Tag Rugby - Lesson 5

In the fifth lesson of a Year 3 tag rugby series, students aim to sharpen their skills in passing the ball accurately and positioning themselves effectively to receive the ball during game play. The lesson's success criteria focus on the ability of pupils to pass the ball while on the move and to get into an optimal position for receiving passes. Essential vocabulary for the lesson includes terms such as 'passing', 'passer', 'receiver', and 'tagged'. To facilitate the lesson, the necessary equipment comprises a class set of belts and tags, cones, and rugby balls.

The warm-up session, lasting 15 minutes, revisits the key techniques of passing, with pupils practising in groups of eight by forming a circle and passing the ball across to each other. The pupil who passes the ball then sprints around the circle's perimeter before rejoining the group. The main activity, spanning 25 minutes, involves a game called 'Breakout', where attackers attempt to pass the ball out of a designated zone without being tagged or intercepted by defenders. This exercise emphasises the importance of constant movement and strategic positioning. The lesson concludes with a cool-down game called 'Spinning Catch', where pupils form a rotating circle and practise throwing and catching the rugby ball. Throughout the lesson, there are opportunities for pupils to discuss tactics and reflect on their performance, encouraging them to identify techniques they admire in their peers and areas for personal improvement.