Year 4 Tag Rugby Lesson 2

Each pupil runs freely around the space, carrying a ball (any type of ball can be used if rugby balls are limited).

• On the command “DOWN”, pupils place their ball on the ground and continue moving around the area.
• On the command “UP”, pupils pick up the nearest ball and keep running.

Encourage pupils to collect the ball smoothly without stopping, keeping their head up and staying aware of others.

Safety: Remind pupils to look where they are going and avoid collision.

Extension: On the command “DOWN”, pupils find the nearest partner and roll the ball to each other before picking it up and continuing to move.

Set up: Split the class into teams of at least five pupils. Each team has a home nest (a hoop). Place a central nest in the middle of the area containing rugby balls (or a range of large balls if rugby balls are limited).

How to play:

• One pupil at a time runs from their team to the central nest.
• They pick up one ball, carry it back, and place it carefully into their team’s hoop.
• Balls must be placed, not dropped (dropping counts as a knock-on).
• Only one runner per team at a time and one ball per run.

Continue until the central nest is empty or for a set time.

Organisation: For large classes, create more teams or set up multiple games. Play several short rounds to keep intensity high.

Teaching points: Encourage pupils to pick up with two hands, get their foot close to the ball and carry close to their body when returning to their group.

Discussion: Why do we use two hands to collect the ball? Why does putting our foot close to the ball help? What could happen if we don’t pick up the ball cleanly?

Objective: To practice picking up from the floor into a run.

Set-up:

• Keep pupils in their same teams from the last activity.
• Mark out enough short channels for each group (5–8 metres long) using cones.
• Place one ball on the ground 2/3 metres in each channel (see diagram).
• Pupils work one at a time in each channel, with others waiting safely behind the start cone.

How to play:

• The pupil jogs towards the ball.
• As they reach it, they place their lead foot next to the ball, bend their knees, scoop the ball up with two hands, and keep their eyes on the ball.
• Without stopping, they accelerate forward to the end cone and place the ball down.
• Reset and the next pupil goes.

Teaching points: Bend your knees, don’t bend your back. Two hands on the ball (W Grip). Eyes down to pick up, then eyes up to run. Pick up and go, no stopping.

Extensions:

• Add a pass to a partner at the end cone.
• Start with a walk or jog, then increase speed.
• Place the ball slightly off the running line to encourage adjustment and control.

Easier: Reduce the distance and allow pupils to stop before picking up the ball. Harder: Add a light chaser starting behind the pupil.

Objective: To pick up the ball quickly and safely after a tag, using teamwork to keep possession and continue an attack in tag rugby.

Set-up:

• Mark out a 10 × 10 m inner square inside a 15 × 15 m outer square.
• Split the class into two teams of eight.
• The attacking team starts inside the inner square.
• The defending team spreads out around the outside of the outer square, ready to move in.

How to play:

• The teacher sets out a number of passes the attacking team must complete inside the inner square, e.g., 8.
• Once the passes are completed, attackers attempt to break out of the inner square and score a try over a designated try line beyond the outer square.
• Defenders may intercept passes or tag attackers once they leave the inner square.
• No forward passes are allowed once attackers have left the inner square.

Picking up the ball:

• If the ball carrier is tagged, they must place the ball on the ground.
• A teammate (not a defender) must move in, pick up the ball cleanly, and continue the attack.
• This encourages quick reactions, controlled ground-ball pick-ups, and support play.

Turnover rules: If the ball is dropped, intercepted, or picked up incorrectly, teams swap roles.

Easier: Allow attackers to pass forward once outside the inner square to increase success and confidence.

Discussion: Why were accurate passes necessary before leaving the inner square? Where did you move to support the ball carrier once you left the square? How did talking or signalling help your team attack? How did picking up the ball quickly change what happened next?