EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Most under 7s players have very little appreciation of the game of rugby. Some will have older siblings who play, so will understand about scoring tries and probably want to tackle too!
Your challenge is to keep the players engaged in rugby-like activities which give them a taste of the game.
Spend lots of time on simple games which develop:
Remember that the players are likely:
So, don’t fret too much if they don’t seem to conform to a team. As long as they are having fun, and the session isn’t too long, then your job is done.
For warm up games try:
For evasive and awareness activities try:
For ball handling games and activities try:
Click here for a guide to coaching U7s and tag rugby.
Click here for refereeing and game coaching tips.
This is an adaptation of a game I use in school. It’s great as a warm-up or as a game to encourage and support creativity before moving towards a more rugby-specific game. It encourages and challenges evasion skills, spatial awareness, communication, as well as passing, kicking and catching. MORE
in Footwork and evasion, Mini tag, Return to play
Get your ball carriers used to running forward to score tries. This session can be run as a warm-up or as a proper tackling session as well. Often players fail to run forwards even when they know the try line is that way. This session should encourage them to attack a space in front them and go for it. MORE
U7 MINI-TAG | ATTACKING 1 ACTIVITY: WHERE’S THE TRY LINE? Put three defenders on one side of the area, one on each corner and one in the middle. Put three attackers in a line on the adjacent side, each with a ball. When you say “go”, an attacker runs forward. As soon as he starts... MORE
U7 MINI-TAG | ATTACKING 3 ACTIVITY: SLALOM Divide your players into teams of four and put each team behind a line of cones. Each player should hold a ball in two hands. When you say “go”, the front players race to the other end of the lines making sure they swerve in and out of... MORE
in Attack, EasiCoach, Touch, Tag & Sevens
U7 MINI-TAG | ATTACKING 5 ACTIVITY: TAG CORRIDORS Put three attackers, one with a ball, at one end of the area. Put one defender inside the area at 5m and another at 10m. When you say “go”, the ball carrier runs forward aiming to score at the far end. The defenders aim to tag the... MORE
in Defence, EasiCoach, Touch, Tag & Sevens
U7 MINI-TAG | DEFENDING 1 ACTIVITY: TAG SNATCH Pair up the players to make two teams. Give each team a name, such as “Reds” and “Blues”. Put them back to back in the middle of the area with the Blues facing one way and Reds the other, each pair 2m from the next. Shout out... MORE
U7 MINI-TAG | ATTACKING 2 ACTIVITY: SCORING A TRY Divide your players into teams of four. Put the teams into lines, each line about 3m apart, on one side of the area. The player at the front of each line holds a ball. When you say “go”, the first player in each team runs to the... MORE
U7 MINI-TAG | ATTACKING 4 ACTIVITY: STOP AND PASS Put three players on the start line standing about 3m apart. Place a cone in front of each player – one at 5m, one at 10m and one at 15m. Have the first player run out with a ball. When he reaches the cone in front... MORE
U7 MINI-TAG | DEFENDING 2 ACTIVITY: TAG BULLDOG Three defenders are spread out in the middle of the area. The rest of the players – the attackers – start at one end. Attackers must either be carrying a ball or have their hands clasped together to represent holding a ball. When you say “go”, all... MORE
U7 MINI-TAG | DEFENDING 3 ACTIVITY: GET ONSIDE Have four attackers and four defenders run around in the area. One attacker has the ball and can run anywhere in the box. When you shout “Tag!”, the ball carrier stops and turns to face his own try line. The defenders have three seconds to get back... MORE
