Consider the function of a drill
By Phil Hortz

How far have we come? Rugby League training once consisted of three laps of the oval, a couple of toe touches, 20 minutes of sprints and a half an hour of "ball work". But then someone invented the "drill". The drill was the saviour!!
Now there are drills for passing, receiving, tackling, kicking and all the skills. Young coaches use them, old coaches use them, mini coaches, mod coaches and International Laws coaches use them. In fact, there is a disease - D.O.D. Drills Overload Disease.


You see some coaches use drills and haven't got the foggiest idea why, how or when to run them. Drills are observed by some coaches and immediately put in their ever changing repertoire of "training methods".

Drills are not complete coaching sessions but form only a part of them. Lets stop for a minute and consider a few things.


When we want to do a drill with our players what should we consider? Obviously the realisation of what we want to practise is important!! Will the drill meet the result we are looking for? Improve our players' skills or the team play?


What are the function of drills:
1. Warm-up activity?
2. Re-enforcement, practice? (Drilling it in)
3. Learning?


There are a lot of questions that need answering. This article will give you the questions you need to consider, and you must supply the answers.


Firstly, what skill or play factors are we wanting to improve? You must first and foremost identify what we want to achieve?

The practical part of the drill is next, it needs to be designed - how will it work?

How many players will be involved? Remember we don't want a "super" drill that only six players can do while the rest of the team is standing idle.

What active time is involved? Have we got a good rotation so all players are performing each section of the drill?

Is your new drill suitable for all ages or just your team? What equipment is needed? How long does it take to set up? How long would it run? Is there a suitable rest time included?


It is amazing that coaches program drills to operate without any consideration to the fitness strain on players. How many coaches actually try out their drills personally prior to exposing their players to it?


Having decided that your "new drill" will meet your goal it must be easy to explain. You must be able to explain to your players why they are doing it and what benefits will accrue. Players must be able to witness their improvement.


Now maybe is the time to remind ourselves to assess if the drill is achieving our goal?

Well is it?

Or does it simply look good because no one is dropping the ball or whatever? If it isn't, you may have to adjust it a little, or a lot, but don't let it continue without a purpose.

Increasing pressure through the elements of time and space and emphasising skill technique will separate a drill from an activity.

Okay, so it is going well, achieving your goals and the players are learning as well as enjoying the drill. Can you explain it to someone else, verbally or written, perhaps you have to do it or demonstrate it.


There's a technique involved. Maybe have a look at other people's style and come up with your own. But why not share it? After all, before you designed your "new drill", where did you get all your others from?


Remember:
1. Identify what you want to do. Come up with a problem?
2. Plan it, design how it works, reconstruct that segment of play on a small isolated basis.
3. Put it in working order, test it.
4. Conduct it.
5. Refine it.


And it works, it really achieves your goal. It's a good feeling!

You may even be classed as an innovator in time to come!! GOOD LUCK