Summer 2026 · Week 8 of 8

All Principles — Pre-Season

MATCH PREPAugust 2026High intensityMatch prep60 mins
Home/Sessions/Summer 2026/Week 8
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

Full official RFU Activate Kids U11–U12 sequence. Final summer session — complete protocol at match-prep intensity.

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): Hungry Hippos, Tag the Tail
  • Part B (Upper Body): Walk & Roll, Static Neck Contractions
  • Part C (Lower Body): Zombie Squat Tag, Forward Bounds
  • Hungry Hippos — explosive, competitive. High energy to match the pre-season occasion. Final summer Activate — make it memorable.
  • Tag the Tail — maximum energy. Last time before September. Competitive and fun.
  • Walk & Roll — reinforce safe falling mechanics one final time before the season begins.
  • Static Neck Contractions — hands to head (front/back/sides), 3-second hold each. Player controls own resistance. Non-negotiable.
  • Zombie Squat Tag — maximum energy. Competitive. End of summer tradition.
  • Forward Bounds — explosive. Pre-season power. 4 bounds per player.
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 minsREVIEW
SKILL ZONE · SEASON REVIEW · 12 mins
Season Theme Review — Players Teach Each Other

Players take turns coaching a skill to the group. Each player picks one thing they learned this summer and teaches it for 90 seconds. Coach observes and adds only if a Principle of Play is factually wrong.

Key coaching cues
If a player’s Principle of Play explanation is wrong: gentle correction. “That’s really close. The principle is… Can you see the connection?”
Do not over-coach. Goal is player confidence and ownership.
End with: “What Principle of Play did we just work on? All of you — tell me.”
Active
Active player-led skill practice.
Purposeful
Players articulate and demonstrate Principles of Play in their own words.
Enjoyable
Novel, empowering. Players as coaches.
Safe
Coach monitors all activity. Technique errors caught if they create injury risk.
Organisation
  • Coach introduces: “Each of you is going to teach the group one thing you learned this summer. You have 90 seconds each.”
  • Players take turns. No coaching from the sideline — they own it.
  • After each mini-demo: group gives one positive piece of feedback.
  • Coach notes which players choose technique vs tactical vs physical — reveals their strongest area.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • If a shy player struggles: ask the group to help them, not you. Build peer-coaching culture.
  • Note who can explain the Principles clearly — they are your captain material.
STEPS Variations
All adaptations
Made by the demonstrating player themselves. Coach only approves for safety.
25–36 minsSTRETCH
SKILL ZONE · PRE-SEASON FOCUS · 11 mins
Pre-Season Focus — U12 Law Applications

Introduction of the specific U12 laws that change from U11. Focus on ruck formation, lineout and restart mechanics. Practical law understanding through active demonstration.

Key coaching cues
Keep explanations brief: show it, do it, one coaching cue. No lengthy lectures.
Ruck: “The law says you must be on your feet, bound, with no hands on the ground. Show me.”
“Why do we learn the laws? Because when you know the law, you know how to play smarter.”
Active
Active law demonstration. Players moving and doing, not sitting.
Purposeful
Law knowledge is a direct performance advantage in U12 rugby.
Enjoyable
Novel challenge — understanding rules feels grown-up and serious.
Safe
All contact in law demonstrations is controlled and technique-focused.
Organisation
  • RUCK: demonstrate correct ruck formation with 3 players. Gate discipline. Offsides. Ball availability.
  • LINEOUT: basic U12 lineout mechanics — throw, jump, catch and deliver.
  • RESTART: restart kick-off and reception shape. Where does each player stand?
  • 5 minutes per topic. Rotate demonstrators. All players must physically do each one.
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Lineout: “Who throws? Who catches? Where does the scrumhalf stand?” — ask first, tell if needed.
  • Restart: “The defending team must be behind the 10m line. Show me where you stand.”
  • If law is misunderstood: ask a different player to explain. Peer explanation often works better.
STEPS Variations
If time
Add a passive defender to the ruck exercise — offside line becomes real and relevant.
36–50 minsMATCH
MATCH SIMULATION · 14 mins
Full Match Simulation — U12 Laws Applied

Full-pitch match under U12 laws. Kick-off, structured phases, ruck discipline, lineout where appropriate. Coach referees for this final session only. All summer skills and laws applied together.

Key coaching cues
Referee with the energy of a game — make it feel real. That’s the point.
Call the Principles when you see them: “That’s Go Forward! That’s Support!”
After the match: hold a brief team talk. “That was a match. You were ready.”
Active
Full match intensity.
Purposeful
Final test of all five Principles of Play under match conditions.
Enjoyable
A real match. Pre-season excitement.
Safe
Full U12 laws including tackle and ruck laws. Referee enforces all safety laws immediately.
Organisation
  • Full pitch. Equal numbers.
  • Kick-off from halfway. Teams compete under U12 laws.
  • Coach referees: apply laws firmly but fairly. Penalty and play on — no lengthy explanations.
  • Substitute freely to ensure everyone gets equal time.
  • Switch teams at half time (7 mins each half).
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Apply all U12 laws immediately and consistently.
  • Name specific moments that showed each Principle of Play in the debrief.
50–57 minsCELEBRATE
PRESENTATION · & Awards · 7 mins
End-of-Summer Presentation — Individual Recognition

Coach presents a brief individual comment on every player’s development this summer. One specific, genuine, observed thing each player improved. Then team season goal.

Key coaching cues
“Tom — Go Forward. I saw you choosing space over contact all summer.” — specific, principle-linked.
Season goals as a team: set ONE goal together. Players decide.
End on the team value: “We play for each other. That’s Haslemere. That’s how we begin.”
Active
Energetic, celebratory finish to the summer programme.
Purposeful
Individual recognition of Principle of Play development across 8 weeks.
Enjoyable
Celebratory. Motivating. Builds pre-season excitement and team identity.
Safe
Emotionally safe. All players recognised equally.
Organisation
  • Prepare individual comments before the session — they must be specific and observed, not generic.
  • Name the Principle of Play each player demonstrated best this summer.
  • Season goal: set ONE team goal together. “What do we want to achieve this season?” Players decide.
  • End with the team value: “We play for each other. That’s Haslemere. That’s how we begin.”
Additional Coaching Cues
  • Individual comments must be prepared in advance. Generic praise is not enough.
  • Emotionally safe environment. Public praise; any corrections private.
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
“Name one of the five Principles of Play and explain it in one sentence.”
“What was the hardest session this summer? What did you learn from it?”
“What’s your personal goal for the season?”
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: “Season starts now. Everything you’ve done this summer was the foundation. Go be brilliant.”
Additional Coaching Cues
  • TREDS: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship
  • Summer: enjoyment and turning up are the wins — celebrate both
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Game Consolidation
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