Rugby: link touch

Set up as a standard game of touch rugby, with two teams. The playing area should be wide and not too long. Every touch tackle the defenders must link up by standing side by side, being able to touch the hand of the player next to them. The tackler must go and hit a tackle tube after the touch is made, before re-entering the game. The attacking team cannot start the next phase of play until the defending team have all linked up. Once the acting scrum half's hands are on the ball, the defence can unlink, and play continues.

Set up as a standard game of touch rugby, with two teams. The playing area should be wide and not too long.Every touch tackle the defenders must link up by standing side by side, being able to touch the hand of the player next to them.The tackler must go and hit a tackle tube after the touch is made, before re-entering the game.The attacking team cannot start the next phase of play until the defending team have all linked up.Once the acting scrum half's hands are on the ball, the defence can unlink, and play continues.

Players can run with the ball and pass in all directions. If a player is touched while in possession of the ball, it is an immediate turnover (ball put on the floor). The team that scores, turn to attack the other way. This rewards teams scoring and means defensive side have to work to get the ball back.

2 teams  Bibs  Balls  One team must try and complete 10 passes in a small grid.  When the player has the ball in his hand he cannot move, the other team must try to intercept the ball to stop them completing 10 passes.  Defending team must stand 1 metre away from ball carrier. If the ball is dropped or intercepted its a turn over.  If a team knock the ball down its a knock on and the same attacking team keep the ball. 

2 Teams Ball Bibs Tackle touch is a contact game that focuses on technique rather than the power of the contact. The game is a normal game of touch, however when a touch is made, both ball carrier and defender put their chests to the floor. They then bounce back up, for the defender to make a low chop tackle. This takes out alot of the power of the colision and means the defender can focus more on technique.

Touch Rugby in teams of 53 Touches and change possession.When a player with the ball is touched, tackler stays in passive contact. Ball carrier slides to the ground and presents the ball, with the nearest supporting player comes in and acts as a scrum half.

Groups of 5 Combine grids to make 2 channels each 10m x 20m 1 Ball per group Ball carrier tries to score a try by running past the defender. Support players follow the ball carrier. If tagged, the ball carrier must pass the to one of his / her support players. The defender must GIVE the tag back before trying to make a second tackle.

Four attackers, two defenders in quite a small playing area - trying to find space.The aim is for each team of four to try to score as many 'tries' as they can consecutively. Failure to score means the team of four changes over to the next team.Touch rugby game play.Attacking four players are aiming to touch the ball down on an end line.Defenders are aiming to touch the attackers.

Once the coach has kicked the ball in to start players play a normal rules game of touch rugby. The only difference is with the scoring: 1 point for a try - plus 1 x bonus point for an offload within 10 metres and 2 x bonus points for offload with 5 metres of the try line. If no passes within 15 metres of the try line then the score does not count.

<div>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:</div> <div> Keep the law briefing, brief! Get your players moving as quickly as you can. When touched a player has three seconds to make their pass, and they can keep running (reduce or increase this time depending on your coaching goals/targets). They don't need to set the ball down - just pass. You could change three seconds to three steps, change depending on your goals and the skill level of the players. No forward passes - normal rugby laws should apply. You might decide on 5 touches before the ball is turned over, but more or less is ok. Also - you might decide on unlimited touches. It all depends on your targets as a coach, and your players age and skill levels. Change the laws as you see fit, and let us know the variations that work for you. </div>

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 defense. 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 defense 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. 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! Don't hesitate to shape the game to focus on your session goals, and let us and other coaches know what worked for you!

Groups of 105 v 5 match, after each touch the touch player must simulate a ruck by hitting the floor.Allow 1 player to clear defenders awayOffside line for defenders 5m back from ball

The following are the laws for this game: 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 the defender has made a two handed touch, you can change this to one hand if you wish. Defenders cannot hold the attacker, nor can the attacker use significant force to push through defenders. Defenders who make a touch run to the furthest in goal area and back before being back to re-join the defensive line. You will find that several defenders will be making their way forward and back at any given time. If an attacking player is touched while in posession of the ball: 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. Tries only, no conversions - keep the game tempo high. There is no kicking.

Once an attacker is touched they must offload within one second. You can start the game so that players have to pass the ball in front of defenders and then later progress the drill and ask them to pass from behind the defence, by taking two steps past the defender, before offloading. Question players on what they consider to be the most effective option when attacking?

Tell your players the following... We are playing 7's, normal rules apply - except this is touch. Upon getting touched a player must off-load the ball right away to a supporting attack player. They must stop running. If they do not off-load right away - the ball is turned over to the defence. If they keep running the ball is turned over. Touch is one handed. There are unlimited touches, but in the even of the law being broken e.g. a knock on - the ball will be turned over. The game is to be played at pace. We will have 4 quarters of 4 minutes for this game. Bring you players together for no more than a minute at the end of each quarter to highlight what is going well, what could be better and to agree targets for the next quarter. Ask players, don't just tell.

2 Catchers.Everyone else Runners. This is a warm up game that is used to raise the heart rates of the children. Using half the pitch, nominate 2 catchers, the aim of the game is to touch as many as the runners before they reach the otherside of the pitch.If a runner get touched or tagged, thye join the catchers. Last man standing. Encourgae the kids to undertsand the concept of touch or tags.

The following are the laws for this game: Equal number of defenders and attackers. Normal laws of sevens 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. When an attacker is touched they: stop running, turn and present the ball to a support player who waits for the entire defence to gather in around the defender that made the touch. Following a touch all defenders must gather in and be connected by touching another defender. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence restart the game. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. If the defence does not get in quickly, the attack can gain 10 meters. Judge this depending on your player's fitness. There is no kicking.

Two teamsAttacking and defensive focusNormal game of touch rugby, however whenever the defender touches an attacker, they must run back to their own try line and stay out the game until the play breaks downAttacking team look to identify the space created from defensive drop outWorking on defensive communication and work rate

3 vs 2 in a grid. Defenders must stay in position to start. Once skills progress defenders can move to try and stop attackers either by intercepting the ball or touch tackling the ball carrier.

2 teams. Half pitch Ball - A normal game of touch, however with conditions. - When a touch is mae the attakcer must go down and complete a long placement.- The toucher must run and touch own tryline before continuing play. -A Second attacker must come over in a short period of time and secure the ball. - If a defneder manages to gewt to the ball before a attacking player secures it, it is a turnover.-Then play away.

Two teamsMinimum three passes before scoringAll players must be in the 'player zone' to score a pointOne touch turnoverPlayers can pass in any direction

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. When an attacker is touched they: stop running, turn and present the ball to a support player who wait for the entire defence to gather in around the defender that made the touch. Following a touch all defenders must gather in and be connected by touching another defender. Only when the support player passes the ball out can the defence restart the game. If the defence goes offside or operates illegally, the attack gains 10 meters. If the defence does not get in quickly, the attack can gain 10 meters. Judge this depending on your player's fitness. There is no kicking.

You can play any version of touch you like, I'm going to suggest One Touch Off-Load - but you can change this to suit your training goals for the session ahead. Mark out your training area for the game, but include one or more Tabata training zones for your players (these zones don't have to be very big). If you only have one other person helping you - you might have only one zone, but if you have more assistant coaches or helpers standing around, create more zones - you'll find they will be used. Split your players into two teams, giving them bibs if needed. Keep your law briefing, brief - telling the players the laws of the version of touch you have decided to play. Tell them that as an addition to the normal laws, we now have a sin binning for mistakes e.g. you may decide that all mistakes are sent to the sin bin (The Tabata Zone), you might just focus on forward passes, or penalties. My point is that you can tailor this to suit your coaching goals. Players sent to the sin bin will be there unit sent back by the supervising coach. Don't forget to swap the defense and the attack. Also you can focus the sin binning on the defence for not meeting your defensive goals. Using the Tabata Zones Small areas with one coach/helper. The Tatbata protocol is often 8 periods of intense 20 second activity - with 10 seconds of rest in between (sound simple - try it!). Tell the sin binned player they have 20 seconds to complete as many press-ups as they can, then give them 10 seconds to rest. Repeat 8 times, or reduce to a number of repetitions that work for you and your players. When the player has completed their reps - return them to the game. What you could do in the zones: Press ups, Lunges, Burpees, Sit ups, Etc.

<br>Groups of 5<br>Grids 5 m x 5 m<br>All players wear Tags<br>Nominated player attempts to tag other players.The defender must give the Tag back again as soon as it has been removed. When tagged, a player must replace the Tag on his / her belt then stand still with both arms outstretched. To make a tagged player free, another player must run under the outstretched arms. Work for 1 minute then change the defender.

Large Grid 30m x 30m. Start with 5 defenders in the middle, everybody else stands at one end of the grid wearing tags. On the coach's call all attackers try to run past the 5 defenders and get to the opposite side of the grid. Attackers that are tagged join the defenders in the middle, the game keeps going until there are no attackers left.

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: <div> No forward passes. When touched, stop and set the ball down. Another player from your team will act as scrum half - passing the ball to his teammates, who will continue the attack. Each team will be allowed five touches before they must turn the ball over (you can make this more or less depending on the skill level of your players and what you're hoping to achieve during the session.) Some coaches decide on unlimited touches, only turning the ball over when a mistake is made by the attack e.g. a knock on. Knock on's and other law infringements will result in a turn over to the opposition.  Don't be afraid to play these laws a little, e.g. for younger players you might even go as far as to allow some knock on's or turn a blind eye to the odd forward pass - let them play a little and have fun! </div>

<br>Groups of 5<br>1 Ball per group<br>Players race to a line 10m away and back to their own group to hand over to the next player in the relay.1. Run to the line and score a try then run back.<br>2. Pass the ball around the body twice whilst running.<br>3. Throw the ball in the air, and clap before catching and returning to the group.<br>4.Pass the ball between the legs whilst striding to the line.

Make sure that you have your warm-up area marked out before your players arrive, it's important that you get them working right away. You can decide to play this game in smaller grids, or a larger playing area with the entire team. If using small grids, they can be 10 meters x 10 meters - and mark out as many as you need depending on the size of your team. If playing in a large area with the entire team, have two players working as taggers. The rest will be attackers - running around the playing area trying to avoid the taggers/defenders. If playing in a smaller area, have 2 defenders/taggers and 6 attackers. Give the taggers/defenders a ball each. Keep your law briefing, brief! It's important to get the players working as soon as possible. Tell the players that the two players with the balls will be chasing and looking to tag the rest of the players. If you get tagged, you join the taggers team. Play the game until all players are tagged. The last two players tagged, become the first two taggers for the next game. The ball cannot be thrown.

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: We will be playing a rugby league style touch. When touched: set the ball down, stand over the ball, allow the scum-half to move the ball away from the point of contact. The defenders should stay on side following a touch, and should not compete for the ball. Any infringements in defence should result in the defending team conceding 10 Meters or possibly giving 1 or more extra touches to the attacking team. I'll leave this to your judgement depending on your team's age, skill level, and your session target/s. The attacking team can sustain three touches before they have to kick. Their kick should be as it would be in the game: a kick to touch, a kick for territory, or a kick that can be regained e.g. a grubber kick. The defenders should behave as they would in a real game. Quick put in's from the touchlines replace lineouts. Defenders who take the ball from an attacking kick should counter attack. A forth touch results in a turn over. The Scrum Half has a maxium of 5 seconds to move the ball from the point of touch. A ball kicked directly to touch from outside the attacking teams 22, or where the ball has been taken into the 22 by the attacking team and then kicked into touch - will result in a turn over with play starting on the five meter line closest to where the kick was made. The defence should be 10 meters back. A ball kicked from inside the attacking teams 22 can go directly to touch, as long as the attacking team did not carry the ball into their own 22 before the kick. The resulting put in will be to the opposition from where the ball has went into touch. Quick put-in's are enoucraged, if not possible the ball is played from the 5 meter line with the defence 10 meters back. Give points for quick put ins that work. Feel free to play with any of noted laws, let us know the law variations that work for you!