Rugby Skills
Team Passing Game
Ages 3–7Best for 5–78–10 minutes
At a glance
Passing, communication, teamwork, recognising space
- Learning
- Passing within a small group, talking to teammates and attacking a called try line.
- Equipment
- Rugby balls, Cones
- Best group
- Small groups of 4–6
- Space / set up
- Groups of 4–6 with a ball, coloured try lines around the outside.
- Duration
- 8–10 minutes
- Skills
- Passing, Teamwork, Ball carrying, Try scoring
Setup
Coaching diagram
- Coloured try lines
- Group of 4–6 passing
- Rugby ball
- Coach calls TRY!
- Split the children into small groups of 4–6, each with a ball.
- Mark coloured try lines around the outside of the area — one colour per side.
- Give each group its own patch of space so groups never collide.
How to play
Run the activity
- 1Children pass within their small group.
- 2Aim for everyone in the group to touch the ball.
- 3Coach calls “TRY!”
- 4Whoever has the ball attacks the assigned coloured try line.
- 5The ball carrier grounds the ball to score.
- 6Reset, and change the scoring colour between rounds.
Coach language
Say it like this
- “Everyone gets a touch!”
- “Hands ready!”
- “Talk to your team!”
- “Score the try!”
Stage
Early Years / KS1
This activity is suitable for ages 3–7. Choose a stage to see the coaching guidance for that group.
Short simple passes in small groups; coach points to where the group scores.
Scale it
30 pups
- Run roughly 5–6 small groups at the same time.
- Give each group its own space and its own try line colour.
- Never build one long waiting line.
Safety
Stay safe and strong
- Keep the try-line areas clear.
- No diving.
- Score under control.
Adapt it
Make it easier / Level it up
Make it easier: Use stationary passing before calling TRY.
Level it up: Players must move into a new space after every pass.
Variations
More variations
Colour swap
Change the scoring colour every round.
Everybody touches
No score unless the whole group has touched the ball.
PAWS connection
PAWS / READY
WPrimary PAWS valueWork Together
Secondary PAWS links
PPlay with PurposeAAlways Be Kind
W: everybody touches the ball • P: attack the called line • A: make sure nobody is left out