Mat Scrum: Team Pushing in Threes

Two trios push a mat held upright between them to drive it past the other team's line. It works on pushing posture, coordinated force and team strategy.

How to play

1. Pushing stance with no gear: feet apart, knees bent, back straight, eyes forward; static pushes against the wall (4 min).
2. In pairs, one on each side of the upright mat, push with hands and shoulders to drive it to the other cone line (4 min).
3. Trio vs. trio, four cone lines per field, 20-second bouts (6 min).
4. Each trio agrees on a strategy: synchronized push on a signal, attack one side of the mat, or hold and push late (4 min).
5. Rotate opponents and talk briefly: which strategy worked? (2 min).

Rules

• Push the mat only, never people.
• Heads stay above the hands, never under or against the mat.
• If the mat folds or drops, everyone lets go and stops.
• Trios of similar strength and rest between bouts.

Variations

Adaptations

• Blind or low-vision students: push in the middle of the trio; teammates signal the start with a tap on the shoulder.
• Wrist injury: push with forearm and shoulder only.
• Wheelchair users: be the line judge and give the start signal, or push with brakes on against a smaller mat.

Learning goals

• Apply pushing force with good posture.
• Coordinate effort with the team.
• Choose a strategy and evaluate it.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 5
• cones: 20

Teacher tip

Use thin six-foot gym mats, not crash pads, which are heavy and tip over. The usual mistake is pushing head-down: cue "belly in, eyes on the line."

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