TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB YOUTH RUGBY PROGRAM, Fall 2016 - Class 8 Report
Sunday Oct. 30th
6-9 years - 11:00-12:00
10-12 years 12:00-13:00
I tried out some new simple game type activities this week and was pleased that the kids enjoyed these.
In Pass Ballrush one kid will try to hit someone on the body or arms with a ball as all the others run from one end of a channel to the other. We used a variety of softer balls but asked the "passer" to always try to use rugby-type throws - 2 hands, backwards. This game is good for speed and agility of the runners and passing to moving targets for the passer. They have to anticipate where the runner will be as they move forward in order to hit them. The second time we played in each class we changed the rule so that if the runner catches a ball they are safe.
In Run-Catch-Pass circle, the kids try to keep moving round the outside of the circle as they catch and pass back the ball, to and from the coach in the middle of the circle. As the kids show they can do this other instructions are introduced: "faster", "change" (directon), "clap", "jump" etc. In the older class the kids also take a turn in the middle of the circle and can think of their own commands.
Chain Reaction is a bit more structured so I only used it in the older class for now. To encourage thinking about appropriate depth in an attacking line in a fun way, the players all start on the same line but in increasingly difficult body positions to start from; P1 (starts w ith ball) - standing, P2 - one knee, P3 - both knees (seiza), P4 - lie on front.
This can work quite well but can take a bit of adjusting if players are slower/faster to move from a position than expected.Its important for all players to move forward as fast as possible, for the pass receiver to communicate that they're ready for a pass as soon as possible and for the passer to pass as soon as the receiver has let them know they're ready.
6-9 years
- Pass Ballrush
- Run-Catch-Pass Circle
- Pass Ballrush
8-10 years
- Pass Ballrush
- Run-Catch-Pass Circle
- Chain Reaction
- Pass Ballrush
Coach: Roy