Touch Rugby: Sub Box and Rolling Substitutions

Touch rugby games using the official rule of unlimited substitutions through a sub box. A student coach plans the rotations using the Borg scale to keep team intensity up for the whole game.

How to play

1. Explain the rule: five players on the field and one in the sub box; the player coming off must cross the line inside the box before the sub goes on, or the other team gets a penalty (3 min).
2. Each team names a coach who sets a rotation plan: who subs, how often and with what signal, aiming for nobody to go above Borg 8 (2 min).
3. Two 5 vs. 5 games on 35 x 20 m fields with the six-touch rule; the referee penalizes illegal subs and the scorekeeper logs every sub and the minute it happened (14 min).
4. Each player gives a final Borg rating; the scorekeeper shows minutes played per player and the team decides whether the plan shared the effort well (6 min).

Rules

• The touch is light, with an open hand, anywhere on the body; never push or grab.
• Subs happen only inside the box marked with cones.
• An illegal sub gives a penalty to the other team.
• After each touch, the defense retreats five meters before defending again.

Variations

Adaptations

• Asthma or low fitness: the rotation plan gives shorter, more frequent shifts.
• Hearing impairment: the coach uses a colored pinnie as a visual signal to call the sub.
• Ankle injury: serves as coach or scorekeeper for the whole game.

Learning goals

• Apply the touch rugby substitution rule correctly.
• Plan how the team shares effort using perceived exertion data.
• Take on the coach role and make decisions during play.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 24
• pinnies: 24
• rugby balls: 3
• whistles: 2
• stopwatch: 2
• cards: 4
• pencils: 4

Teacher tip

Make the sub box clearly visible, about 10 m long at midfield. With four teams of six you have 24 players and four students to referee and keep score.

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