Minis: Ready to restart

challenge

Get your players to line up quickly and effectively to attack (or defend) from a restart, including tackles.

set up

A 30m box with two cones, about 3m each side of the centre spot.

HOW TO PLAY

Split into two teams of about six-a-side. Each team jogs from the corners of the try line they are defending, and the nearest cone – so, in a triangle. When you shout “Try!”, each team lines up based on their nearest cone. The first team in the best position will receive the ball. The team in possession starts with a free pass. Then play touch rugby. If a player is touched, they can pass immediately or go to ground. If they go to ground, they can place or pop up the ball. Play the game to six tackles to the attacking team. If there is a turnover (or an infringement), the other team gets three tackles. A tackle is counted if they can’t pass immediately.

KEY RULES

• To get the ball, a team must not have too many players crowded around the ball.
• They must also be spread out. They don’t need much depth.
  
  

ADDITIONAL RULES

• To restart effectively, a team must make two passes, not one.
• Shout “Tackle!”, and roll the ball into one of the boxes. One player reacts, falls on the ball and presents. The teams then play full contact from that point. You might want to make the pitch smaller.

GAME 1

• Players from each team jog around a triangle 
• They will probably run faster when they are not close to the centre point

• After you shout “Go!”, the players line themselves up to attack as if from a restart (free pass), with the cone for each team being the starting point
• Give the ball to the first team to be in the best position. Here, the Whites are too bunched, so won’t get it
• Play touch for six tackles. If there’s a turnover, play for another three tackles for the defence

GAME VARIATION "TACKLE"

• Repeat the triangle runs, but, this time, throw the ball to one of the teams and shout “Tackle!”

• One player falls on the ball and presents. That creates a tackle. The teams realign as quickly as possible to then play