Welcome to the Pack!

• Mark the main playing area (roughly 20m × 25m) with clear boundaries and runoff space.
• Set out two safe islands at opposite ends for Shark Attack.
• Pre-size tag belts and check the tags are present — Tails needs about five minutes for fitting belts and the safety demonstration.
• Set out five short 1v1 lanes, each with a marked central zone and a waiting spot.
• Mark four team areas for the Team Passing Game and put one ball per team at pitch-side.
• Have two colours of bibs ready for the Big Pup Tag Game, plus spare cones within reach.

1. 1PAWS Welcome0–4 min · 4 minMeet the Pack and learn the commands

   How it works

   1. Introduce yourself, Pickle and the mission to become Rugger Pups.
   2. Teach “PAWS… READY!” for go and “Freeze Paws!” for stop and listen.
   3. Explain the boundaries and safety expectations.
   4. Encourage listening, kindness and looking after teammates.

   Coaching focus · “Eyes on the coach when stopped”

   Setup & equipment

   1. Gather the children in a designated coaching area.

   Coaching detail

   “Look after your teammates” · “Stay inside the boundaries” · “Have fun”

   Commands

   1. “PAWS… READY!” — Go
   2. “Freeze Paws!” — Stop and listen

   Safety

   • Keep this introduction short.
   • Do not introduce tag belts yet.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Introduce yourself, Pickle and today's mission: becoming part of the Rugger Pups pack.
   2. Introduce the commands (below).
   3. Briefly explain the playing boundaries and safety expectations.
   4. Emphasise listening, kindness and looking after teammates.
2. 2Adventure Journey4–11 min · 7 minMove, imagine and explore

   ⚑ No balls or tag belts

   How it works

   1. Ask the pups where they want to go.
   2. Choose transport and act out the journey together.
   3. Arrive and ask which animals live there.
   4. Move like the animals the children suggest.

   Coaching focus · “Show me how we travel!”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Coach
   • Child / attacker
   • Cone
   • Arrow = movement

   Setup & equipment

   1. Use the main playing area.
   2. No rugby balls or tag belts are required.
   3. Children spread out with enough room to move safely.

   Coaching detail

   “What animal are we now?” · “Find your own space!” · “Freeze Paws!”

   Commands

   1. “PAWS… READY!” — Go
   2. “Freeze Paws!” — Stop and listen

   Ideas & variations

   Destination ideas

   • Jungle
   • Zoo
   • Farm
   • Beach
   • Under the sea
   • Australia
   • Safari
   • Or another child-led destination

   Transport ideas

   • Plane
   • Boat
   • Train
   • Jeep
   • Helicopter
   • Rocket
   • Walking
   • Swimming

   Journey movement ideas

   • Running like a plane
   • Steering a jeep
   • Bouncing over bumps
   • Rowing a boat
   • Ducking under branches
   • Climbing
   • Swimming
   • Jumping over puddles

   Animal movement ideas

   • Stomp like an elephant
   • Leap like a monkey
   • Crawl like a crocodile
   • Prowl like a tiger
   • Slither like a snake
   • Hop like a kangaroo
   • Waddle like a penguin

   Safety

   • Keep children inside the marked area.
   • Maintain safe spacing.
   • Avoid high-risk animal movements or collisions.
   • Adapt movements to the available surface and space.
   • Keep the activity flowing rather than stopping for long explanations.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Ask: “Where should the Rugger Pups go today?” Encourage somewhere with lots of animals — let the children choose.
   2. Ask: “How are we going to get there?” Let the children suggest the transport.
   3. Everyone acts out the journey together.
   4. Announce that the group has arrived, then ask: “What animals live here?”
   5. Everyone moves like the animals the children suggest.
   6. Use “Freeze Paws!” to stop, gather attention and choose the next part of the adventure; restart with “PAWS… READY!”

   Purpose

   • A fun, imaginative, child-led warm-up that gets children moving, talking and laughing while building confidence, coordination and listening.
   • It should feel like a Rugger Pups adventure, not a rugby drill.

   No formal progression is needed — the changing destination, transport and animals naturally vary the movement. The ideas above are examples only; let the children choose.

3. 3Shark Attack11–19 min · 8 minDodge defenders and find space

   ⚑ No tag belts

   How it works

   1. Start on one safe island; cross on “Shark Attack!”.
   2. Sharks catch runners with a gentle shoulder or upper-arm touch.
   3. Caught runners continue to the opposite island and join the next round; nobody is out.
   4. Rotate sharks frequently, keeping to about four unless the area safely allows more.

   Coaching focus · “Look for gaps”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Safe island at each end
   • Child / attacker
   • Shark (2)
   • Coach

   Setup & equipment

   1. Use the two safe islands at opposite ends of the pitch.
   2. Choose two sharks to start in the middle.

   Coaching detail

   “Dodge defenders” · “Change speed” · “Change direction” · “Stay in control”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Give some runners rugby balls to carry while escaping the sharks.

   Make it easier: Use one shark and a wider pitch.

   Level it up: Runners carrying a ball must keep it in two hands.

   Safety

   • No pushing, grabbing or rough contact.
   • Spread children along the starting line to reduce crowding.
   • Caught runners keep moving to the opposite island — nobody stops in the middle.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Children start on one safe island.
   2. On “Shark Attack!”, they run to the opposite island.
   3. Sharks catch runners with a gentle touch on the shoulder or upper arm.
   4. When caught: the runner continues safely to the opposite island and joins the next round. They do not stop in the middle and are not eliminated.
   5. Rotate sharks frequently.
   6. Avoid using more than about four sharks at one time, unless the area is large enough to stay safe and uncrowded.
4. 4Tails19–30 min · 11 minLearn safe tag-belt skills

   ⚑ First introduction to tag belts

   How it works

   1. Fit two hip tags; demonstrate safe tagging and reattaching.
   2. Choose three taggers; everyone else protects their tags.
   3. When tagged, stop; the tagger hands the tag directly back.
   4. Reattach and rejoin; rotate taggers every 60–90 seconds.

   Coaching focus · “Eyes up”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Child / attacker
   • Tag belt
   • Tagger (3)
   • Coach
   • Arrow = movement

   Player icons are representative — use the group numbers in the instructions.

   Setup & equipment

   1. Allow about five minutes to fit belts, demonstrate safe tagging and practise the technique.
   2. Each child wears two tags, one on each hip.
   3. Where possible, pre-size/check the tag belts before the children arrive to reduce fitting time.

   Coaching detail

   “Side-step” · “Find space” · “Tag safely” · “Return tags”

   Short demonstration

   1. How to wear a tag belt correctly.
   2. How to remove a tag safely.
   3. How to stop when tagged.
   4. How to return the tag.
   5. How to reattach it before continuing.

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Start with two taggers.

   Level it up: Add a fourth tagger for short bursts.

   Safety

   • No grabbing clothing, pulling belts, pushing or tackling.
   • Hand tags back directly — no throwing tags or leaving them on the ground.
   • If fitting belts takes longer, shorten the game — never rush the safety demonstration.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Choose three taggers.
   2. Everyone else moves around the area trying to keep their tags.
   3. When a tag is removed, the tagger hands it directly back to its owner. Tags are never thrown or deliberately left on the ground.
   4. When tagged, a child stops, gets their tag back, reattaches it and rejoins.
   5. Rotate taggers every 60–90 seconds.
5. 5Spike's Escape Challenge30–40 min · 10 minDodge through the lanes to score

   How it works

   1. Send one ball-carrying attacker against one defender in each lane.
   2. The attacker runs past to score; the defender tries to remove one tag.
   3. Start with the defender restricted to the central zone.
   4. Rotate after every attempt so everyone attacks and defends.

   Coaching focus · “Attack space”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Try line / end zone
   • Attacker with ball / 2 waiting
   • Defender
   • Cone

   Setup & equipment

   1. Create five short 1v1 lanes.
   2. Five groups of four — one group per lane.
   3. Each lane: one attacker with a ball, one defender, two children waiting in a marked safe starting position.

   Coaching detail

   “Change speed” · “Side-step” · “Carry the ball securely” · “Defend safely”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Easier starting version: restrict the defender to a small central zone within the lane. The attacker can use the full lane — more chances to succeed and practise changing direction.
   • Progression: when children are confident, allow the defender to move freely throughout the lane.
   • Further level-up: make the lane slightly narrower and/or let the defender begin closer to the attacker.

   Make it easier: Keep the defender in the small central zone; the attacker uses the full lane.

   Level it up: Defender moves freely, then make the lane slightly narrower and/or let the defender start closer.

   Safety

   • Keep lanes clearly separated.
   • Stop children running into neighbouring lanes.
   • All five lanes must stay visible to the coach.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. The attacker tries to run past the defender and score a try.
   2. The defender tries to remove one of the attacker's tags.
   3. Rotate after each attempt so everyone attacks and defends.
6. 6Team Passing Game40–48 min · 8 minPass and move together

   How it works

   1. Work in teams within your marked areas.
   2. Complete three passes before scoring a try.
   3. Encourage every child to touch the ball.
   4. For this Week 1 introduction only, passes may go in any direction.

   Coaching focus · “Call for the ball”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Team of 5
   • Rugby ball
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Try line / end zone

   Setup & equipment

   1. Four teams of five.
   2. Each team has one rugby ball and a clearly marked working area.

   Coaching detail

   “Show your hands” · “Look for teammates” · “Work together” · “Support the ball carrier”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Introduce sideways and backwards passing.
   • Encourage children to move into space after passing.

   Make it easier: Two passes before a try.

   Level it up: Everyone in the team must touch the ball before a try.

   Safety

   • Keep teams in their own areas and avoid collisions.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Teams complete three passes before scoring a try.
   2. Encourage every child to touch the ball.
   3. Modified rule for this intro: passes may go in any direction.

   Standard rugby passing rule: Rugby passes normally travel sideways or backwards, not forwards. The Week 1 any-direction rule is a temporary learning modification. Introduce sideways/backwards passing progressively as the children become confident.

7. 7Big Pup Tag Game48–56 min · 8 minPlay your first tag game

   How it works

   1. Choose one 10v10 game, or two 5v5 games only when both can be safely supervised.
   2. Ground the ball over the try line to score.
   3. When tagged, stop and pass; the defender returns the tag and the player reattaches it before continuing.
   4. Keep restarts quick and encourage passing, support and teamwork.

   Coaching focus · “Find space”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   Option A — One game · 10 v 10

   Option B — Two games · 5 v 5 on each pitch

   Use only when both games can be supervised safely.

   Player icons are representative — use the team numbers shown above.

   • Attacking team
   • Defending team
   • Try line / end zone
   • Coach
   • Arrow = movement

   Setup & equipment

   1. Use the main pitch and end zones already in place.
   2. Two colours of bibs.

   Coaching detail

   “Run forward” · “Pass to teammates” · “Support the ball carrier” · “Defend safely” · “Work together”

   Simplified Week 1 rules

   1. Score a try by grounding the ball over the try line.
   2. A defender removes one tag to stop the ball carrier.
   3. The tagged player stops and passes to a teammate.
   4. The defender returns the tag.
   5. The player reattaches the tag before continuing.
   6. No tackling, pushing, grabbing or blocking.
   7. Quick restarts.
   8. Involve your teammates.

   Ideas & variations

   Option A — One 10v10 match(default)

   • Simplified tag rugby on the main pitch.
   • All 20 children play.
   • Default option.

   Option B — Two 5v5 matches

   • Two adjacent mini-pitches played at the same time.
   • Stand where you can see both games.
   • Only use when children understand the rules and you can safely supervise both.
   • Both games stop together on “Freeze Paws!”

   Make it easier: Pause briefly after each tag so children can reset.

   Level it up: A try only counts after at least one pass.

   Safety

   • No tackling, pushing, grabbing or blocking.
   • Keep every playing area in your view.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. A proper game-based finish. Choose the most appropriate match format below on the day.
   2. Keep the game flowing with quick restarts.
   3. Encourage passing, support play and teamwork.

   These are introductory modified rules, not a complete formal tag rugby ruleset.

8. 8PAWS Huddle & Collection56–60 min · 4 minCelebrate and tidy up together

   How it works

   1. Collect balls and tag belts.
   2. Praise effort, kindness and teamwork.
   3. Ask what the children enjoyed most.
   4. Close with “Once a Pup…” — “ALWAYS A PUP!”.

   Coaching focus · “Well done, Pack!”

   Setup & equipment

   1. Gather the children together.

   Coaching detail

   “Who was kind today?” · “Once a Pup…”

   Safety

   • Follow the school's authorised parent/guardian collection and handover arrangements.
   • Do not allow children to leave unsupervised.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Collect rugby balls and tag belts.
   2. Praise examples of effort, kindness and teamwork.
   3. Ask one short question, e.g. “What did you enjoy most today?”
   4. Finish with the closing chant.

   Closing chant

   • Coach: “Once a Pup…”
   • Children: “ALWAYS A PUP!”

Total60 min

• Build confidence and feel part of the group.
• Move safely while finding space.
• Carry a rugby ball.
• Dodge and evade defenders.
• Wear and use tag belts correctly.
• Remove, return and reattach tags safely.
• Pass to teammates.
• Score tries.
• Experience introductory tag rugby games.

• 20 tag belts
• 40 tags plus a few spares
• 10–12 rugby balls
• 30 cones or flat markers
• 2 colours of bibs
• Whistle
• First-aid kit
• Access to drinking water

Main area · One main rectangular coaching area of roughly 20m × 25m (a guide only — adapt to the space and group), with clear outside boundaries and runoff space.

• Two end zones / safe islands at opposite ends, plus a central coaching and waiting area where useful.
• Keep the main boundaries and end zones in place all session — the same area runs movement games, Shark Attack, Tails, five 1v1 lanes, team passing and the final game.
• Avoid unnecessary cone resets. Mark a clear waiting position for activities with turns.
• Every active area must be visible and manageable by the single coach.
• Before starting, check the surface, boundaries, equipment and the school's safeguarding, first-aid, emergency and collection arrangements.