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Communication & Calls
Communication between players is essential, none more so than on defense. A high level of communication allows for a more cohesive running of the defensive line, particularly regarding decisions that are made.
A high level of communication can also be used as a tool to talk the attacking team into believing that the defensive team knows exactly what the attacking team is about to do.
Defending anyone on the pitch – particularly on the try line does not allow much time to have a lengthy discussion on what is needed in defense. The communication needs to be short and effective. Some examples of short and effective calls are as follows:
| Call | Meaning |
| Balls mine / yours | Determines who is going to defend against the ball carrier |
| (Dummy) Half is mine / yours | Determines who is going to defend against the dummy half |
| Stay out | A reminder to the outside player not to worry about inside-attacking players getting around their inside players in defense |
| Into you | Letting players (usually standing inside of you) that if the attacking player should step back, the defensive responsibility will change |
| Sweeper | A defensive player sees an extra player in attack around the back of a potential ruck alerting fellow players of the play |
| Wrappers mine / yours | As a defensive player sees a wrap in attack a commitment to who has the wrapper is needed |
| Shut down | When a defensive player is beaten and needs support from his other players i.e. to leave the attacking player, to shut down the overlap |
| Damn It! | A try was probably scored |
| Squeeze | This is without doubt the most important call on defense! Squeezing is about getting the defenders tighter near the ball to reduce the size of the gaps between individual defenders. As the ball moves across the field through the hands of attacking players, so does the centre of the squeeze. As we always say, its like having an invisible rope tied around each of the defending players that is not more than a meter in length. When one player moves half a step to their left, you also take half a step to your left. If they take two steps to their right, then you should take two steps to your right etc, etc. |
