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Place and Pick Relay

A team relay that teaches placing the ball back and picking it up cleanly.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Teams line up behind a cone.

Core: Steady. Beat your own steadiest base.

Ages
14 and up
Time
10 min
Players
Just you
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Rugby ball, cones, partners
Level · skill
Beginner · Breakdown

The steps

How it works

  1. Teams line up behind a cone.
  2. The first runner jogs to a mat, goes down safely and places the ball back.
  3. The next player runs out, picks up the ball and carries it on.
  4. Play 3 rounds, counting clean placements.

Coaching point

Place it long, pick it clean.

Safety: Practice on soft grass or a mat. Tuck your chin and keep your arms close. Stop if your neck or shoulders hurt.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Ball-presentation game: place the ball and set a strong base while a partner reads your position aloud, with no contact. Swap.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (slow), Core (steady), More (a quick reset). Beat your own steadiest base.

Story

You are a builder laying a firm foundation.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own steadiest base. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free rugby week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.