[1 Credit]
Women’s rugby is a phenomenon that has been sweeping the nation particularly rapidly in recent years. In the past two semesters the Oberlin Women’s Rugby Club has come out with a provocative calendar, been on national television, witnessed astronomical increases in recruit numbers and is currently the subject of a documentary project. Participation in this sport is a unique and valuable experience that should be made available to as many people as possible.
The goal of this course is to convey a basic and more advanced knowledge of the sport while fostering a love and appreciation for all things rugby.
Class participants are expected to attend Oberlin Women’s Rugby Club practices which are held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:30 to 6:15 at the rugby pitch on North Fields.
Materials needed: cleats (any type), mouthguard (available for $2 at the training room in Phillips Gym), Rugby shorts (available online at sites including rugbyimports.com or ballsout.com)
Requirements: Attendance at class and practice is mandatory, the completion of assigned readings TBA and satisfactory performance on the Exam is required to receive credit.
Course Resources:
Books-
Rugby for Dummies by Matthew Brown, Patrick Guthrie, Greg Growdwn
Total Rugby and Think Rugby: a Guide to Purposeful Team Play by Jim Greenwood
Rugby Skills, Tactics and Rules by Tony Williams, Gordon Hunter
Women’s Rugby: Coaching and Playing the Collegiate Game by Scott Rawdon, N. Stanley, Jr. Nahman
Video-
New Zealand Rugby Coaching Series Tape 1 - Coaching Rucking and Mauling
New Zealand Rugby Coaching Series Tape 2 - Backline Attack and Defense Coaching Techniques
New Zealand Rugby Coaching Series Tape 3 - Coaching Scrum and Lineout Technique
WEEK ONE – BASIC GAME EXPLAINATION
• Rugby’s idiosyncrasies
• Introduction of Rugby-specific vocabulary
• Women’s versus Men’s rugby
• How scoring works
• Basic Pillars of Rugby (never go alone, always run forward/pass backwards, go down with the ball and place the ball on the ground vs. throwing it away, possession is key)
WEEK TWO – POSITIONS
• Learn the names of every position on the field
• Learn what jersey numbers mean
• Difference between the Line and the Scrum
WEEK THREE – TACKLING
• Basics of tackling techniques
• Three levels of tackling (stationary, running head on, side approach)
• More advanced tackling methods (dump tackling)
WEEK FOUR – RUCKING AND MAULING
• Basics of rucking and mauling - what’s the difference?
• When to ruck, when to maul
*In-class viewing: New Zealand Rugby Coaching Series Tape 1 - Coaching Rucking and Mauling
WEEK FIVE – THE SCRUM
• Tight five versus loose forwards
• Green/Black strategy for scrum placement during life ball play
• Scrum plays (8man pickup, 34 call from lineout)
*In-class viewing: New Zealand Rugby Coaching Series Tape 3 - Coaching Scrum and Lineout Techniques
WEEK SIX – THE LINE
• Link between the Scrumhalf and Flyhalf
• Weakside versus Strongside
• Staying steep and in your lane
• Line plays & lingo
*In-class viewing: New Zealand Rugby Coaching Series Tape 2 - Backline Attack and Defense Coaching Techniques
WEEK SEVEN – PENALTIES
• Learn about Knock-on’s, Lineouts, Advantage play
• Penalty plays (bandicoot, shotgun)
• What not to do in Rugby: high tackles, always play to the whistle
WEEK EIGHT – HISTORY OF RUGBY
• Who invented rugby? Where did it come from?
• The shape of rugby today as opposed to in the past
• Rugby stereotypes and common conceptions/misconceptions
WEEK NINE – THE SOCIAL
• What makes rugby different from any other sport
• Role of alcohol in rugby
• The social as a way to foster a sense of community, even between rival teams
• Serves to balance the aggressive nature of the game itself by bonding with the other team after excessive and brutal displays of violence and aggression.
WEEK TEN - EXAM!!!!
• 20 MINUTE WRITTEN COMPONENT (SHORT ANSWERS, FILL-IN-THE BLANKS) AND 10 MINUTE SKILL COMPETANCE DEMONSTRATION
WEEK ELEVEN – PROFESSIONAL RUGBY
• Watch a professional game to get a sense of how rugby should look/sound/feel
*In-class viewing: All Blacks vs. South Africa
WEEK TWELVE – RUGBY-RELATED GAMES DAY!
• Ultimate Rugby, kick ball, Touch
• Drills: four corners, ring of fire, fanning, draw the defender
*Activity: come up with your own drill that practices one or more of the skills that we have discussed in class
• Rugby graduation