Sports at Manor Primary School, England

Rugby – in England the main national and league rugby matches tend to be played in winter. Some children from our school do rugby training out of school with local teams. If they are under 8 years old then they take part in a tag Rugby league. Children will go on to play contact rugby when they are older or in secondary school.

Tag rugby - is the non-contact version of rugby that we teach in primary schools during autumn, winter and spring ready for tournaments in the summer months. These are therefore the instructions that we are giving here.

Tag Rugby equipment -

The rugby ball is not round which makes it easier to catch and run with, but more difficult to kick.

The players wear a belt with 2 tags attached.

The field is about 70 metres long x 50 metres wide, with the goal or try lines at each end.

A match has 2 halves of 20 minutes. At the start of the game the referee tosses a coin and the winner of the toss decides whether to kick off or choose an end.

Tag rugby rules and instructions –

2 teams of 7 try to pass the ball between them to score tries by getting the ball over their goal line. Instead of being ‘tackled’, as happens in contact rugby, the passing is stopped by removing a “tag”.

DEFENDING - The 'Tackle' or Tag

• Only the player with the ball can be tagged and a tag is simply the removal by a defender of one of the two ribbons from the ball carrier. Ball carriers can run or dodge potential taggers but cannot fend them off, spin around or shield their ribbons in any way.


• The defender then holds the ribbon above their head and shouts 'tag' for all to hear. Defenders must back off at least one metre from the ball carrier, allowing space for them to pass. They are not allowed to snatch the ball from the player's hand. It is helpful to players if the referee shouts 'pass' as a tag is made.


• Once tagged, the player in possession of the ball must stop as soon as possible and pass the ball quickly.

SCORING – The try

· A try is worth 1 point. To score a try a player must carry the ball over the opponents' goal line and press the ball down on the ground. (When playing on hard surfaces, players may score a try by running over the goal line with the ball.)

· After a try is scored the game restarts from the centre of the field with a free pass by the non-scoring team.

· If no try is scored after the fifth “tag”, the opposing team get possession of the ball.

PASSING -

· A player may pass the ball to a team mate by throwing or handing the ball sideways or backwards, but not forwards.

No forward passes are allowed and will be penalised by a free pass being awarded to the other team.

Rounders - is a bat and ball team game taught in schools in the summer months. It has been played since the 16^th century, and though it is not a national game, and tends not to be taught out of school, is popular for playing on beaches or informal situations. It is similar to cricket and baseball as it involves hitting and fielding.

Rounders equipment – bat or stick, ball and posts.

2 teams needed - usually 9 but could be more.

Rounders rules and instructions–

The team captains toss a coin to decide which team bats first. The fielding team consists of a bowler, backstop and 7 outfielders. The batting team must in turn try to strike the ball as far as possible so that they have time to run round the outside of the four posts, complete a “Rounder” and have another turn. The team getting the most Rounders wins.

• Each batsman receives only one “good” ball to try and hit and they must run even if they miss it.


• A “good” ball must be bowled underarm and must reach the batsman below head level, above the knee, and within reach of the outstretched rounders stick.


• A “no ball” may be hit by the batsman if they want, since they cannot be caught out from a “no ball”. Alternatively, they may ignore the “no ball” and wait for a “good” ball.


• If the ball is hit into the area behind the batting line, they may only run to first post.


• If a “Rounder” is completed by a batsman after missing the ball, only a “half-rounder” is counted.

A batsman is out – (a) if a fielder catches the ball

(b) if the fielder touches the post the batsman is running to with the ball, before they get there,

(c) if the batsman leaves a post before the next batsman has started his run, as they must keep in contact with the post at all times when not actually running and cannot return to a post once they have left it.

• If the batsman does not have time to complete a “Rounder” before the ball is returned from the outfield, they may stop at posts 1, 2 or 3, and then run on when the next batsman has started running. When back in line they can then wait to have another turn.


• When a batsman is out he does not have another turn and the innings continues until all batsmen are out. Some players may have several turns in an innings, and when the last batsman in a side is left, he will have to run complete “Rounders” in order to stay in.