#SereviBoston

GAH I don't even know where to BEGIN when creating an overview of this experience.

I guess I can start off with admitting that I don't think I've ever practiced that much rugby consecutively over that span of time. It was basically like having 4 or 5 full practices along with scrimmages in one weekend. I literally woke up, went to training, trained all day, went home, went to bed, woke up the next day, repeated.

And IT.WAS.AWESOME. I only wish that was regular life and not just a weekend event. I wish I could do that full time, so so badly.

So now, if I want it that badly...NO RESTS. NO BREAKS. MOVING FORWARD AND NOT LOOKING BACK.

I'm exhausted and there's so many notes I wrote that I'm just going to regurgitate them straight from my physical rugby diary that I carry errywhere to scribble down things immediately.

CRAZY DRILL - set up 4 corners
- last person in each line: pass to next line (clockwise/counterclock), follow pass
**AT THE SAME TIME**
- first person in line: run diagonally across square, place ball en route, pick up ball on other side, quick turn around and long pass
...I drew a small diagram in my journal and I just tried to redo it in Paint.......it's a hot mess. Took me a few attempts in the drill itself before I even got it, so try to decipher that if you dare.

- remember sympathetic passing when in close quarters/not passing far

Practicing communication on defense
- break off into partners
    - one partner closes eyes
    - other partner directs
         - ex. shift left/right, fire up, back pedal
- everyone plays in a tight grid, need to guide around each other
- variations:
    - number everyone 1-4
    - odd #s (1+3) and even #s (2+4) have to pair up with each other
     - have partners periodically switch so they have to communicate to find a new odd/even #

Skills practiced: 
- communication/listening skills
- field awareness/spacing
- quick thinking
- setting up defensive lines
- passing
     - timing
     - skill
     - patience/keeping depth

"We'll get the next one...we'll get them next time....Hey, you'll get them next time...."
 - picking up a teammate after a mistake
- "They already know they missed the tackle or dropped the ball...they know they did something wrong, so they don't need to be reminded. Get them back up and keep going."

Stacking - keep one person behind the ball carrier
     - in support ready to ruck or can confuse the defense by running a quick switch

Watching a defender's hips when attacking: 
     - the pass/gap is where the defender's back is facing
....again, made a diagram in my journal and butchered the recreation

Basically, run/pass to the side that the defender's back is facing. If a defender is squared up against you, way to go defender but then you need to pick a side in order to draw them into one direction.

Positioning in tackling - split attacker's legs when positioning for a tackle

Rucking - remember 3 things:
     - low stance
     - drive
     - position/aim for a target
- DRILL: "Queen of the Ruck"
     - put handful of players in a small square
     - need to drive people out of square
    - last person in square is the winner
     - tactics: getting low, pairing up to drive one person out, pushing
       two people out, pulling them forward/out
- one on one rucking over a ball

Binding in a scrum: importance of neutral head
     - dictates straightness of the rest of your spine
     - "looking over sunglasses"
     - can be hard to maintain neutral head when pressure put on it
     - neck muscles are smaller/weaker than most
         - strengthen exercise: wrap a towel behind neck
                - pull on ends of towel

                - push against towel with neck/resist getting pulled down
    - 90 degrees
    - butt down
    - tight core
    - strengthening tool: we used a harness that looked like backpack straps you buckle in the front of your chest, as if you're strapping on a parachute. On the back is a metal clasp that attaches you to a tight strap. The strap is attached to a pole/something tight, and when you lean forward you're suspended in mid air. It feels as if you're engaged in a scrum and helps you practice the correct binding stance. IT IS A DEEP BURN IN THE QUADS AND CORE.

Running at angles - drill of doing hands in lines of 3
     - challenge: cannot end up in the same lane you start in
           - forces you to run switches, loops, etc.

"Baby airplanes" - holding hands out when firing up on defense
     - NOT GOOD because you give the attacker a target to run at (will run at "branches"/your arms instead of at your "trunk"/ strong body)
ex. boxers and wrestlers keep their arms in close for a stronger stance

PHEW! And that's all I've got!

....for now.