Tag Rugby: Assessment Rotating Player, Referee and Analyst

An assessment task for the tag rugby unit where every student takes on three roles: player, referee and analyst, and each role has its own assessment indicator (supporting the ball carrier, applying the tag and offside rules, and recording each team's gains). This way students are assessed not only on how they play, but also on how they run and observe a game.

How to play

1. Present the three roles and their indicators: the player is assessed on support for the carrier, the referee on correct rule application and communication, and the analyst on the accuracy of their record (4 min).
2. Form three groups of ten, each on its own field: in every block there is a 3v3 game, two referees (one per half) and two analysts (one per team) (2 min).
3. Five 4-minute blocks with the rotation set on a chart, so each student referees once, analyzes once and plays three times; the analyst records tags, backward passes and tries. At the end of each block, each analyst gives the team they watched their most useful data point in 20 seconds, and each referee says which call was hardest (22 min).
4. Quick self-assessment: which role they felt most competent in and which one they want to improve (2 min).

Rules

• When pulling a tag, the defender holds it up and hands it back; no grabbing clothes or pushing.
• No tackles, no forward passes and no contesting the ball on the ground.
• The referee has the final say and only the captain speaks to them.
• Students not playing stay behind the sidelines, more than 6 feet away.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: serves as analyst or referee from the sideline with a raised viewing spot, and as a player gets a guaranteed unguarded pass.
• Hearing impairment: the referee uses a flag and big signals, and block changes are shown visually.
• Lack of confidence to referee: referees with a partner during the first block.

Learning goals

• Apply the principles of supporting the ball carrier in tag rugby.
• Referee a game, applying the rules with authority and respect.
• Analyze play by recording objective data.

Equipment for a class of 25

• rugby balls: 3
• tag rugby belts: 20
• cones: 24
• whistles: 6
• worksheets: 15

Teacher tip

Give the referee a card with the four basic signals so they do not freeze up. The analyst's data is a good starting point for team time in the next session.

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