You may have heard people within Rugby League talking about the core or core stability but what is it and how does it help Rugby League players?

The stability of the Core or Trunk is the foundation for explosive movement and control so Agility, Balance and Co-Ordination. Benefits of developing ‘core stability’ In Rugby League terms, you become more stable in contact, better able to withstand tackles, and solid in your ability to receive and offload the ball. By training specifically for core stability, you gain a number of benefits.

Like you, I had absolutely no Idea what muscles make up the ‘Core’ but after a little re-search I have found out what they are, where they are and exactly what they do. The reason why people have paid so little attention to it is that there’s nothing flashy or glamorous about it. Although it involves the abs, core strength is not about having a visible six-pack or a flat stomach. And while the core muscles, as stabilizers, can help determine how far you can throw a ball, their development is often secondary to the other, more obvious (and more visible) muscles in your limbs. The only people who have had the right idea about core strength all this time are dancers and Yoga practitioners. They’ve developed their core as part of their training, and it shows - professional dancers and Yogis generally stay fit well into old age. They stand straighter and have more energy at a time when many of their peers can just hobble along.

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Introduction

This drill uses many parts of the game of Rugby League and allows you to concentrate on different core skills depending on what you want to teach your team. A ‘See Saw’ drill is one that basically goes across to one side and then turns around and goes straight back to the other side a little like a see saw, you will understand better when you watch the videos. This is quite an advanced drill and probably not one you should be using much under 12 or 13 years old as the kids will struggle to understand it.

I have called this drill the Play the Ball see saw as that is the core component that I last used it to teach however there are many other core skills that it also works at the same time for instance ‘Timing the Run’, ‘Grip and Carry’, ‘Bump’, ‘Passing’ and Communication.

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INTRODUCTION

This is a neat drill that keeps everyone constantly working and see’s the players learning how to go into contact in a way that allows them to spin off the defender, keeping the ball carrying arm away and then works on the ability to offload to a man following up in support.

This drill requires Marker Cones, 2 Tackle Shields and a ball.

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INTRODUCTION

This defensive drill works on a number of  the core defensive skills as well as getting your defenders working together as  part of a defensive unit. This drill will also work on player fitness when done  continually for a set number of minutes.

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