TRAINING TIPS
High Knees Running Drill
High knees running drill is a cardiovascular exercise that focuses on improving lower body strength, speed, and coordination. To perform it, you lift your knees as high as possible while running in place. The arms should be engaged in a running motion as well. This drill helps to develop proper running form, agility, and explosiveness.
Calf treading
Calf treading drill is an exercise aimed at strengthening the calf muscles and improving ankle stability. It involves standing with feet hip-width apart and lifting the heels off the ground, balancing on the balls of the feet. You then alternate between raising and lowering the heels in a controlled manner, mimicking a treading motion. This drill helps enhance calf endurance and agility, benefiting activities like running and jumping.
Floor twists
The floor twists drill is a core exercise that targets the oblique muscles. To perform it, you lie flat on your back with your arms outstretched to the sides. Lift your legs off the ground, keeping them together, and then rotate them to one side while keeping your upper body stable. Return to the center and then twist your legs to the opposite side. This exercise helps to strengthen the core and improve rotational stability.
Hammy and core
A hamstring and core drill integrates exercises targeting both the hamstring muscles and the core simultaneously, offering a comprehensive workout for the lower body and abdominal muscles. One effective drill could involve performing a stability ball hamstring curl with a core twist. Lie on your back with your heels resting on a stability ball and your arms outstretched to the sides for stability. Lift your hips off the ground into a bridge position while simultaneously curling the stability ball towards your buttocks using your hamstrings. As you curl, engage your core muscles by twisting your torso to one side, bringing your opposite elbow towards the knee. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. This drill effectively strengthens the hamstrings while engaging the core muscles, promoting balance, stability, and functional strength.
Hammy stretch
The hammy stretch drill targets the hamstring muscles, which are located on the back of the thigh. One common method is the standing hamstring stretch. To perform this stretch, stand tall and extend one leg in front of you with the heel on the ground and toes pointing up. Keeping your back straight, hinge at the hips and lean forward slightly until you feel a gentle stretch in the back of the thigh. Hold the stretch for about 20-30 seconds and then switch legs. This drill helps improve flexibility in the hamstrings, which can alleviate tightness and reduce the risk of injury during physical activity.
Pelvic and core
A pelvic and core drill focuses on strengthening the muscles around the pelvis and core area, promoting stability and balance. One effective exercise is the plank with pelvic tilts. Begin in a traditional plank position, with forearms on the ground and body in a straight line from head to heels. Then, engage your core muscles and tilt your pelvis slightly forward, maintaining a neutral spine. Hold this position for a few seconds before tilting the pelvis back to neutral. Repeat this movement, alternating between anterior and posterior pelvic tilts while keeping the rest of the body stable. This drill targets the deep core muscles and pelvic stabilizers, improving posture and reducing the risk of lower back pain.
Side core
Side core exercises target the oblique muscles, which are located on the sides of the abdomen. One effective drill is the side plank. Begin by lying on your side with your legs straight and your elbow directly beneath your shoulder. Lift your hips off the ground, creating a straight line from head to heels, and hold this position for as long as possible while engaging your core muscles. For an added challenge, extend your top arm towards the ceiling or lift your top leg. This exercise strengthens the side core muscles, promoting stability and improving lateral movement patterns.
Hop Pop Hop
The Hop Pop Hop rugby drill is a dynamic exercise that focuses on agility, balance, and quick changes in direction, which are crucial skills for rugby players. In this drill, players start by hopping on one foot (the "hop"), then quickly switch to hopping on the other foot (the "pop"), and finally hop forward explosively (the second "hop"). This sequence is repeated continuously, challenging players to maintain balance and coordination while moving rapidly. The drill helps improve footwork, acceleration, and the ability to evade opponents on the rugby field.