Rugby: Go To Goal Touch

The following are the laws for this game:

• Equal number of defenders and attackers. Use bibs to identify both teams.
• Normal laws of rugby apply; a knock on etc. results in a turn over.
• The attacking team gets 8 touches before the ball has to be turned over. Change this to suit your training goals. It would be ok to have unlimited touches, changing the defence and attack after a set period of time.
• A player is touched only when two defenders have all four hands on them, if this is not the case - the attacker can play on.
• Defenders cannot hold the attacker, nor can the attacker use significant force to push through defenders.
• If a player is touched: they stop, set the ball down, stand over it, and the scrum half is allowed to move the ball again to restart the attack.
• The defence must remain onside following a touch.
• Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence press up on the attack.
• If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters.
• Don't forget to switch the teams around.
• There is no kicking.

Split your players into two teams, giving one group of players a set of coloured bibs to set them apart, and quickly tell your players the following laws:

• Keep the law briefing, brief! Get your players moving as quickly as you can.
• Normal rules of rugby apply in terms of knock on laws etc. If normal laws are broken - the ball is turned over to the opposition. Make judgement calls that take into account the age and skill level of the player.
• If a player is touched, shout touch! Allow them to keep running and to hold onto the ball. They can have one more touch. While holding the ball after being touched, the player can: score, pass, keep running, stop and then pass, or even set the ball down - but to do so would be crazy. If they set the ball down - it's in play and can be picked up by the opposition.
• If the ball carrier is touched a second time - they must pass the ball immediately. If the pass is too slow or there is no support to pass to, the ball is turned over to the opposition.
• A defensive player cannot simply touch a player twice in short succession. You may decide that two different players must make the two touches, or that a second touch can only be made by the same player that made the first touch 10 meters beyond the first touch.
• There is no kicking.
• Have fun with this and let us know any law changes that worked well for your team!

• Be brief when telling the players the laws of this game, it's important to get them moving quickly.
• This is not a contact game.
• Break your players into two teams, giving each team their own colour of bibs if necessary.
• One team goes to attack, and one to defence.
• Nominate a Scrum Half for each team.
• There is no kicking in this game.
• Normal laws of rugby apply e.g. a forward pass will result in the ball being turned over to the opposition.
• If an attacking player is touched: they must go to ground, present the ball, two of their teammates ruck over (staying over the ball), and the Scrum Half moves the ball for the next phase of attack.
• When you start playing this game make sure that the defence is employing your defensive pattern around the ruck. As the game develops consider telling the defenders that they must have one or more players at the back of the ruck, if they are not fast enough to do this - push them back 10 meters.
• It’s important that defenders are employing their defensive pattern behind the primary defensive line.
• Have attacking players do what they normally would at the ruck.
• Depending on your goals decide on the number of touches you wish to allow e.g. unlimited is not a bad option as mistakes will be made!
• When you feel the time is appropriate, usually during a ruck, blow you whistle and should FLIP IT – kicking in or throwing in a second ball to the back 3/2 defenders on the team currently in defence OR just kick it behind the defenders. The defensive team goes, without hesitation, into attack. The team that was attacking goes into defence and you or an assistant coach remove the other ball from play when you can. Ideally you might have two balls with different markings.
• Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

• Players start at the top of the triangle.
• Coach calls colours, 2/3 at a time.
• Player moves to the called cone, and returns to the start each time.
• Player should remain facing forward at all times, back tracking when they need to.
• Coach calls GO and players sprint 10 meters.