EFFECTIVELY TRAINING EFFECTIVELY TRAINING FOR DYNAMIC PHASE PLAY

Introduction

Dynamic Phase Play refers to the area of the game between a set piece ending and the ball
becoming dead.
The game elements involved in Dynamic Phase Play are:
• General play attack
• General play defence
• Ruck & Maul (Breakdown)
• Tackle contest

Traditionally coaches have neglected much of this area of the game in their training
sessions.  When it has been touched on, the individual game elements have often been
coached in isolation to each other and in an environment that was unrealistic to a game
situation and without learning progressions.

The objective of this paper is to highlight game situation activities as an effective training
technique for dynamic phase play.
Game situation activities allow the coach to:
1. Cover many different areas of Dynamic Phase Play in a short space of time
2. Teach players how to transfer their skills into game situations.
3. Target specific areas that require improvement and progress the skill through
learning stages prior to team pattern training.
4. Improve decision making skills.
5. Create a realistic “match-like” training environment.

The key attributes to game situation training are as follows:
• The training activity commences with a game realistic start to each repetition such as
receiving a clearing pass, receiving a kick or diving on a loose ball.
• Opposing players in contest – often physical contact is involved.
• Player’s actions in each repetition of the activity are only restricted by grid size,
starting positions and number of players involved.
• Activities are outcome not process focused.  Using correct technique is a method to
achieving the outcome.

By Brenden Loag.
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