition players will run and carry and before you know it the ball is in their F50.

One line I always use is " When the ball goes out of your area- ask yourself the question: What should I be doing now? That answer should always be..find an man and cover him.

 

[Michaels]

Teaching kids how to 'spread' can be hard if you've got bunch in the team who don't like working hard when they haven't got the ball. If your team has the ball, train them to run sideways for a lead- not running backwards calling for the pass or doubling back for a front-on lead.

If you have a side that only has a handful of hard running guns and you struggle to match it with a better teams, use the word 'pressure' over and over again.

Pressure on the ball carrier....and....protect our ball carrier with shepherds, blocks etc.

Don't let them have an easy kick. Harass them and pile on the pressure when they have the ball ...and everyone else rush in to pick up the ball if the pressure causes the opposition player to spill the ball on the ground.

Weak teams that get smashed all the time don't chase and put pressure on the ball carrier.

Even if you have a team that don't have many skilled players, you can make a difference if everyone is constantly applying pressure. No pressure means faster, more aggressive opposition players will run and carry and before you know it the ball is in their F50.

One line I always use is " When the ball goes out of your area- ask yourself the question: What should I be doing now? That answer should always be..find an man and cover him.

Yep agree with all of that!

I'm very lucky that at least 19-20 of the 23 players i have are hard workers.

working hard the other way is still something we are working on, they are definitely getting better at it though.

our run and spread and skill has improved 10 fold over the last month, we have drilled it into them and they are executing it well. we won by 214 points on the weekend and while the opposition were struggling a bit, our guys were still moving the ball sideways into space and hitting up targets really well.

big test is this week, playing the top side. they beat us by 30 points in round 1 but we were lazy, didnt fill the holes when they were having shots from 50m allowing an easy 25m pass inside 50, no defensive pressure etc. so i think we are a good chance if we pressure the heck out of them.

might do a few repeated effort tackle and pressure drills this week!

 

[Shane Hird]

Yep agree with all of that!

I'm very lucky that at least 19-20 of the 23 players i have are hard workers.

working hard the other way is still something we are working on, they are definitely getting better at it though.

our run and spread and skill has improved 10 fold over the last month, we have drilled it into them and they are executing it well. we won by 214 points on the weekend and while the opposition were struggling a bit, our guys were still moving the ball sideways into space and hitting up targets really well.

big test is this week, playing the top side. they beat us by 30 points in round 1 but we were lazy, didnt fill the holes when they were having shots from 50m allowing an easy 25m pass inside 50, no defensive pressure etc. so i think we are a good chance if we pressure the heck out of them.

might do a few repeated effort tackle and pressure drills this week!

A good one we use is an 'attack and defend' drill using a half oval.

Split them up into three groups. We have a bunch of red and green training vests. One team red, one green, one with no vests.

Mark out a giant rectangle out with cones starting about 10 mtrs wide of the point posts right up in line with the centre square line. Have a dad stand in front of the centre circle.

One team (A) stays back behind the goals waiting for their turn, out of the way.

Have one team (B) all line up on the goal line with one player with a ball. The 3rd team (C)spread out around the 50 arc.

On whistle blow, team B all run out and spread as ball holder waits to pass with either a long or short kick as Team C quickly man-up and try to get ball off team B and also get it down to the dad in centre circle.

What ever team gets it back to the circle, they get to receive (by handpass) the ball back and try to move it down to have a shot at goals. The other team have to go the other way back to the circle before they can attack goals. If the ball gets down and a goal or point is scored, that team moves to the side and makes their way back behind the goals...as team A spread out and have their turn trying to get the ball up to the waiting dad near circle.

It really a game of keepers off and they spend a lot of energy try to get the ball off each other and manning-up. Great for fitness and they don't even realise how much work their doing until you have a break after 15 minutes or so.

Mouth guards in as they have to fight for the ball on ground and compete for marks.

But don't allow full scale tackling. They only way to get the ball off the other team is by smothering a kick or handpass or by out-marking an opponent or scooping up a loose ground ball.