Why reaction speed?

Reaction speed for rugby is so important in order to ensure you’re the first one to engage in the scrum, time the pick up of an oddly bouncing ball, turn and chase a kick or make a tackle on an attacker you didn’t see coming. There is a huge spectrum of your game that can be improved with a little coordination and reaction training, and it only takes 5 minutes a day with one of these reaction speed tools.

Speed Reaction Ball

UK (£5.99) : 66fit Speed Reaction Ball 10cm – Speed Agility Sports Reflex Training Fitness

US: ($8) Champro Reaction Ball

The speed reaction ball is slightly larger than a tennis ball in size. Drop it from hip height and it’s uneven shape means that it will bounce in a random direction. Aside from being great for building reaction speed, it’s heaps of fun. More importantly, you notice results with this cheap, effective tool. If your hand eye coordination and reaction time is beyond tennis ball drills, a reaction ball is a good purchase. Wonderfully durable, it should last for years on end – a well made product. Whether it be used as a training tool, or for 10 bounces before every training session / game, it should be a staple in every rugby player’s kit bag.

 

Adidas Reaction Belt

UK (£25) : ADIDAS Reaction Belt – Black/Red/Blue

US: ($22) : adidas Reaction Belt

Somewhat more advanced, this reaction belt is basically a tie between two players. Brilliant for when footwork ladders, hurdles and other SAQ (speed, agility quickness) equipment gets monotonous.

With numerous drills to be performed with the belt, the jist is that one person leads whilst the other has to use quick reaction speed, footwork and awareness to keep up in an enclosed area. Hugely useful for rugby, each role is translatable into a game situation: trying to avoid contact and trying to make a tackle.

Where the reaction belt differs to a piece of rope that can be tied round two blokes is the belt’s comfort, the velcro quick release around the tie (necessary for some drills) and the belt’s 3 different tie lengths.

Obviously not a necessity for every rugby player but for those who wish to try something different and often practice with friends or a brother, this piece of kit is great fun. For coaches and clubs, this is definitely a bit of fun and more translatable into a game situation than a lot of other equipment on the market. However, it perhaps shouldn’t be number one on every club’s list if under a tight budget. A piece of rope or long rubber tubing could suffice in order to replicate the drills, albeit less comfortable. 

Gilbert Reflex Trainer

UK (£15) : Gilbert Men’s Reflex Rugby Catch Trainer, Size 5

US: ($34) : GILBERT REFLEX TRAINER BALL – SIZE 5

As covered in a previous article, the Gilbert Reflex Trainer really is great for rugby players wanting to improve their passing and reflexes. The comfortable elastic wrist straps allow countless passing repetitions without having to retrieve the ball. With slight adjustments to head position, you can use the reflex trainer solely relying on peripheral vision – critical in rugby when trying to receive a ball on the gain line whilst being tackled.

[As covered in a previous article]: https://rugbyreview1.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/elastic-band-rugby-ball/

 

 

Tennis Ball Reaction Drills

If you’ve not tried any reaction speed or coordination drills so far, there are plenty which can be performed solely with the use of a partner and a tennis ball. See the video above for ideas and some inexpensive tennis balls from Amazon below if you haven’t got any lying around the house. (It’s worth investing in some better quality balls to ensure they have enough bounce in them).

UK Tennis Balls: Head Championship 4 Ball Tennis Balls – Yellow

US Tennis Balls: Penn Championship XD Tennis Balls (Single Can/3 Balls)