Week 6: The Big Game Day

How to play

1. Tell the children: “Today is our Big Game Day! We're going to use everything we've learned as Rugger Pups.”
2. Briefly mention running, passing, dodging, teamwork and safe tagging.
3. Keep the excitement high and the explanation short.

Commands: Coach: “PAWS!” — Children: “READY!” · “Freeze Paws!” — Stop and listen

Coaching cues: “PAWS!” · “READY!” · “It's Big Game Day!”

Safety: Keep this short.

How to play

1. Ask: “Where should the Rugger Pups go for our final adventure?” Let the children choose.
2. Ask: “How are we getting there?” Act out the journey together.
3. When you arrive, ask: “What animals live here?” Move like the animals the children suggest.
4. Encourage running, jumping, dodging, crawling, weaving, changing speed and imaginative movement.
5. Use “Freeze Paws!” when changing parts of the adventure; restart with “PAWS… READY!”

Coaching cues: “Where shall we go?” · “How do we get there?” · “Show me your animal!” · “Find your own space!”

Safety: Maintain safe spacing. Keep children inside the marked area. Avoid dangerous animal movements.

A celebration version — don't force a destination and don't add technical rugby skills. No formal progression.

How to play

1. Offer a quick vote between up to three familiar favourites (below).
2. Play the winning game using its already-approved rules from earlier weeks.
3. Do not create new complex variations. The aim: “Your favourite Rugger Pups game is back!”

Shark Attack: Use the rules from earlier weeks (Week 1 / Week 2 Tag Edition). Caught runners carry on — nobody is out.

Crocodile Crossing: Use the Week 4 rules. Tag belts; nobody is out.

Tails: Use the Week 1 rules. Tags handed directly back; nobody is out.

Coaching cues: “Your favourite game is back!” · “Find space!” · “Play safely!”

Safety: Follow the safety points from the original version of the chosen game. No tackling, pushing or grabbing.

The coach may adjust the shortlist based on equipment, space and the group.

How to play

1. Children try to safely remove a tag from a player on the other team.
2. When they take a tag: return it directly, the tagged player reattaches it, and both carry on playing.
3. Team challenge: how many safe tags can your whole team make? Keep a rough total or simply celebrate good tagging.
4. Nobody is eliminated.

Coaching cues: “Find space!” · “Tag safely!” · “Help your team!” · “Return the tag!”

Progression: Introduce rugby balls to some players. No additional rules.

Safety: No tackling, pushing or grabbing clothing. Tags handed directly back.

How to play

1. Children try to score tries in different Golden Try Zones. After scoring in one zone, look for another.
2. Taggers try to remove tags before players reach a scoring zone.
3. When tagged: stop safely, the tag is returned, reattach it and carry on. Nobody is eliminated.
4. Aim: visit as many different scoring zones as possible. No need to record individual scores.

Coaching cues: “Find another try zone!” · “Look for space!” · “Escape the defender!” · “Score the try!”

Safety: Space the zones well apart. No tackling, pushing or grabbing. Tags handed directly back.

No progression needed.

How to play

1. Set a collective mission, e.g. “Can the Rugger Pups score 15 tries before Coach Paws finishes the countdown?” Use a sensible time period, not a very fast countdown.
2. Children work together to score tries.
3. If tagged: stop, receive the tag back, pass to a teammate, reattach and keep helping the pack.
4. Every try counts towards the whole group's target.

Coaching cues: “Help the pack!” · “Find space!” · “Pass to a pal!” · “Keep going!”

Progression: If they achieve the target, give one slightly higher final target. No extra rules.

Safety: Keep it cooperative. No tackling, pushing or grabbing.

How to play

1. Use the familiar Big Pup Tag Game rules. Choose the match format below on the day.
2. Let the children use everything they've learned: run with the ball, find space, dodge, change direction, pass sideways/backwards, support teammates, tag safely, score tries, be kind and work together.
3. No bonus scoring, no minimum pass counts and don't over-referee. Coach positively and keep the game flowing.

Option A — One 10v10 match: Use when the group benefits from one closely supervised match.

Option B — Two adjacent 5v5 matches: Use when both games can be supervised safely.

Simplified rules: Ground the ball over the try line to score. · A defender removes one tag. · The tagged player stops. · The defender returns the tag. · The player reattaches it. · The ball is passed to a teammate. · No tackling, pushing, grabbing or blocking.

Coaching cues: “Great space!” · “Nice pass!” · “Good tag!” · “Great teamwork!” · “Keep going!”

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

This should feel like a game, not a final assessment.

How to play

1. Ask: “What was your favourite part of being a Rugger Pup?”
2. Briefly celebrate what the children have learned — recognise effort, kindness, courage, teamwork and improvement.
3. Do not rank children or name a single best player.
4. Finish with the closing chant. A bigger final cheer or howl afterwards is fine if appropriate.

Closing chant: Coach: “Once a Pup…” · Children: “ALWAYS A PUP!”

Coaching cues: “What was your favourite part?” · “Well done, Rugger Pups!” · “Once a Pup…”

Safety: Follow the school's authorised collection and handover procedure.