Passing & Decision-Making
•Year 8
•Tag Rugby
•Place 2 balls per pitch, keep spares at sideline
Alternative: Size 4 rugby balls or foam rugby balls for mixed ability groups
Check all belts are functioning before lesson, have spare tags available
Alternative: Velcro flag belts if tag belts unavailable
For skill development: 6 cones around central grid with matching pairs opposite. For tournament: mark 2 pitches approximately 30m x 20m each
Alternative: Numbered cones if multi-coloured not available
Prepare team names and match schedule before lesson
Alternative: Printed sheets or displayed on screen
If using, position for good viewing angle of both pitches
Alternative: Not essential but valuable for feedback
Distribute to teams at start of lesson
Alternative: Bands or pinnies
For timing warm-up activities and tournament games
Alternative: Phone timer or visible clock
A competition involving multiple teams playing against each other with results recorded
Fair play, respect, honesty, teamwork and integrity demonstrated during competitive sport
A short upward pass where hands go under the ball to 'pop' it to a teammate
The continuous movement and rhythm of play without unnecessary stoppages
Placing the ball on the ground after being tagged to restart play
Allowing play to continue after a minor infringement if the non-offending team benefits
Honestly evaluating your own performance against success criteria
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Oracy skills - speaking to teammates during play, discussing tactics, expressing ideas in reflections. Listening skills - following instructions, hearing teammates' calls during games. Vocabulary development - learning and using technical rugby terms correctly. Presenting ideas during team tactical discussions.
Tournament scoring and recording results (addition). Timing games in minutes and seconds (time). Calculating tournament winners if using points systems (data handling). Understanding pitch dimensions and measurements (geometry). Counting tags collected in warm-up (number). Analysing statistics of tries scored, tags made across tournament (data analysis).
Cardiovascular system response to exercise (heart rate increase during activity, decrease during cool down). Muscular system - identifying muscles used (quadriceps, calves, hip flexors) and why stretching aids recovery. Forces and motion in passing - trajectory, force applied, ball flight path. Friction between boots and surface affecting movement and safety. Energy expenditure during tournament play.
Spatial awareness and positioning on pitches. Understanding directions and angles of runs and passes. Mapping movement patterns across playing area. Use of space effectively in attack and defence. Understanding of boundaries and zones within playing area.
Teamwork and cooperation throughout tournament. Communication skills development - speaking clearly, listening to others, giving constructive feedback. Resilience when facing challenges or losing games. Managing emotions in competitive situations. Leadership opportunities through captaincy and peer support. Honesty and integrity through self-officiating. Respect for others including opponents and teammates. Building confidence through achievement and recognition.
Warm-up: Position at edge of playing area with full visibility of all students. Grid activities: Circulate around perimeter with clear view of central crossing area. Tournament: Central position between two pitches allowing oversight of both matches simultaneously, moving as needed to observe key moments. Cool down: Front and centre where all students can see demonstrations clearly.
Monitor HEAD: tactical decisions, spatial awareness, understanding of rules and when to self-officiate. Monitor HANDS: pop pass technique (hands under ball), try scoring control, tag removal efficiency, support running. Monitor HEART: communication quality and frequency, sporting values (honesty about infringements), encouragement of teammates, resilience when challenged, leadership emergence. Also observe: safety throughout, inclusion of all students, application of skills under pressure, progression from practice to competitive situations.
Intervene immediately if: unsafe behaviour (collisions, aggressive tag removal), over-competitive physical contact, poor sportsmanship, rule violations being ignored, exclusion of particular students, technique deteriorating significantly. Pause activity to address. Intervene supportively if: skills breaking down under pressure (quick reminder of teaching points), tactical confusion (brief timeout for clarity), team dynamics struggling (facilitate brief team discussion), fatigue affecting performance (extend rest period).
Demonstrate all key techniques at start of each activity using clear, exaggerated movements. Pop pass: emphasise hands under ball, fingers spread wide, gentle upward motion - show incorrect (hands on sides) then correct technique for comparison. Try scoring: show controlled placement with downward pressure, not dropping ball. Tag removal: demonstrate safe downward pull. Always use student volunteers to demonstrate where possible to model peer participation. During tournament, demonstrate advantage rule in action - physically show when to stop vs when to let play continue. Position demonstrations where all students have clear sightlines.
Two pitches minimum 30m x 20m each (60m x 20m total or 30m x 40m configuration) with 5m clear space around all boundaries. Adequate space for warm-up activities without overcrowding (minimum 30m x 20m). Indoor hall or outdoor grass/artificial surface.
Surface must be even and free from hazards (stones, holes, wet patches, debris). Check for trip hazards before lesson. If outdoor, ensure ground is not waterlogged or excessively muddy which increases injury risk. Indoor surface should be non-slip and clean.
STOP signal (whistle and raised hand) to immediately halt all activity if safety concern arises. Assess situation quickly - if injury, send responsible student for first aid support if needed while you attend to injured student. Other students seated safely away from incident. Complete accident report if required. First aid kit accessible at pitchside throughout lesson. Know location of nearest first aider and emergency procedures for venue.
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