Run Like a Pup

• Reuse the Week 1 main area and two try/end zones — only small internal cone changes today.
• Pre-size tag belts: Shark Attack — Tag Edition needs belts on from the start.
• Have about half the rugby balls ready at pitch-side for Follow the Pack and Pup Traffic.
• Scatter several coloured cone gates well apart for Pickle's Escape Routes.
• Mark short attacking channels for Spike's Pass & Escape, each with a passing line, a waiting area and a defender zone.
• Keep the try lines clearly visible for the TRY! call, and have two colours of bibs ready for the final game.

1. 1PAWS Welcome & Recap0–4 min · 4 minWarm up and remember Week 1

   How it works

   1. Welcome the pack back and briefly recap Week 1.
   2. Introduce running with the ball, finding space and escaping defenders.
   3. Ask what happens when a tag is taken: stop, get it back, reattach, then continue when ready.
   4. Keep the recap short and active.

   Coaching focus · “PAWS!”

   Setup & equipment

   1. Gather the children in the normal coaching area.

   Coaching detail

   “READY!” · “Today we're learning how to escape defenders!”

   Commands

   1. Coach: “PAWS!” — Children: “READY!”
   2. “Freeze Paws!” — Stop and listen

   Safety

   • Keep this recap short.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Welcome the group back and briefly remind them what Week 1 introduced.
   2. Introduce today's mission: “Today we're learning how to run with the ball, find space and escape defenders.”
   3. Ask one quick recap question: “What do you do when someone takes your tag?” — Stop, get the tag back, reattach it, then continue when ready.
   4. Keep the recap short and active.

   Week 1 recap

   • Rugby balls
   • Tags
   • Passing
   • Scoring tries
2. 2Follow the Pack4–11 min · 7 minCopy the coach and move together

   How it works

   1. Have children copy your movements.
   2. After 2–3 minutes, call “Freeze Paws!” and give balls to about half the group.
   3. Restart with “PAWS!” — “READY!” and keep copying while carrying.
   4. Call “Freeze Paws!” before changing who has a ball.

   Coaching focus · “Eyes up”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. All children spread out inside the main playing area.
   2. Begin without rugby balls.

   Coaching detail

   “Find space” · “Change speed” · “Ball safe”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Make the coach's changes of direction slightly quicker so children have to react.

   Level it up: Slightly quicker changes of direction.

   Safety

   • Avoid collisions.
   • Stay inside the marked area.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Children copy the coach's movements.
   2. After about 2–3 minutes, call “Freeze Paws!”
   3. Give rugby balls to about half the children, then restart with “PAWS!” — “READY!”
   4. Children keep copying the movements while carrying a ball.
   5. Call “Freeze Paws!” before changing who has a ball.

   Movements to copy

   • Jog
   • Side-step
   • Accelerate
   • Slow down
   • Change direction
   • Quick feet
   • Stop and turn
3. 3Pup Traffic — Pass, Try, Escape11–19 min · 8 minRun, pass and score on command

   How it works

   1. Use Green to run, Amber to slow, Red to freeze and Blue to side-step.
   2. On “PASS!”, carriers stop and pass or hand to someone without a ball; resume once every ball changes owner.
   3. On “TRY!”, carriers attack the nearest try line and ground the ball while others move safely aside.
   4. Reset into the main area and prioritise controlled, successful exchanges.

   Coaching focus · “Eyes up”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Try line / end zone
   • Children with / without balls
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Solid arrow = TRY run
   • Children without balls defend (progression)
   • Coach

   Setup & equipment

   1. Use the main playing area.
   2. About half the children start with rugby balls; the other half without.
   3. Children wear tag belts if practical, or fit belts just before the defender progression.

   Coaching detail

   “Find the gap” · “Change direction” · “Run to space” · “Score the try”

   Commands

   1. Green — Run
   2. Amber — Slow down
   3. Red — Freeze
   4. Blue — Side-step

   New Week 2 commands

   1. PASS! — Ball carriers stop and pass or hand the ball to a child without one. Play resumes once every ball has changed owner.
   2. TRY! — Ball carriers attack the nearest try line and ground the ball. Children without balls move safely out of the way. Everyone resets into the main area.

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Add defenders (once PASS and TRY are understood): on TRY!, children without balls become defenders and try to remove one tag before the ball carrier reaches the try line.
   • If tagged, the attacker stops safely; the defender hands the tag directly back; the attacker reattaches it. Everyone resets for the next round.

   Level it up: On TRY!, children without balls become tag defenders.

   Safety

   • Keep the try lines clearly visible.
   • Prevent children bunching around one scoring area.
   • Only start the defender progression once the basic version is understood.
   • No tackling, grabbing or pushing.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Run the movement commands as usual, mixing in PASS! and TRY!
   2. Prioritise a controlled, successful exchange over technical passing perfection.
4. 4Shark Attack — Tag Edition19–28 min · 9 minDodge the sharks with tags on

   ⚑ Now with tag belts

   How it works

   1. Start on an island and cross on “Shark Attack!”.
   2. Sharks catch runners by removing one tag.
   3. Tagged runners continue to the opposite island, receive the tag directly back and reattach for the next round.
   4. Nobody is out; rotate sharks frequently and avoid more than about four unless space safely allows.

   Coaching focus · “Look for gaps”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Safe island at each end
   • Child / attacker
   • Shark (2)
   • Tag belt
   • Rugby ball
   • Coach

   Setup & equipment

   1. All children wear tag belts with two tags, one on each hip.
   2. Use the two safe islands at opposite ends of the pitch.
   3. Choose two sharks to start.
   4. Give a short reminder of safe tagging only — no full demonstration.

   Coaching detail

   “Change speed” · “Side-step” · “Escape the shark”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Give rugby balls to about half the runners and rotate them between rounds.
   • If the group is managing confidently, more runners may carry balls.

   Level it up: About half the runners carry rugby balls.

   Safety

   • No pushing, grabbing clothing or tackling.
   • Tags are handed back, not thrown.

   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 by removing one tag.
   4. When tagged: the runner continues safely to the opposite island, the shark hands the tag directly back, the runner reattaches it and joins the next round. Nobody is eliminated.
   5. Rotate sharks frequently. Avoid more than about four sharks at once unless the area stays safe and uncrowded.
5. 5Pickle's Escape Routes28–38 min · 10 minFind space through the gates

   How it works

   1. Move freely while carrying a ball.
   2. Call a gate colour.
   3. Run through an available gate of that colour, then change direction and find new space.
   4. This is not a race: choose open space rather than follow the crowd.

   Coaching focus · “Find space”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Coloured gate (two cones)
   • Child with ball
   • Slow tag defender (progression)
   • Coach
   • Arrow = movement

   Setup & equipment

   1. Scatter several cone gates around the main playing area — different colours if available.
   2. Children carry rugby balls. If there are not enough, work in pairs and swap regularly.

   Coaching detail

   “Don't follow the crowd” · “Change direction” · “Go through the gap”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Introduce a small number of slow-moving tag defenders who try to remove a tag from ball carriers. Ball carriers use the gates and space to escape. Rotate defenders frequently.

   Level it up: Add a few slow-moving tag defenders.

   Safety

   • Keep gates spread far enough apart to reduce collisions.
   • Avoid sending every child towards one gate.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Children move freely around the area carrying their ball.
   2. The coach calls a gate colour.
   3. Children find a gate of that colour, run through it, change direction afterwards and find new space.
   4. This is not a race — look for open space rather than follow the crowd.
6. 6Spike's Pass & Escape Challenge38–47 min · 9 minPass sideways, then beat the defender

   How it works

   1. The first passer passes sideways or slightly backwards to the attacker.
   2. The attacker catches, runs forward and tries to score while the defender attempts one tag.
   3. The passer becomes the next attacker; the previous attacker joins the back of the passing line.
   4. Keep the defender for a few turns, then rotate.

   Coaching focus · “Catch first”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Try line / end zone
   • Passer (with ball), attacker beside them, line waiting
   • Defender
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Arrow = movement

   Setup & equipment

   1. Create short attacking channels — enough to keep waiting time low while staying manageable for one coach.
   2. Each channel: one attacker in the attacking position, one defender, one passing line.
   3. All other attackers start in the passing line; the first child in the line has the ball.

   Coaching detail

   “Attack space” · “Change speed” · “Side-step”

   Ideas & variations

   Progression

   • Starting version: restrict the defender to a small central zone.
   • One progression only: when children are confident, let the defender move freely within the channel.

   Make it easier: Defender stays in a small central zone.

   Level it up: Defender moves freely within the channel.

   Safety

   • Keep channels clearly separated.
   • Waiting children stay behind the marked start area.
   • All active channels must stay visible to the coach.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. The first passer gives the ball to the attacker.
   2. The attacker receives the ball and runs forward to beat the defender.
   3. The defender tries to remove one tag.
   4. The attacker tries to score a try.

   Rotation

   • The passer moves into the attacking position.
   • The previous attacker joins the back of the passing line.
   • The defender stays for a few turns, then rotates.

   Say to the passer

   • Show your hands
   • Aim for your teammate
7. 7Big Pup Tag Game47–56 min · 9 minPlay tag rugby with passing

   How it works

   1. Choose one 10v10 match, or two 5v5 matches only if both can be safely supervised.
   2. Ground the ball over the try line to score.
   3. When tagged, stop; the defender returns the tag, the player reattaches it, then passes to a teammate.
   4. Pass sideways or backwards, not forwards.
   5. Encourage finding space, running forward, changing direction and supporting teammates.

   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” · “Beat the defender” · “Help your teammate”

   Simplified rules

   1. Ground the ball over the try line to score.
   2. A defender removes one tag to stop the ball carrier.
   3. The tagged player stops.
   4. The defender returns the tag.
   5. The player reattaches it.
   6. The ball is passed to a teammate.
   7. No tackling, pushing, grabbing or blocking.

   Ideas & variations

   Option A — One 10v10 match

   • Use when the group benefits from one closely supervised game.

   Option B — Two 5v5 matches

   • Use when children understand the rules and both pitches can be safely supervised.

   Safety

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

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Same basic game the children learned in Week 1. Choose the match format below on the day.
   2. Week 2 focus: find space, run forward, change direction, side-step and support teammates.
   3. Keep introducing sideways/backwards passing progressively, without technical refereeing stopping the flow.

   The coach chooses the format that best suits the group and space on the day. No bonus scoring or special rules.

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

   How it works

   1. Ask what helped children escape a defender.
   2. Praise effort, confidence, kindness and safe play.
   3. Finish with “Once a Pup…” — “ALWAYS A PUP!”.

   Coaching focus · “What helped you escape today?”

   Setup & equipment

   1. Gather the children.
   2. Collect rugby balls and tag belts.

   Coaching detail

   “Well done, Pack!” · “Once a Pup…”

   Safety

   • Follow the school's authorised collection and handover procedure.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Ask one short question: “What helped you get away from a defender today?” (e.g. side-step, change direction, run faster, find space).
   2. Praise examples of effort, confidence, kindness and safe play.
   3. Finish with the closing chant.

   Closing chant

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

Total60 min

• Run confidently with a rugby ball.
• Keep their eyes up while moving.
• Find space.
• Change direction.
• Change speed.
• Side-step.
• Pass to a teammate.
• Receive the ball and attack.
• Evade defenders using tag rugby.
• Score tries.
• Apply the skills in a simplified game.

• 20 tag belts
• 40 tags plus a few spares
• 10–12 rugby balls
• 30–35 cones or flat markers
• 2 colours of bibs
• Whistle
• First-aid kit
• Access to drinking water

Main area · Use the same main coaching area as Week 1 (roughly 20m × 25m, adapt to the space) with clear boundaries and two try / end zones at opposite ends.

• Keep the outside boundaries and try zones in place all session — only make small internal cone changes between activities.
• Scatter several cone gates (different colours if available) for Pickle's Escape Routes, spread far enough apart to reduce collisions.
• Mark short attacking channels for Spike's Pass & Escape Challenge, clearly separated, with a marked start area for waiting children.
• The final game area can be split into two adjacent mini-pitches if needed.
• Every active area must be visible and manageable by the single coach (up to 20 children).