Summer 2026 · Week 3 of 8

Support & Continuity

LIGHT CONTACTJuly 2026Medium intensityLight contact60 mins
Home/Sessions/Summer 2026/Week 3
0–5 mins
WARM-UP · On arrival
Rugby League Tag — Arrival Game

20m × 15m grid. Two bib sets. Game is live from the 3rd player onwards.

Key coaching cues
Do not referee or coach — observe only
Watch who scans and uses space → Go Forward instinct
Watch who gravitates to the ball → Support habit to develop
Active
Attack vs defence from rep one. HR rising immediately.
Purposeful
Primes Go Forward and Support before the session formally begins.
Enjoyable
Players arrive into action, not into a queue.
Safe
Touch only. Open grid. Coach present.
Organisation
  • 3rd player: 2v1, game live immediately
  • 4th–6th: build to 3v3. 7th+: add players or open second grid.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Touch below waist = tackle. Two steps then pass within 2 seconds.
  • Six touches then turnover.
  • Score by grounding over the far try line.
5–13 mins
ACTIVATE · 8 mins
RFU Activate Kids — U11/U12 Programme

Official three-part RFU Activate Kids U11–U12 sequence. ~90 secs per exercise. All exercises from the published resource.

Key coaching cues
Quality over quantity — controlled movement and correct form throughout
Neck contractions: player controls own resistance — never apply external force
Observe and correct posture — Activate is skill rehearsal as well as physical prep
Active
Progressive load. HR rises systematically.
Purposeful
Official RFU Activate Kids exercises. Each directly relevant to rugby movement demands.
Enjoyable
Competitive and fun exercises throughout.
Safe
Player-controlled neck resistance. No external force applied.
Organisation
  • Part A (Whole Body): Lateral Skip, Unplanned Plant & Cut
  • Part B (Upper Body): Partner Resisted Arm Movements, Static Neck Contractions
  • Part C (Lower Body): Forward Bounds, Zombie Squat Tag (90 secs)
  • Lateral Skip — skip sideways across 10m channel, arms active, hips square. Progress: direction change on coach’s call. Develops lateral movement for support positioning.
  • Unplanned Plant & Cut — jog freely; sharp plant and cut on signal. Develops reactive change-of-direction for support running.
  • Partner Resisted Arm Movements — extended arm raise and elbows-tucked press in/out. Both directions. Prepares shoulders and arms for carrying and offloading.
  • Static Neck Contractions — hands to head (front/back/sides), 3-second hold each. Player controls own resistance. Non-negotiable.
  • Forward Bounds — explosive two-footed take-off, bound forward, land soft. 3–4 bounds per rep. Develops leg power for explosive support running.
  • Zombie Squat Tag (90 secs) — arms out, squats while tagging. Lower limb strength under fatigue.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Activate prepares the body for contact — not a generic warm-up
  • Correct form errors immediately — better to slow down than build bad habits
  • Warm conditions: shorter rests between exercises are fine. Keep the momentum.
13–25 minsINTRODUCE
SKILL ZONE · INTRODUCE · 12 mins
Offload Technique Drill — Two-Handed Offload & Support Position

Pairs, then trios. No defenders. Focus entirely on offload mechanics and support positioning. Coach demonstrates before players begin.

Key coaching cues
Two hands on ball right up until the offload is released — no one-handed passes from contact
Support: call his name AND your position (“ON YOUR LEFT, BALL!”) — not just a shout
Offload height: below shoulder height. High offloads become forward passes.
Active
Continuous reps. Short rotation.
Purposeful
Directly rehearses the offload mechanic and Support positioning.
Enjoyable
Progressive (pairs to trios). Decision-making in trios adds variety.
Safe
No contact. Walking/jogging pace only.
Organisation
  • PAIRS: Carrier walks forward, support runs onto ball from slightly deeper and wider. Carrier offloads before a cone marker.
  • TRIOS: Add passive second support player — carrier chooses which side to offload.
  • Coach demonstrates: two hands on ball until release; below shoulder height; body toward receiver.
  • 5 reps of each format before rotating.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Carrier timing: hold until the support player is in your peripheral vision, THEN release
  • “Run past, then let it go” — the ball travels backward in the air, forward in the hand
  • Rotate positions after every 5 reps — every player experiences every role
STEPS Variations
Space
Increase approach distance — more pace, higher challenge for timing
Task
Offload must reach receiver below shoulder height — height penalty
Equipment
Coloured cones mark the offload zone — offload must happen within it
People
Add third player as second support — carrier must choose side
Speed
3-second countdown from first movement — offload before count ends
25–36 minsDEVELOP
SKILL ZONE · DEVELOP · 11 mins
2v1 with Contact — Offload or Present

20m × 15m channel. Carrier + support vs one semi-active defender. Carrier reads the defender and chooses: offload before contact, or go to ground and present. Both are valid — decision quality is the skill.

Key coaching cues
PRE: “What is your read? Where is the defender’s weight?” — ASK before each rep
The offload option: defender commits — two hands, hold late, release to support
The presentation option: no offload available — parachute fall, two-handed placement, body over ball
Active
Continuous reps. Short rotation.
Purposeful
Links Support skill to Continuity outcome. Decision under pressure.
Enjoyable
Competitive small-group format. Problem-solving.
Safe
Defender semi-active only. Parachute fall from Week 2 reinforced.
Organisation
  • Defender starts passive (shadow), progresses to semi-active (one-arm contact) on coach’s call
  • Rotate: carrier → support → defender → carrier after every rep
  • Small group (5 players): coach joins as second support when needed
Additional Coaching Cues
  • SELL: “If you offloaded earlier, what would the support player have had to do differently?”
  • Support: “Was I in his mirror?” — ask this after each rep
  • Defender semi-active only. Coach controls escalation to active tackle.
STEPS Variations
Space
Widen channel — more room to find the offload option
Task
Carrier calls decision aloud (“OFFLOAD” or “GROUND”) before executing
Equipment
Try line at far end — score only if try line reached from clean completion
People
Defender becomes fully active when group is ready
Speed
Defender starts jogging toward carrier — less time to read
36–50 minsINTRODUCE → DEVELOP
GAME ZONE · INTRODUCE → DEVELOP · 14 mins
3v2 Touch Game with Offload Bonus

30m × 20m pitch. 3 attackers vs 2 defenders. Touch game with a scoring bonus for a clean offload before the touch.

Key coaching cues
Observe: are attackers exploiting the 3v2 numerical advantage?
FREEZE: “Three attackers, two defenders — where is the space? Where should the ball go?”
Look for: support runners calling early and positioning with depth.
Active
Continuous game. Maximum involvement.
Purposeful
Support and Continuity principles visible in game context.
Enjoyable
Competitive game format. Bonus scoring incentive.
Safe
Touch game. Contact limited to carrier presentation choices. Coach monitors.
Organisation
  • INTRODUCE (7 mins): Standard 3v2 touch. Carrier gets 2 steps then must pass within 2 seconds. Turnover after 4 phases.
  • DEVELOP (7 mins): Offload bonus — clean offload before touch = next phase starts 5m further forward.
  • Small groups: with 5 players, coach joins as 3rd attacker or 3rd defender.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Reward the offload attempt, not just the successful offload — right decision at right moment is the skill
  • DELEGATE from minute 43 — step back fully and observe
  • Offload bonus rule rewards the behaviour without requiring instruction
50–57 minsSTRETCH
GAME ZONE · STRETCH · 7 mins
Free Contact Game — Offload Decision Under Full Pressure

35m × 25m. Equal numbers. Light contact available (carrier may choose to go to ground and present). Offload bonus retained. DELEGATE mode.

Key coaching cues
Observe: are session themes appearing without prompting?
Note players reading the defender before contact — high-level play for U12.
One freeze maximum — one question — immediate restart.
Active
Full game. Maximum intensity.
Purposeful
Consolidation of Support and Continuity under full pressure.
Enjoyable
Player-led. Competitive.
Safe
Light contact. Coach monitors all presentation quality.
Organisation
  • Equal numbers. Light contact. All U12 appropriate rules.
  • Offload bonus from the Develop game retained.
  • Coach observes and notes for the debrief.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Light contact. Coach monitors all ground contact.
57–60 mins
COOL-DOWN · Review · 3 mins
Cool-Down & Player Reflection

Light jog (1 lap). Players gather in a circle. ASK-style questions. Team huddle to finish on energy.

Key coaching cues
“When did the offload work? What made it possible?”
“What did the support player do in the best moments?”
“What would you do differently next time a defender came to tackle you?”
Active
Physical cool-down.
Purposeful
Reflection embeds learning. Links to Principles of Play.
Enjoyable
Players have a voice. Positive energetic finish.
Safe
Summer: hydration check here.
Organisation
  • Light jog — 1 lap
  • Gather in a circle
  • Team huddle: name one thing done brilliantly
  • Preview: “Next week — what happens at the breakdown. Building on your presentation skills.”
Additional Coaching Cues
  • TREDS: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship
  • Summer: enjoyment and turning up are the wins — celebrate both
←
Week 2
Ball Carrying, Evasion & Ball Security
Week 4
Continuity & Breakdown Basics
→