Precision Tries: Ground the Ball Where You Choose

Students learn to score a try by grounding the ball with downward pressure in the in-goal area, earning extra points if they ground it in the hoop they chose. It combines safe grounding technique with decision making on the run.

How to play

1. Demo: a try counts when you ground the ball with control in the in-goal area, without throwing it (3 min).
2. In pairs, ground the ball at a walk with two hands and with one hand, knees bent (4 min).
3. Run 15 m and ground the ball inside a hoop in the in-goal; the middle hoop is worth less (4 min).
4. 2 vs. 1: the attacker names the target hoop before starting and the defender tries to pull a tag (5 min).
5. 4 vs. 4 mini-game where a try in a corner hoop counts double (4 min).

Rules

• No diving: ground the ball by bending your legs.
• The grounded ball must touch both the ground and your hand.
• The in-goal area ends 3 m before any wall or fence.
• Tag pulled before grounding: no try, and you must pass.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: ground the ball on a mat or box set inside the hoop.
• Students with low vision: bright hoops and a teammate clapping from the chosen hoop.
• Students with a hand injury: ground with the healthy hand or with the ball held to the chest touching the ground.

Learning goals

• Ground the ball with control to score a try.
• Choose where to score based on the defense.
• Slow down and lower the body safely.

Equipment for a class of 25

• rugby balls: 8
• hula hoops: 12
• cones: 12
• tag belts: 30

Teacher tip

Keep the in-goal area well away from walls and benches. Common mistake: dropping the ball from above; ask the hand to stay with the ball all the way down.

More main activities for Middle School