Passing and decisions
Ready when: Touch rugby: pass and support (b3) done.
What you are learning
Choosing the right pass. With 6 attackers against 4 defenders someone is always free (an overlap); the job is to see that player and pass to them. A dummy pass fools a defender. Defenders learn to get back behind the touch (onside) before they play again.
Words on this card Try, Forward pass, Carrier, Touch rugby, Tagger, Space, Overlap, Dummy pass, Onside, Tackle triangle, Tackle
- Try
- Touching the ball down over the other team's line to score, and that line.
- Forward pass
- A pass that goes toward the other team's try line; not allowed.
- Carrier
- The player holding the ball.
- Touch rugby
- Rugby with no tackling, stopped by a touch or by pulling a tag (a ribbon on a belt).
- Tagger
- The player trying to stop the carrier.
- Space
- An open part of the pitch with no defender.
- Overlap
- More attackers than defenders on one side, so one attacker is free.
- Dummy pass
- Pretending to pass to fool the defender.
- Onside
- Standing behind the line where play stopped, so you are allowed to play.
- Tackle triangle
- After a touch, two defenders stand either side of the toucher to form a triangle.
- Tackle
- Stopping the carrier by holding them and bringing them to the ground.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Walk the 6 v 4: count the defenders on each side and point to the free attacker.
- Show a dummy pass: swing as if to pass, keep the ball and run.
- Show the tackle triangle: after a touch, two defenders step beside the toucher and the rest get behind them.
Your part while they practise
Referee and ask "who is free?"
Step by step
- 6 v 4 touch: pass backward when touched.
- Support, and call for the ball.
- Attack the space, use the overlap, try a dummy pass.
- Defenders form the triangle after a touch and get onside behind it.
How much: 3 games 15 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Touch rugby, 6 v 4
The attackers have 4 touches to score; then the teams swap.
Who plays: 10 players; you referee.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The 6 attackers start on their line
- They have 4 touches to score a try
- After a try or 4 touches, swap roles round so everyone attacks
- 3 games
- Fair play
- A grown-up may only pass, never run with the ball.
- Points
- 1 point for each try; 1 bonus point when the try comes from a pass to the free player.
- Fouls
- The set of touches ends
- Forcing a pass when a teammate is free
- A forward pass
- A defender playing from in front of the triangle (offside): the attackers get 1 extra touch instead
- Winning
- The team with more points after 3 games.
- 2 points for 1 star
- 4 points for 2 stars
- 6 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
6 v 2.
5 v 5.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball carrier forces it
Pass to the free player
Look before you pass. - defenders leave gaps
Behind the triangle, onside
Get back, then go.
Self-check
5 passes in a row to a free player.
Stop and get a coach when
Collisions.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains decisions, communication.
awiseathlete.com/sports/rugby/rugby-i1