If line outs are uncontested, but you will get pinged for not straight throws, why wouldn't you just throw to the fat kid at 1 every time?
(still trying to believe uncontested lineouts exist above under 9's)
I suppose that could be done if your sole interest is winning the ball at a lineout.
come 12 months later that ploy isn't as good any longer.
It also really really stifles the options available to you (though caveats on that due to the almost certain throw to two at this age - see above)
It has absolutely no development value whatsoever - in the medium to long term it doesn't help at all.
Its not just about coaching to win at this age group. Or rather is SHOULDN'T be. IMO and E.
For years as an age group coach I have seen lineouts given short shrift at best in many AGs. To the extent that l/os exist of very little more than a "chuck the ball in and hope" scenario. Ive come into to help colts squads that have no discernible lineout skills and strategies other than the above. They get to this position because (IMO) their historical coaches didn't have the requisite knowledge to coach a meaningful lineout, don't find time to coach anything lineout orientated, or don't see it as important. In short there is no development. And more importantly the chuck it in and see what happens approach, allied to simple ruses to win the occasional ball (such as chuck it to the fat kid at #1) have no chance of being a standard strategy in a full on game at colts levels. In short the players have been let down massively by their coaching staff who failed to develop them. Ive seen colts age group coaches teaching the squads to slide the ball carrier backwards through the catch and maul... (no longer permissible of course) ... but ignoring the fact that their jumpers can't actually catch the bloody thing in the first place to use the skill.
I even see it happening at seniors level. where lineouts are practiced at a snail's pace, with no pressure, using the same calls and moves that failed to win any ball last Saturday.
This bloke has even blogged about it ;-)
https://web.archive.org/web/2011020....com/2011/01/24/lineout-training-its-a-crime/
didds