Under 7's

Tag Rugby

The basics

Teams:

• Teams are made up of 7 players.
• Games are made up of two halves of 7 minutes each, with a break of 2 minutes.  (for festivals, 10 minutes may be played with no half time)
• Rolling substitutions can be made.

Pitch:

• 7 a side games are played in a pitch not more than 55-60m x 30-35m
• A dead ball line can be introduced for experienced players

The five basic rules for Tag Rugby

Rule 1 – method of scoring

A try is worth one point.

To score a try a player must carry the ball over the opponents' goal line and press the ball down on the ground. (To ensure safe practice when playing on hard surfaces, it is suggested players score a try by merely running over the goal line with the ball)

After a try is scored the game restarts from the centre of the field with a free pass by the non-scoring team. (See Rule 4, 'The Free Pass')

Rule 2 – Passing

No forward passes are allowed and will be penalised by a free pass being awarded to the non-offending team at the place the ball left the player's hands.

A forward pass is any pass where the ball travels in the direction of the opponents' goal line.

Note: A pass directly sideways is allowed and in fact can be the most effective pass players make as no ground is lost with this type of pass.

THE NO FORWARD PASS RULE

Rule 3 – The tackle

Only the player with the ball can be tagged and a tag is simply the removal by a defender of one of the two ribbons from the ball carrier.

Ball carriers can run or dodge potential taggers but cannot fend them off, spin around or guard or shield their ribbons in any way. This includes using the ball to fend away defenders.

The defender then holds the ribbon above their head and shouts 'tag' for all to hear. Defenders must back off at least one metre from the ball carrier, allowing space for them to pass. They are not allowed to snatch the ball from the player's hand.

Note: When playing with a referee, it is usually helpful to players if the referee shouts 'pass' as a tag is made.

Once tagged, the player in possession of the ball must attempt to stop as soon as possible and pass the ball within 3 strides of being tagged. Even at full pace, the ball carrier will be expected to stop in 3 strides.

Near the goal line, players are only allowed one step to score after being tagged. If their momentum means they have taken 2 or 3, then they must attempt to pass to a team-mate to score, even if they are now over the goal line.

Note: Players can pass in the act of stopping.

After a tag has been made, both the ball carrier and the defender are momentarily out of the game. The defender can take no further part until they have handed back the ribbon to the attacker (not thrown it on the floor) and the attacker no further part, until they have replaced their ribbon back on their belt.

Note: The defender hands back the ribbon only after the attacker has passed the ball. This action simulates the time taken up by defenders when tackling in full contact rugby and stops defenders being unrealistically active as can happen in traditional games of touch rugby.

Remember - There should be no tags on the floor at any time.

Very occasionally, a ball carrier may accidentally flick off one of their own ribbons in the act of running, making it very difficult for a defender to tag them. In this case the game should be stopped and the player allowed to replace it. The game then restarts with a free pass to the team in possession at the place where the ribbon came off.

Rule 4 – The free pass

A free pass is used to start the game (from the centre of the field) or to restart it at the place where the ball went out of play or an infringement took place.

Note: If an infringement takes place over the goal line, or within 5 metres of the goal line, then a free pass should be awarded to the non-offending team, 5 metres out from the goal line to create some space.

At a free pass the ball is held in two hands and on the instruction 'play' given by the referee the player passes the ball to a team-mate. More experienced players can be made to tap it with their foot first before passing, as they do when taking a tap penalty in full contact rugby. When playing without a referee, the opposing team captain gives the instruction to 'play'.

Note:

It is the referee (or the opposing team captain when playing without a referee) who dictates when a free pass is taken by saying 'play'. Players cannot take a quick free pass in Tag Rugby, instead referees must allow sufficient time for defenders to get back before restarting the game.

The player making the free pass must start play with a pass through the air, they are not allowed to run with it themselves or simply hand it to another layer.

The opposition cannot start moving forward until the player has actually passed the ball.

At a free pass, the opposition must be 7 metres (7 large steps) back. More experienced players may prefer 10 metres.

Rule 5 – Ball out of play

If the ball or the ball carrier goes out of play a free pass is given to the other team from the sideline.

Further rules

A – Knock-ons

A knock-on occurs when the player attempting to catch the ball fumbles it and knocks it forward to the ground in the direction of the opponents' goal.

Note: The ball must touch the ground for a knock-on to occur, so if a player fumbles a pass but manages to catch it before it hits the ground, play should continue.

B – Off-side

Off-side only occurs immediately after a tag has been made and it is only those defenders who are off-side and interfering with the game that need be penalised.

This rule is introduced at an early stage to allow some flow to the game and develop good habits for the future.

In simple terms, once a tag has been made all defenders should make an effort to get back on their side of the ball and not deliberately stand in an off-side position, blocking the pass or waiting for an interception. Off-side is penalised by awarding a free pass to the non-offending team.

Note: Where defenders find themselves in an off-side position at a 'tag', they should be encouraged to get back on-side as quickly as possible, or clearly indicate they have no intention of interfering with play by either ducking right down, or by putting both arms straight above their head and getting out of the way. They must not block, intercept or interfere with the pass or play in any way.

Once the pass has been made and play continues there is no off-side in the game until the next ball carrier is tagged.

Note: It tends to be the defenders standing off-side and within 3 metres of the ball that need penalising the most. Where defenders are off-side but not interfering with play, then play should be allowed to continue permitting the game to flow.

THE OFF-SIDE RULE

C – Advantage rule

As players become familiar with the rules, coaches are encouraged to introduce the advantage rule to create quick reactions and fewer stoppages in the game.

D – Number of Tags (tackles)

Once skills develop, the team in possession of the ball could be given a set number of consecutive tags to score.  This rewards good defence and encourages players to pass to support players before getting tagged.

E – Carry the ball in two hands

To encourage good habits and assist refereeing players must carry the ball in two hands at all times.

Dealing with repeated infringements, foul play or dissent

Prevention is better than cure… and the referee should take steps to avoid such situations.  Communicating with the players is vital.  The referee will try and prevent infringements in the first place.

A penalty try can be awarded if a try would definitely been scored but for foul play or an infringement.  But this tends to be rare with young players.

Other things to think about…

For safety reasons, the following rules exist.

• No contact or grabbing clothing
• No kicking
• No hand-offs
• No diving on the ball
• No spinning or jumping
• No deliberate barging into defenders
• No diving to score a try
• No pulling the ball out of a ball carriers hands

To assist the game

• Players should tuck shirts in and tuck away excess belt
• Opposing teams should wear contrasting strips and different colour ribbons

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