Objective: celebrate and consolidate everything from the six-week programme in fun, competitive, game-based activities — confidence in contact, tackle technique, tracking, carrying, decision making and support, all under pressure.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10 min | Rugby Capture the Flag |
| 5 min | Dynamic Warm-Up |
| 8 min | Track & Tackle Recap |
| 8 min | Carry & Decide Recap |
| 12 min | Contact Festival Tournament (4 stations) |
| 12 min | Coaches vs Players Touch Rugby (+ up to 5 min buffer) |
| 5 min | Team huddle (beyond the 60-min slot) |
Timing: planned to 55 minutes with a 5-minute buffer built in for the 60-minute slot — use it to stretch Coaches vs Players if the session's running to time. The closing huddle is a deliberate short add-on after the whistle, not part of the 60-minute playing window.
Rugby Capture the Flag
Goal: build teamwork, communication, awareness, evasion and decision making to open the festival.
25m × 20m area, two teams, each with three rugby balls ("flags") in their own half. Players try to steal opposition flags; defenders touch attackers, who return to their half if caught. Most flags at the end wins.
Coaching point: heads up, use space, communicate, support teammates, work together.
Movement channel
High knees, heel flicks, walking lunges, side shuffles, accelerations down a 20m channel. Quality movement, balance, coordination, active feet.
Track & Tackle Recap
Goal: revisit Week 1's tracking and tackle themes back-to-back before the festival.
Start as the Tracking Challenge: 12m × 6m channel, 1v1. Attacker tries to score, defender tracks, starting with touch and progressing to tackle if appropriate. Rotate regularly. Then move to the Tackle & Reload Challenge on the bag: tackle the bag, release immediately, return to feet, sprint through a 5m reload gate, repeat and compete on time.
Coaching point: eyes on hips, stay square, small steps, shoulder first, tight wrap, fast reload.
Carry & Decide Recap
Goal: revisit Week 3's carrying and Week 4's decision-making themes back-to-back before the festival.
Start as the Ball Carry Challenge: 10m channel, ball carrier attacks a shield holder, maintains body position, drives beyond the contact point, competes for maximum distance gained. Then move to the Contact Decision Game: 15m × 10m channel, 2 attackers vs 1 defender. Coach feeds the attack; attackers decide whether to carry or pass, defender responds. Rotate positions regularly.
Coaching point: low body position, strong ball security, continuous leg drive, then scan early, communicate, commit to decisions.
Contact Festival Tournament
Goal: apply everything from all six weeks in a fun, competitive rotation, each age group running its own set of stations.
Station 1 — Tracking Challenge: tracking, footwork, balance. Station 2 — Contact Challenge: tackling, collision technique. Station 3 — Gainline Challenge: carrying, leg drive. Station 4 — Decision Rugby: communication, support play, decision making.
Coaching point: apply the learning, communicate, support teammates, compete positively.
Coaches vs Players Touch Rugby
Goal: finish the programme positively, celebrating progress and enjoyment.
Full-width pitch, players vs coaches, whole squad together. Coaches create opportunities for player success and celebrate positive behaviours. This is the flex block: let it run the full 17 minutes if the session's on schedule, or cut to 12 if you're behind — either way, move straight into the huddle below.
Scoring
- Try = 5
- Dominant Carry = 2
- Excellent Tackle = 2
- Support Play = 1
- Communication = 1
Team huddle — reflection & shout-outs
Sit as one group. Coach asks: "What have you improved most during the programme? What was your favourite activity? What will you keep practising?" Every player gets one genuine, specific shout-out from a coach — something they couldn't do, or hadn't tried, back in Week 0.
Equipment checklist
- 30 cones
- 8–10 rugby balls
- 4 tackle shields
- 2 tackle bags
- Bibs, whistle, stopwatch
- Water, first aid kit