The Big Game Day

• Mark the main playing area (roughly 20m × 25m) with try lines at both ends.
• Set out the golden try zones around the edges of the area.
• 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 Game Day.
• Be ready to re-mark the children's chosen replay game (Crocodile Crossing, Fox & Hounds or Tails Reloaded).

1. 1Welcome0–4 min · 4 minWarm up for the Big Game Day

   How it works

   1. Celebrate reaching Week 6 — the Big Game Day.
   2. Very short recap of the journey.
   3. Introduce the mission: show what your pack has learned and enjoy playing together.

   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” · “Have fun”

   Commands

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

   Safety

   • Keep the welcome short — this week is about playing.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Celebrate reaching Week 6 — the Big Game Day.
   2. Very short recap of the journey through the programme.
   3. Introduce today's mission: show what your pack has learned and enjoy playing together.
2. 2Adventure Journey Finale4–11 min · 7 minThe pups choose the adventure

   ⚑ No balls or tag belts

   How it works

   1. Let the pups choose the destination, transport and animals.
   2. Pairs choose between two safe routes and move like their animals.
   3. Scan and adapt when another pair fills a gap.
   4. One quick explanation of the choice — then play again.

   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.

   Coaching detail

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

   Safety

   • Keep children inside the marked area.
   • Maintain safe spacing and avoid high-risk movements.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Child-led — let the group choose the destination, transport and animals.
   2. High energy and playful.
   3. Let pairs choose between two safe routes through the imagined landscape. Look up, adapt when another pair fills a gap and explain the choice in one quick sentence — then play again.
   4. Use “Freeze Paws!” to stop and “PAWS… READY!” to restart.
3. 3Pups' Choice Replay11–18 min · 7 minReplay your favourite game

   How it works

   1. Offer Crocodile Crossing, Fox & Hounds or Tails Reloaded.
   2. The children vote for their favourite.
   3. Replay the winner using the earlier activity rules.

   Coaching focus · “Play your favourite”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   If chosen: Crocodile Crossing

   • Safe bank
   • Child / attacker
   • Crocodile
   • Tag belt
   • Rugby ball
   • Coach

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

   If chosen: Fox & Hounds

   • Safe den
   • Child / attacker
   • Tag belt
   • Hound
   • Coach
   • Arrow = movement

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

   If chosen: Tails Reloaded

   • Child / attacker
   • Tag belt
   • Tagger (4)
   • Coach
   • Arrow = movement

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. Children vote between three favourite games from previous weeks.

   Coaching detail

   “Find space” · “Tag safely”

   Safety

   • Reuse the safety rules from the chosen earlier activity.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Offer Crocodile Crossing, Fox & Hounds or Tails Reloaded.
   2. Replay the winner using the earlier activity rules — do not create new versions.
   3. Keep the energy high and the explanations short.
4. 4Tails Team Challenge18–25 min · 7 minCollect tails as a team

   How it works

   1. Teams collect opposition tags; return and replace immediately.
   2. Call out clear spaces and help teammates escape.
   3. Change route when an opponent closes the gap — do not crowd one opponent.
   4. Short rounds; nobody is out and no individual rankings.

   Coaching focus · “Work as a team”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Team 1
   • Team 2 (bibs)
   • Tag belt
   • Coach
   • Arrow = movement

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. Split the group into teams.
   2. Everyone wears a tag belt.

   Coaching detail

   “Tag safely” · “Return the tag” · “Find space”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Larger teams and a wider area.

   Level it up: Smaller teams for short rounds.

   Safety

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

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Players attempt to collect opposition tags.
   2. Tags are immediately returned and replaced so nobody is eliminated.
   3. In short rounds, teammates call out clear spaces and move to help each other escape rather than crowding the same opponent. Change direction when an opponent closes a route.
   4. Do not rank individual children.
5. 5Pickle's Golden Try Hunt25–33 min · 8 minHunt for the golden tries

   How it works

   1. Pairs carry and pass sideways/backwards to different golden zones.
   2. Defender closes the route? Choose run or pass; support after passing.
   3. Explore every zone — no individual score recording.

   Coaching focus · “Hunt a new zone”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Golden scoring zones
   • Child / attacker
   • Rugby ball
   • Defender / tagger
   • Dashed = backwards pass; shown pairs attack up
   • Arrow = movement
   • Coach

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. Scatter several scoring gates/zones around the area.
   2. Children carry and pass rugby balls.

   Coaching detail

   “Pass sideways or backwards” · “Find space” · “Work together”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: Fewer defenders or no defenders.

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

   Safety

   • Spread the zones out to avoid collisions.
   • Defenders tag safely.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Children work in pairs with a ball, carrying and passing sideways/backwards to score in different zones while roaming defenders tag safely. Choose run or pass when a defender closes a route; move into support after passing.
   2. Make it exploratory — encourage trying every zone.
   3. No individual score recording.
6. 6Coach Paws' Pack Challenge33–41 min · 8 minBeat the Pack's own target

   How it works

   1. Set one whole-pack target: how many legal passes in 60 seconds, OR move every ball from end to end using passes and support.
   2. Repeat once and try to beat the Pack's own result.
   3. The children compete against the challenge, not each other.

   Coaching focus · “Work together”

   Pitch setup

   Tap to enlarge

   • Child / attacker
   • Rugby ball
   • End-to-end cooperative target; no defenders
   • Dashed arrow = pass
   • Arrow = movement
   • Coach

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

   Setup & equipment

   1. The whole group works together against a simple target.

   Coaching detail

   “Every pass counts” · “Support each other” · “Beat your own score”

   Ideas & variations

   Make it easier: A longer time limit or fewer balls.

   Level it up: A shorter time limit or more balls.

   Safety

   • Keep the group inside the marked area.
   • No throwing balls at teammates.

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. Choose a challenge: how many legal sideways/backwards passes can the whole Pack complete in 60 seconds? OR can the Pack move every ball safely from one end to the other using passes and support?
   2. Repeat once and try to beat the Pack's own result.
   3. The children compete against the challenge, not each other.
7. 7The Big Game Day41–56 min · 15 minPlay the big final game

   How it works

   1. Play the longest match of the programme — one 10v10, or two 5v5 only if both can be supervised safely.
   2. Normal Years 3–4 rules — no minimum passes, no bonus scoring, no complicated conditions.
   3. Let them PLAY — intervene mainly for safety, forward passes, tags, boundaries and restarts.

   Coaching focus · “Let them play”

   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

   “Find space” · “Support the ball carrier” · “Enjoy it”

   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: Step back and let the children run the game themselves.

   Safety

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

   More detail

   Full activity instructions

   1. The longest match period of the six weeks — choose the match format on the day.
   2. Normal Years 3–4 tag rugby rules.
   3. No minimum passes, no bonus scoring, no complicated conditions.
   4. Let them PLAY — intervene mainly for safety, obvious forward passes, tags, boundaries, restarts and keeping the game flowing.
8. 8Celebration Huddle56–60 min · 4 minCelebrate the whole programme

   How it works

   1. Celebrate the entire group.
   2. Recognise bravery, teamwork, improvement, kindness, effort and resilience.
   3. Do not rank children or pick a “best player”.
   4. Finish the programme 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. Celebrate the entire group — do not rank children and do not select one “best player”.
   2. Recognise examples of bravery, teamwork, improvement, kindness, effort and resilience.
   3. Finish the programme with the closing chant.

   Closing chant

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

Total60 min

• Celebrate everything the pack has learned.
• Play with confidence, kindness and teamwork.
• Enjoy the longest game of the programme.

• 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.

• Golden try zones around the edges for Pickle's Golden Try Hunt.
• 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.