Men's Team

Brian Krawetz is the Provincial Coach for Nova Scotia. This is his page.
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May 15

Four Corners rucking drill.

X1 X2

3 defenders in middle

X3 X4

Throw the ball to any one of the X’s. The X’s work as one unit of 4 against the 3 defenders.

If ball goes to X1 they drive to corner where X4 was. X2 drive towards where X3 was.

Defenders stay in 4 or 5 times to tackle, post, and ruck opposition.

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May 14

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On Friday May 22^nd the Rugby Nova Scotia Under 20 Men’s team will be playing two exhibition halves against the Dartmouth RFC Pig Dogs and Cole Harbor RFC Men’s teams in preparation for their upcoming Under 20 National Junior Championship season.

Kick off will be at 6:30pm with the Pig Dogs playing two twenty minute halves against the U20 Men, followed by another game of Cole Harbor playing another two twenty minute half periods.

The winner by points gets a $75.00 bar tab for their team that night.

Following both games, MOLSON will be sponsoring a night at the Farrell Hall/Social Club on Windmill Road. corner of Albro. $10.00 gets you three beer tickets and all of the proceeds go to the U20 Keltics program.

Please come out and support our U20 Junior Keltics program!

Brian Krawetz
Provincial Coach
Rugby Nova Scotia
5516 Spring Garden Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 1G6
902-219-4131
fax: 902-425-5606

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April 9th

Watching some of the High School last weekend and games this week, here's just some information that may help:

Front on tackle training session

This session is to coach players to make head on tackles on players running straight at them. The key requirement for this type of tackle is to prevent the opponent breaking through the defensive line.

What you tell your players to do

Get your head to one side of the ball carrier.

Make contact with your shoulders on the bottom of their shorts.

Let the ball carrier's momentum take you to the ground

Hold on as you fall and land with a tight grip. Don't let the ball carrier get back to their feet with the ball.

What you get your players to do

Warm-up

Start with players on their haunches and with their arms out. Have them fall backwards and to one side. They must turn, land on their front and jump up again.

This will simulate the "falling" when making a front on tackle.

Make sure they warm-up falling both ways.

Main practice

In a 2 metre channel, set up a tackler on their haunches. A ball carrier jogs forward and falls over a designated shoulder of the tackler.

Develop this by increasing the speed of the runner and making sure they attack both shoulders. Eventually have the tackler standing up to tackle proactively.

Developing the session

The training session can be developed as follows.

Change the aggressiveness of the runner, depending on the ages and skills levels of your players.

Have two tacklers in a line, with one tackler going lower than the other.

A game situation

The session can be developed further by playing the "break the line" game.

Mark out a 10 metre square box. Three defenders have to defend a line against two attackers with a ball. The keys are communication and good use of the front on tackle.

Make sure the tackling team completes the tackle by getting to their feet to contest for the ball. The game finishes once the ball is retrieved by the defenders, or the attackers have scored.

Coach's notes

What to call out

"Head up, chin off your chest"

"Keep your eyes open throughout the tackle"

"Twist the ball carrier as you fall"

"Hold on tight throughout the tackle"

What to look for

Poor head position: A key factor not only for safety but also for an effective tackle. The head should be flush against the pocket of the shorts.

Bouncing off the tackle: Tacklers need to bend at the knees and open the arms wide, and then lock onto the target.

What to think about

Can the front on tackle be used more aggressively with the ball carrier driven back?

It is recommended that at junior levels, tackles are kept at thigh height. At more experienced levels, the tackler can target the ball.

Some players can be taught to step into the tackle, with the front foot and impact shoulder on the same side of the body.

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March 24th

These dates have been set in stone. The U20 men and Senior Men play on the same days.

May 8 Friday Keltics at Montreal (exhibition)

May 9, Saturday Keltics at Montreal (exhibition)

June 6, Saturday             Keltics at Spruce

June 13, Saturday            Spruce at Rock

June 20 Saturday             Keltics at Rock

June 27, Saturday            Spruce at Keltics

Jul 3 weekend                free

July 10 Friday                 Rock at Spruce

July 12 Sunday Rock at Keltics

July 17 weekend Easterns, Newfoundland

July 25 NA 8 camp, New Brunswick

August 1 Eastern Canada Final, Location TBA

Book it off now please.