Millwall Tag Festival

SKILLS & PRACTICES FOR TAG RUGBY

Dealing with the total beginner.

Isn`t Tag Rugby a strange game? You play with an odd shaped ball,
which you are only allowed to pass backwards, and the'goal' is the width of
the whole pitch! Comparing this to other invasion games traditionally
taught in this country, it is no wonder why young players can easily become
confused when first introduced to Tag Rugby. In football, hockey,
basketball and to a degree netball, players are actively encouraged to pass
forward and then move forward to receive a pass, 'give & go'. In Tag Rugby
it appears we want them to do just the opposite! The size of the 'goal' is
also very different with players being able to score across the whole width
of the backline. Compare this to football, hockey, basketball and netball
where the goals are very small in relation to the size of the playing area.
This is probably one of the reasons why young players tend to spread out
much more when playing Tag Rugby than they usually do when playing other team games.

Tag Rugby can therefore offer players, teachers and coaches a
whole different range of strategies for attack and defence. This may at
first be confusing to youngsters but experience has shown that, properly
introduced, young players can soon overcome these new challenges and get
real enjoyment out of the freedom and excitement this simple and safe
form of rugby has to offer.

Teaching the skills for Tag Rugby:

A) Handling skills

1) The basic lateral(underarm) pass.
2) The dummy pass.
3) The spin pass.
4) The pass & loop.
5) The scissors or switch.
6) Passing behind defenders.

B) Running skills

1) Change of pace.
2) The side-step.
3) The swerve.