Foot speed for rugby
Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:42
Because rugby is a multi-directional sport, foot speed is vital for effective and efficient positioning, particularly on the advantage line. Missing a tackle or avoiding a defender is often reliant on foot speed.
Here we give stats concerning getting possession, mainly at scrums and line-outs.
Foot speed is part of speed and agility and is the ability to touch the foot quickly to the ground while reducing the time that the foot is in contact with the ground.
How fast you move your feet is dictated by how efficiently the joints of the lower body work with each other and this can be enhanced with agility training drills.
Training Ideas for developing foot speed
Two great training aids for developing foot speed and agility are the Foot Speed Ladder and Skipping Rope.
The ladder forces legs and feet to adapt to the demands of the spaces between rungs and provoke fast patterns of footwork. The length of the Ladder allows for repeated movements for fast and effective learning, and the rungs may be manipulated for a variety of drills.
Skipping encompasses foot speed, arm speed, body control and reaction and is perfect as a completion to a warm-up and prior to a dedicated speed agility session for developing arm and foot speed.
For more information visit www.fitness4rugby.com