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TAKING vs MAKING space
A thread:
I’ve recently had some great chats with @RICH_AgilityLab, @joelreinhardt & others around the concept of game speed and agility the past few weeks and thought I’d share some thoughts on it...
A thread:
I’ve recently had some great chats with @RICH_AgilityLab, @joelreinhardt & others around the concept of game speed and agility the past few weeks and thought I’d share some thoughts on it...
1) In attacking agility no matter which sport you play you need to find space.
Here are two guys who I’m lucky enough to work with, who are great at finding space:
Here are two guys who I’m lucky enough to work with, who are great at finding space:
2) However, how you go about achieving this space is afforded by many things, not least your physical capabilities & ability to coordinate movement into that space.
Both end up having the same outcome, but the tactics used to achieve that space differ a lot...
Both end up having the same outcome, but the tactics used to achieve that space differ a lot...
3) TAKING SPACE
In this clip you can see how Jonny May TAKES the space that the French team has given him. There’s not a lot given by the French D line but when you’re as quick as Jonny May is, and you’re very good at making subtle swerves whilst maintaining your speed...
In this clip you can see how Jonny May TAKES the space that the French team has given him. There’s not a lot given by the French D line but when you’re as quick as Jonny May is, and you’re very good at making subtle swerves whilst maintaining your speed...
4) TAKING SPACE
...you can take the minimal space the defence gives you and still end up with a positive outcome. A subtle dip to drop his CoM and then it’s back into upright running shapes. This is a good example of ‘manoeuvrability’ that @DocSoph talks about.
...you can take the minimal space the defence gives you and still end up with a positive outcome. A subtle dip to drop his CoM and then it’s back into upright running shapes. This is a good example of ‘manoeuvrability’ that @DocSoph talks about.
5) MAKING SPACE
In this clip theres not a lot of space available but Telusa Veainu MAKES space by manipulating the defence. His entry speed is far lower, but this then allows him to use harsher cuts/steps with some deception to create space that wasn’t there before...
In this clip theres not a lot of space available but Telusa Veainu MAKES space by manipulating the defence. His entry speed is far lower, but this then allows him to use harsher cuts/steps with some deception to create space that wasn’t there before...
6) MAKING SPACE
...A larger drop of CoM and feet outside his initial base of support allow him to decelerate and reaccelerate at much sharper angles. Paired with great contact balance & strength to bounce off the hit and eventually there’s an open road to the try line.
...A larger drop of CoM and feet outside his initial base of support allow him to decelerate and reaccelerate at much sharper angles. Paired with great contact balance & strength to bounce off the hit and eventually there’s an open road to the try line.
7) Both have successful outcomes (tries) but how they’ve been achieved is very different. Both have lent into their strengths: either by TAKING SPACE with raw speed and having superior manoeuvrability than their opponent...
8)...Or by MAKING SPACE by using deception and sharp, sudden cuts to get the defender off balance and exploit the space they leave behind.
9) If we take what we see from competition and apply it to when we take speed/agility sessions. We should hopefully better understand the nuances behind how players go about achieving the ultimate goal (finding space) and how then we train our athletes for it.
10) In some drills, you may want the athlete to have low entry speeds in tight areas, so they have to make sharp cuts to MAKE space. In others we may want them to carry their speed and make subtler movements to TAKE space that may be available.
11) Once we understand this, we can expose them to different learning environments that aim to develop and add to their toolbox. That way they then have multiple weapons available to them in their arsenal.
12) Then finally, if we collaborate with the rugby skills coaches then we can develop correct decision making, so that the player picks the right weapon at the right time. Enabling them the ability to either TAKE or MAKE space when the situation affords it.
