Ideas for when there’s a mix of ages

A mixture of ages can make contact training tough, here's a few ways you can use

Working in pairs can ensure everyone works on contact. Photo credit: Omega Photography

Coaching girls rugby can often mean a mix of ages. That can be tricky when working on contact skills.

Training together in mixed ages is often the way girls teams grow, but it’s also a great way to create bonds across a section.

Here’s three methods I use when coaching a mixture of ages and wanted to include contact.

Work in pairs or 3s

I love giving players time to explore a skill or technical aspect. I often get players into pairs or groups of 3.

When using this method, I’ll bring players in to demonstrate, then give them space to try the activity. I’ll then use this time to walk around and give feedback, as it’s a perfect time for 1-2-1 coaching points.

This method works well with lots of skills. However with contact, players are paired up with the someone in the same age group as them. They can then work through some activities.

This could be wrestling, neck stability activities or other ideas from World Rugby’s Contact Confidence. This can help players prepare for contact.

You can use this pairs method to work on aspects of the tackle and break it down into sections for them. Try using World Rugby’s Tackle Ready activities for this. These activities are ideal for pairs/groups of 3s.

If you have only one player in an age band, then some of the World Rugby Tackle Ready activities can still be used. The ones that use a tackle column are ideal, (especially as coaches should not be holding tackle pads for players). The activity ‘Shoulder Target Levels’ enables players to work on their tackle height on a tackle column.

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Control the restart

This idea works well in any game and you can change the level of contact to suit your players. Imagine a touch game with all players in two teams. After each score, ask one player from each team to come forward for a contact restart.

This restart has a number of options:

• A rip-wrestle for the ball: the two players both start holding the ball. They aim to rip the ball from the other person. If they rip the ball, they can either turn and pass to a teammate or run with the ball to start the game.

• A ruck contest: lay a tackle column down on the ground. The tackle column simulates a tackled player. The two players must attempt to drive each other back. Whoever wins starts with the ball. You can also award someone the ball for correct technique.

• A 1v1 scrum: players form a 1v1 scrum against each other. As soon as the ball is rolled in, they can try to strike the ball or drive their opponent off the ball.

• A tackle: one player tackles the other from a standing/walking start. If the ball carrier falls correctly and presents the ball, their team continues their attack. If the ball carrier drops the ball during the tackle, the tackler can pick the ball up to start the game.

• If you have only one player in an age group: place a tackle column upright on the ground. Place a ball on top of the column. The player must complete a tackle on the column, stand up and then find the ball in a certain amount of time. If they do, play continues, if not, the opposition team may start with the ball.

• If you have multiple players who are the only ones in their age group: two of them can compete in a race restart. Place two tackle columns upright on the ground. The two players must race against each other to complete a tackle using the tackle columns and then stand up. Whoever does this the quickest wins the ball. You can also award the ball to the player who has the better tackle technique (the pressure of the race will place their skill under pressure).

Split the pitch

This game is a simple idea, but it can take a few attempts for teams to make it work. (Often it works best if you change who restarts with the ball).

Split your group into two teams. Unsure there’s a roughly even split of age groups on each team. For example: you don’t want all the U12s on one team. Often an overlap is unavoidable if there’s an odd number of players in that age group.

Split your pitch into channels. Each age group needs its own channel. The two teams play as teams. However only the ball can cross the channels.

This ensures each players from the same age group only play each other.

You can then bring in contact rules, such as tackles and rucks.

The game might end up only being played in certain channels. Try to vary which channel the ball starts in after each score. This ensures everyone is active within the game.

If age groups don’t have enough players for tackles and rucks, players can pop the ball to a teammate after a tackle has been complete.

If there is a player who is the only player in their age group, they can play as the designated scrumhalf. They can always play on the attacking team as scrumhalf. They can’t be tackled. You can put in a rule that they can only pass the ball or can only take 5 steps before passing or kicking.

If you have multiple players who are the only ones in their age group, create scrumhalves for each team.

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