Tag Rugby - Lesson 1

In the first lesson of a Year 3 tag rugby series, the primary learning objective is for pupils to develop the skills necessary to evade and tag opponents effectively. The success of the lesson is measured by the students' ability to run at speed, change direction quickly, and identify and exploit gaps between defenders. Key terminology such as 'tag', 'rugby', 'sidestep', 'speed', and 'run' are introduced to enrich the pupils' sporting vocabulary. The lesson requires a class set of belts and tags, as well as cones for setting up the playing area. The warm-up activity involves a game called 'Tree Trunks', where two catchers attempt to tag other players who, upon being tagged, must stand still with arms outstretched until freed by another player.

The main part of the lesson is dedicated to explaining and practicing the core concepts of tag rugby. Pupils engage in discussions about strategies to avoid being tagged and are taught the importance of agility, low reaching, and effective communication. They practice these skills in pairs, attempting to catch each other's tags. A game of 'Attackers & Defenders' allows teams to score points by crossing from one end of a marked pitch to the other without being tagged. The lesson concludes with a cool-down activity where pupils jog around with a ball and must place it on the floor when a whistle is blown, then move to another ball. This activity prompts further discussion about the tactics used during the lesson, allowing students to reflect on their attacking and defending strategies.