Week 4 - Try Rugby Sevens
Skill focus: Running with the ball and Try Rugby Sevens match play
Session equipment
1 football per pair of players
40 markers
Bibs/braids to differentiate teams
Download Try Rugby Sevens Football Week 4 task card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Warriors and dragons
Equipment
8 markers
One set of braids or similar for at least one team
3 footballs
Activity set-up
Set out the playing area (25 students = approximately 25m x 25m).
Divide students into two teams called 'warriors' and 'dragons'.
The dragons begin to move around the playing area.
How to play
The warriors pass the ball to each other in an attempt to tag a dragon with the ball.
Once a dragon is tagged they become a warrior.
While a warrior is holding the ball, they cannot move and the ball cannot be thrown. It must be held and used to tag a dragon.
Select card to download
Skill development games
Activity 1 - Ball runner
Equipment: 1 football per pair, 8 marker cones to define playing area
How to play: Players in pairs pass a football back and forth in the centre of a playing field. When the coach calls ‘Ball!’, the player who has the ball must run to their end and score a touchdown.
Organise players into pairs with one football per pair.
Pairs line up side-by-side two meters apart in the centre of the playing field and pass the ball back and forth to their partner.
When nominated student calls ‘Ball!’, the player with the ball (or about to receive the ball) must run with it and score a touchdown.
After scoring a touchdown they return to the centre and resume passing.
Activity 2 - Boundary pass
Equipment: 1 football per pair; marker cones to define touch lines
How to play: In pairs, players try to make as many passes to each other as they can in 60 seconds. To add a challenge, the pass has to be across a different touch lines.
Pairs, with a ball, are dispersed over the four touch lines 8 metres by 8 metres.
On your signal, all pairs jog in the same direction and pass their ball.
Passes can only be made across a touch line.
Each pass has to be over a different touch line. • Encourage players to pass backwards to their partner.
Pairs count how many passes they made in 60 seconds.
Pairs repeat in the opposite direction and attempt to beat their previous score.
Activity 3 - Line out throw
Equipment: 1 football per pair of players, marker cones
How to play: Pairs throw a football overhead to each other and step backwards if they catch it on the full. When ‘Time!’ is called, the pair who is the greatest distance apart wins.
Organise players into pairs with one ball per pair.
Pairs face each other five metres apart and parallel to other pairs.
On ‘Go!’, players pass the ball back and forth to their partner using a two-handed overhead throw.
If the ball reaches the catcher on the full, both players take one step backwards.
If the catch is dropped, both take a step forward.
When ‘Time!’ is called, the pair who is the greatest distance apart wins.
Activity 4 - Round the bend
Equipment: 9 footballs; marker cones to define the playing area
How to play: Players carrying a football each attempt to score points by running over the try line without being tagged.
On your signal, three ball carriers and one defender enter from opposite ends of the playing area.
The defender aims to perform a rugby tag on one or more of the ball carriers while the ball carriers try to score a try.
Five points = score a try by grounding the ball on or over the try line. • One point = carry the ball over the try line.
Change defending and attacking players regularly.
Modified small-sided games
It's time for competition!
Teams compete against each other in the game outlined below. You can use the 'Try Rugby Sevens draw' as a guide to organise the competition, across the 4 sessions try to ensure each team has a fair number of games.
Allocate 3 points for a win, 2 points for a drawer and 1 point for a loss for each game played. Record results and points in the School sport program results spreadsheet.
Remember, to give students an update of the leader board each week.
Game - Try Rugby Sevens round robin
Equipment: 1 football per game; marker cones to define the playing area; team bibs or sashes
How to play: Teams play a minimal contact game of Try Rugby Sevens. There are no set positions, no kicks in general play and no offside. After seven minutes, teams rotate to play a new team.
Organise players into teams of seven players (interchange players are optional). • Play starts from the half way line with a kick-off and the defending team at least five metres back from the half way line.
The ball carrier must stop, turn and pass to a team-mate when correctly tagged with two hands on the shorts.
Play re-starts with a tap kick after tries are scored or penalties awarded.
When the ball rolls over a touch line, an uncontested lineout will occur.
Other Playing for Life — Try Rugby Sevens rules can be applied as needed.
Reflection
TAG
Ask students to form pairs with a student from their team.
Inform students they are going to give feedback to their partner using 'TAG'.
Tell your partner something they did well in today's session.
Ask your partner the question: What part of today's session was a highlight for you? Why?
Give your partner some feedback on a skill or tactic they could focus on during next week's session.
