Back to Week 1

Detailed print — a concise two-page A4 edition (print double-sided). The full digital plan stays on the Week page.

RUGGER PUPSPlaybook

Week 1: Ready for the Pack

Programme
Years 3–4 — Six-Week Programme
Age group
Years 3–4 · ages 7–9
Duration
60 min
Coaching
1 coach · Up to 20 children
Mission
Move, tag and play like a team.
PAWS
Play with Purpose · Stay Safe & Strong

Learning objectives

  • Move confidently and find space.
  • Tag safely and return tags straight away.
  • Carry the ball while moving.
  • Pass sideways or backwards.
  • Play a proper Years 3–4 tag game.

Equipment checklist

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

Pitch setup

  • 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.
  • Try lines at both ends stay in place all session — the same area runs the movement games, gates, 1v1 channels and the Big Pup Tag Game.
  • Keep the main boundaries in place and move only a handful of cones 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.

Before the Pups Arrive

  • Mark the main playing area (roughly 20m × 25m) with try lines at both ends.
  • Set out six to eight cone gates around the area for Gate Escape.
  • Pre-size the tag belts and check every belt has two tags.
  • Mark five short 1v1 channels, each with a waiting spot.
  • Place 10–12 rugby balls at pitch-side, ready for Pup Traffic and Gate Escape.
  • Have two colours of bibs ready for the Big Pup Tag Game.

Session — 8 activities

1. Welcome & Pack Rules · 0–4 min (4 min)

Setup

Gather the children in a designated coaching area.

How to play

  1. Introduce yourself and today's mission: move, tag and play like a team.
  2. Cover the boundaries, the commands and safe tagging.
  3. Emphasise listening, kindness and looking after teammates.
  4. Keep it short — do not turn this into a lecture.

Commands: “PAWS… READY!” — Go · “Freeze Paws!” — Stop, freeze and listen

Coaching cues: “Eyes on the coach when stopped” · “Look after your teammates” · “Stay inside the boundaries”

Safety: Keep this introduction short. Check the children can all see and hear you.

2. Pup Traffic Challenge · 4–11 min (7 min)

Traffic lights first, then PASS: short sideways/backwards passes while the group keeps moving.
  • Coach
  • Child / attacker
  • Rugby ball
  • Cone
  • Dashed = short sideways/backwards pass
  • Solid = movement; passing pair travels up the page

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

Setup

Use the main playing area. Children spread out with room to move safely.

How to play

  1. Begin without balls: GREEN means run or move, AMBER means slow down and stay controlled, RED means freeze.
  2. Add TURBO, SIDE-STEP, U-TURN and FIND SPACE once the basic traffic lights are familiar.
  3. Introduce rugby balls to approximately half the group once the children understand the calls.
  4. On PASS!, ball carriers find a nearby teammate without a ball and make a short sideways or backwards pass — never forwards. The receiver becomes the new ball carrier.
  5. Movement resumes immediately; keep the activity moving rather than forming stationary pairs or long lines.
  6. PAWS… READY! starts the activity; Freeze Paws! stops the whole group for safety or coaching.

Traffic calls: GREEN — Run / move · AMBER — Slow down and stay controlled · RED — Freeze · TURBO — Accelerate into space · SIDE-STEP — Quick change of direction · U-TURN — Turn and move the opposite way · FIND SPACE — Move into a clear part of the area · PASS! — Short sideways/backwards pass to a nearby teammate without a ball

Coaching cues: “Look up” · “Find space” · “Sideways or backwards” · “Keep moving after the pass”

Safety: Keep children inside the marked area. Slow the group down if anyone looks out of control.

3. Tails Reloaded · 11–19 min (8 min)

Everyone wears a belt — 3–4 taggers, nobody is out.
  • Child / attacker
  • Tag belt
  • Tagger (4)
  • Coach
  • Arrow = movement

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

Setup

Every child wears a tag belt with two tags, one on each hip. Start with 3–4 taggers.

How to play

  1. Taggers remove one tag at a time.
  2. The child immediately gets the tag back, replaces it and continues.
  3. Nobody is eliminated — everyone keeps playing.
  4. Rotate taggers every 60–90 seconds.
  5. Introduce balls to about half the group. Ball carriers scan for a gap, change speed and keep two hands on the ball without covering their tags. Swap balls each round.

Coaching cues: “Eyes up” · “Side-step” · “Find space” · “Tag safely” · “Return the tag”

Safety: No grabbing clothing, pulling belts, pushing or tackling. Hand tags back directly — no throwing tags or leaving them on the ground.

4. Gate Escape · 19–27 min (8 min)

About half the group carries balls through gates; everyone keeps moving. Three roaming defenders shown only as progression.
  • Child / attacker
  • About half carry balls (10–12 available)
  • Cone
  • Arrow = movement
  • 3–4 roaming defenders — progression only
  • Coach

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

Setup

Set out six to eight cone gates around the main area. Give rugby balls to approximately half the group — the activity works with approximately 10–12 rugby balls, not one per child.

How to play

  1. Give rugby balls to approximately half the group; everyone moves freely around the area.
  2. Ball carriers score by travelling through different cone gates. Children without balls also move, find space and avoid blocking gates.
  3. Every 30–45 seconds call SWAP! Ball carriers safely give or make a short sideways/backwards pass to a nearby child without a ball; the new carrier continues immediately.
  4. Encourage children to use different gates rather than following the crowd.
  5. Progression: add 3–4 roaming defenders who may safely tag ball carriers. Tagged players reset and continue.

Coaching cues: “Heads up” · “Find a free gate.” · “Don’t follow the crowd.” · “Swap with someone without a ball.”

Safety: Spread the gates out to avoid collisions. Defenders tag safely — no grabbing or pushing.

SWAP! only rotates possession — carry through the gate; do not require a pass through it. Passing through gates with a partner belongs to Week 3 Gate Passing Adventure.

More balls may be used if available, but the activity never depends on one ball per child.

5. Pickle's 1v1 Showdown · 27–36 min (9 min)

5 short channels — defender starts in the central zone, then moves freely.
  • Try line / end zone
  • Attacker with ball / 2 waiting
  • Defender
  • Cone

Setup

Create approximately five short channels. Small groups rotate quickly — one attacker versus one defender per channel. Use wide lanes and short distances.

How to play

  1. The attacker attempts to beat the defender and score beyond the line.
  2. The defender attempts to remove a tag.
  3. Rotate after each attempt so everyone attacks and defends.
  4. Progression: allow the defender to move freely rather than starting from the restricted central area.

Coaching cues: “Attack the space” · “Change speed” · “Side-step” · “Defend safely”

Safety: Keep channels clearly separated. Stop children running into neighbouring channels. All channels must stay visible to the coach.

6. Pass Before You Score · 36–44 min (8 min)

Four simultaneous 3v2 games, one ball each; coach supervises centrally. Round 2 shown: sideways/backwards pass before scoring.
  • Try line / end zone
  • 3 attackers in each of 4 simultaneous games
  • 2 defenders per game
  • 1 ball per game
  • Dashed = Round 2 backwards pass; attack travels up
  • Arrow = movement
  • Coach

Setup

Four groups of five in four clearly marked small areas: three attackers and two defenders per game, with one ball per game. Run all four games simultaneously. The single coach stands centrally enough to supervise all four areas; rotate attackers and defenders frequently.

How to play

  1. Play four simultaneous 3v2 games. Attackers try to score beyond the try line after completing one pass; defenders try to tag the ball carrier.
  2. Round 1 — Understand the game: a pass in any direction counts. Keep this round short so children learn to find a teammate, share the ball and pass before scoring; this is an introductory learning adaptation, not the standard rugby rule.
  3. Round 2 — Rugby rule: now only sideways or backwards passes count before scoring. From this point onwards, forward passes do not count.
  4. Restart quickly after a score, tag or obvious error. Rotate attackers and defenders frequently; avoid long stoppages and technical lectures.
  5. Coach emphasis: pass, then move. Use Freeze Paws! to stop all four games together when needed.

Round coaching language: Round 1: “Find a teammate and make a pass before you score.” · Round 2: “Now we’re playing rugby rules — sideways or backwards only.”

Coaching cues: “Pass, then move” · “Give them somewhere to pass.” · “Move after your pass.” · “Find the space.” · “Sideways or backwards now.”

Safety: Keep games in their own areas and avoid collisions. All four areas must remain visible to the single coach. Use Freeze Paws! to stop all four games together.

Any-direction passing is permitted only during the short introductory Round 1, not as the standard rugby rule. Round 2 and subsequent play require sideways/backwards passing.

Keep the progression simple: understand passing → learn legal rugby passing direction → apply it under pressure. One pass before scoring is enough; never require two passes.

7. Big Pup Tag Game · 44–56 min (12 min)

Option A — One game · 10 v 10

+5+5

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

+2+2+2+2

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

Use the main pitch and try lines already in place. Two colours of bibs.

How to play

  1. The main game — choose the most appropriate match format below on the day.
  2. Normal Years 3–4 tag rules apply.
  3. No bonus scoring.
  4. The coach primarily keeps the game moving.

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!”

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

Coaching cues: “Find space” · “Pass sideways or backwards” · “Support the ball carrier” · “Defend safely” · “Work together”

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

8. Huddle & Collection · 56–60 min (4 min)

Setup

Gather the children together.

How to play

  1. Collect rugby balls and tag belts.
  2. Ask: “What helped you escape a defender today?”
  3. Praise effort, courage and safe play.
  4. Finish with the closing chant.

Closing chant: Coach: “Heads up, tails up…” · Children: “RUGGER PUPS!”

Coaching cues: “Well done, Pack!” · “Heads up, tails up…”

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

Closing chant

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

PAWS / READY — Play with Purpose · Always Be Kind · Work Together · Stay Safe & Strong