Teamwork Makes the Try Work

• Mark the main playing area (roughly 20m × 25m) with try lines at both ends.
• Mark four to six kennel scoring zones for Spike's Protect the Kennel.
• Set out the team cones for Circle Dash.
• Pre-size the tag belts and check every belt has two tags.
• Place 10–12 rugby balls at pitch-side.
• Have two colours of bibs ready for the Big Pup Tag Game.

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

   How it works

   1. Quick recall: looking up, making decisions and attacking space.
   2. Introduce the mission: help your pack attack and defend together.
   3. Keep it short and energetic.

   Coaching focus · “Work together”

   Setup & equipment

   1. Gather the children in a designated coaching area.

   Coaching detail

   “Eyes on the coach when stopped” · “Look after your teammates”

   Commands

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

   Safety

   • Keep the recap short — the children learn by playing.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Quick recall: looking up, making decisions and attacking space.
   2. Introduce today's mission: help your pack attack and defend together.
   3. Keep it short and energetic.
2. 2Pack Pairs4–11 min · 7 minMove and pass with your partner

   How it works

   1. One partner leads, one follows; swap regularly.
   2. Add one ball per pair and pass sideways/backwards while moving.
   3. After passing, find a new visible space alongside or behind the carrier.

   Coaching focus · “Stay together”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Pair of children
   • Rugby ball
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Cone
   • Coach

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. Pairs spread around the main area.

   Coaching detail

   “Talk to your partner” · “Swap” · “Sideways or backwards”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Walk first, then jog.

   Level it up: Add a ball and pass while moving.

   Safety

   • Spread the pairs out to avoid collisions.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Pairs move around the area together — one leads, one follows.
   2. Swap regularly so everyone leads.
   3. Add one ball per pair and pass sideways/backwards while moving. After passing, move into a new space alongside or behind the carrier where your partner can see you.
3. 3Rescue Pups11–19 min · 8 minFree your partner with a pass

   How it works

   1. Pairs with one ball; taggers chase and tagged children freeze.
   2. Partner rescues with one short sideways/backwards pass.
   3. Return and reattach the tag, then rejoin — nobody is out.
   4. Passer moves alongside/behind into new visible support space.

   Coaching focus · “Help your partner”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Pair of children
   • Tag belt
   • Tagger (3)
   • Ringed = frozen child
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Rugby ball
   • Coach

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. Children work in pairs with one ball per pair; everyone wears a tag belt.
   2. Choose a few taggers and rotate them frequently.

   Coaching detail

   “One short pass” · “Sideways or backwards” · “Tag safely”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Fewer taggers.

   Level it up: Add an extra tagger for short bursts.

   Safety

   • No pushing, grabbing or rough contact.
   • Hand tags back directly.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. When one member of a pair is tagged, they freeze.
   2. Their partner frees them by completing one short sideways/backwards pass with them.
   3. After the rescue, the passer moves into a new visible support space alongside or behind the new carrier. Reattach the returned tag before rejoining; nobody is eliminated.
   4. Rotate taggers frequently.
4. 4Circle Dash19–27 min · 8 minPass and dash around the circle

   How it works

   1. Four groups of five in loose horseshoes, all facing the same way.
   2. Pass sideways/backwards; receiver takes a small step to meet the ball.
   3. On your signal, the selected pup dashes outside to a new space.
   4. Progression: more than one active runner.

   Coaching focus · “Call for the ball”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • 5 children in a loose horseshoe; face up the page
   • Rugby ball
   • Dashed = sideways/backwards pass
   • Solid = outside dash
   • Cone

   Setup & equipment

   1. Four groups of five form loose horseshoes, all facing the same direction, with one ball per group.
   2. Mark an outside team cone for each group; keep the familiar Circle Dash race.

   Coaching detail

   “Quick passes” · “Run the outside” · “Keep it moving”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Walk the runner's route first.

   Level it up: Two active runners at once.

   Safety

   • Keep circles well separated.
   • Runners go around the outside, not through the circle.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Keep a loose horseshoe facing the same direction: pass sideways/backwards to a teammate who takes a small step to meet the ball. No forward passes.
   2. On the coach's signal, the selected player runs around the outside and returns to a new space.
   3. Keep it moving and fun.
   4. Progression: more than one active runner.
5. 5Pickle's Pack Attack27–36 min · 9 minAttack together as a pack

   How it works

   1. Three attackers use legal sideways/backwards passes and support to reach the line.
   2. One defender starts delayed; one player waits. Rotate quickly.
   3. Talk and move after passing.
   4. Progression: defender starts earlier.

   Coaching focus · “Talk to each other”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Try line / end zone
   • 3 attackers + 1 waiting per channel
   • Defender / tagger
   • Rugby ball
   • Dashed = backwards pass; attack travels up
   • Arrow = movement

   Setup & equipment

   1. Four groups of five in wide channels: three attackers, one defender and one waiting player.
   2. The defender starts slightly delayed; support stays alongside or behind the carrier. Rotate after each attempt.

   Coaching detail

   “Support the ball carrier” · “Pass sideways or backwards” · “Attack the space”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Defender waits two seconds before moving.

   Level it up: Defender starts earlier or add a second defender.

   Safety

   • Keep channels clearly separated.
   • Defenders tag safely — no grabbing.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Three attackers attempt to move the ball toward the scoring line using short sideways/backwards passes and support after passing.
   2. The defender begins slightly delayed.
   3. Attackers must communicate and support — keep numbers small, e.g. 3 attackers versus 1 defender.
   4. Progression: the defender starts earlier.
6. 6Spike's Protect the Kennel36–45 min · 9 minProtect your kennel together

   How it works

   1. Teams carry and pass sideways/backwards into their kennel.
   2. Roaming defenders tag carriers: stop and pass before continuing.
   3. Return and reattach tags; passer moves into useful support.
   4. No stealing balls from hands — cooperation over big scores.

   Coaching focus · “Work together”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Child / attacker
   • Rugby ball
   • Defender / tagger
   • Team kennels
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Arrow = movement
   • Coach

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. Create several “kennels” or scoring zones.
   2. Teams each have a kennel; roaming defenders tag ball carriers.

   Coaching detail

   “Pass before you continue” · “Protect the ball” · “Find space”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Fewer roaming defenders.

   Level it up: Add an extra roaming defender.

   Safety

   • No stealing balls from hands.
   • No pushing, grabbing or rough contact.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Teams work together to carry and pass rugby balls safely into their kennel while roaming defenders try to tag ball carriers.
   2. A tagged ball carrier stops and passes sideways/backwards before continuing. Return and reattach the tag before rejoining; the passer moves into useful support space.
   3. No stealing balls from hands.
   4. The emphasis is cooperation, not accumulating huge scores.
7. 7Big Pup Tag Game45–56 min · 11 minPlay tag rugby as a team

   How it works

   1. Choose one 10v10 game, or two 5v5 games only if both can be supervised safely.
   2. Coach focus: support each other in attack AND organise together in defence.
   3. No bonus scoring.

   Coaching focus · “Support in attack”

   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 try lines already in place.
   2. Two colours of bibs.

   Coaching detail

   “Organise in defence” · “Talk to each other” · “Pass sideways or backwards”

   Years 3–4 tag rules

   1. Score a try by grounding the ball over the try line.
   2. Passes travel sideways or backwards — never forwards.
   3. A defender removes one tag and calls “TAG!”.
   4. The ball carrier stops as quickly and safely as possible and passes to a teammate.
   5. The defender immediately returns the tag.
   6. The player replaces the tag before fully rejoining play.
   7. No tackling, pushing, grabbing clothing, blocking defenders or ripping the ball.

   Ideas & variations

   Option A — One 10v10 match(default)

   • Years 3–4 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.
   • Use two simultaneous games only when both can be supervised safely.
   • Both games stop together on “Freeze Paws!”

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

   Level it up: Encourage the defence to talk and move up together.

   Safety

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

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Normal Years 3–4 tag game — choose the match format on the day.
   2. Coach focus: support each other in attack AND organise together in defence.
   3. No bonus scoring.
8. 8Huddle & Collection56–60 min · 4 minCelebrate and tidy up together

   How it works

   1. Collect the balls and tag belts.
   2. Ask: “What did a good teammate do today?”
   3. Praise effort, courage and safe play.
   4. Finish with the chant.

   Coaching focus · “Well done, Pack!”

   Setup & equipment

   1. Gather the children together.

   Coaching detail

   “Heads up, tails up…”

   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. Ask: “What did a good teammate do today?”
   3. Praise effort, courage and safe play.
   4. Finish with the closing chant.

   Closing chant

   • Coach: “Heads up, tails up…”
   • Children: “RUGGER PUPS!”

Total60 min

• Communicate and work with a partner.
• Support the ball carrier in attack.
• Organise together in defence.
• Free teammates with a legal pass.

• 20 tag belts
• 40 tags plus a few spares
• 10–12 rugby balls
• 35–40 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, with clear boundaries, runoff space and try lines at both ends.

• Several kennel scoring zones marked around the area for Spike's Protect the Kennel.
• Keep the main boundaries in place all session — only a handful of cones move between activities.
• 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.