Fitness key in touch for long-time Australian representative
PETER Grayson doesn't call himself a coach, but that is what he does with the young Go Betweens team in Warwick Touch Association fixtures.
Grayson has played for Australia for the past 12 years in touch rugby and is in his 13th season with the Maroons.
He is in his second season with Go Betweens, a combination with experience and youth, in B-grade.
"Five of the players in a squad of 11 are still at school,” Grayson said.
MY PHILOSOPHY on coaching is that touch is a simple and fast game.
The aim once a player is touched is for a quick play the ball. The dummy half must be there immediately after the touch and the ball must be delivered quickly to the next player driving it through.
Being fit is essential in touch. You need enough players to make changes after no more than four rucks.
With our 11 players, there are six women and five men. The women will swap with the same player each time but as we only have five men, the changes are not as documented.
Our three youngest players are under the age of 13.
Our team has had training sessions on a Sunday afternoon where we work on our set moves.
The majority of touch teams in Warwick don't train so the teams that do train can better plan their set moves.
