Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
1
Australian Oztag Sports
Association
Primary School Drills
Compiled by Kurt Wrigley ©
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
2
Teaching & Coaching
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Coaches and teachers should allot more time to Participating/Practicing, less on Explanation/Demonstration.
Whilst correct technique is your goal, focus more on participation and enjoyment.
The best way to achieve this is “Instruct while Learning” model. Demonstrate and explain 1 single teaching point
to focus on then practice the skill, then explain & demonstrate another teaching point, then more practice etc.
Example Skill: Grip & Standing pass/catch
Teaching Points - Demonstrate/Explain
Grip - Hold Football like a hamburger
“Thumbs on top, fingers spread underneath”
Standing Pass - Stand side on, step to pass. Weight
on closest foot to receiver
“Swing Arms like an elephant – point ball down,
thumbs first”
Practice
1 ball per student, run around 10 m x 10m
grid with correct grip. Coach moves around
grid lightly slapping players footballs while
they are not looking
Straight line of 4 – 6, 2 – 3m apart
As above
Point hands at target after ball is released, make
pistol shape with fingers & „Pistol sound‟ after pass
As Above
Catcher must have hands up in front of eyes. Watch
the ball into hands. Don‟t catch on chest
As above
Demo/Explanation time: 15 - 20secs, Practice time: 2 mins (for each Teaching point)

Then put skill under pressure via Game/competition – use variables (Time/Space and/or Physical Pressure). Eg.
Relay race – pass along line and last person runs to the front, everyone shuffles along

Look for variation in same drill – eg. player running to the front zig zags between own team or grubber kick to regather
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
3
Grip & Ball Handling Drills
Stationary
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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X
Each player has a football. Correct Grip “Thumbs on Top, Fingers spread underneath” Like a „hamburger‟. Don‟t
let you the middle fall out! Coach moves around grip lightly slapping footballs and checking correct grip. At the
end of each of the following stationary handling drills the coach checks correct grip.
Ball on the ground. One foot on top of ball. On whistle, quickly bend down pick up ball and stand up.
Ball on ground. On whistle, spin around once, two claps and pick up ball
Ball on ground. On whistle, spin around twice, three claps and pick up ball
Ball in Hands. Throw ball up about head height catch in hands
Ball in Hands. Throw ball up, one clap, catch in hands. Then try 2 claps, 3 claps, 4 claps…Count as many claps
as you can!
Bounce the ball to re-gather
Bounce, clap and re-gather
Move ball around waist, squeeze with thumb when ball is in one hand. Race 5 times around waist
Move ball around both knees, legs together. Race 5 times around knees
Move ball Figure 8 around knees, legs apart Race 3 times figure 8
Ball between legs, one hand at front, one hand at back. Quickly swap position of hands before ball hits the ground
Ball between legs, two hands holding ball behind legs, throw ball and quickly move hands around in front of legs
to catch before ball hits the ground
As above try to move both hands quickly in front and behind legs catching ball
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
4
Ball Handling with movement
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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Players jog around grid with correct grip, coach moves amongst players and attempts to lightly slap the ball when
they are not looking

Jogging around the grid try the following ball handling skills:
throw up and catch
around waist
between legs
bouncing and re-gather
All players must avoid contact with each other and get correct grip between skills.

All except 2 selected players place balls outside of grid, Go for 30secs selected players with ball (correct grip) try
to tag those without ball. Tagged players are eliminated and must stand outside grid. Count haw many players
tagged. Two new players with ball. Rotate
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
5
ROB THE NEST
XXX
XXX
7 footballs in hoop
XXX
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XXX
On whistle, one player from each team run to the centre and pick up a ball then run back to place ball next to
dome, then tags the next player in team who repeats. If there are no footballs left in the centre, players may rob
another teams nest. After 1 minute, blow the whistle and the team with the most footballs wins.
Variations
 When returning to nest Pass the ball to leader
 When returning to nest Play the ball to the leader
 Grubber kick the ball to leader from where you pick up the ball
 Have belts and Tags on. Player without ball can tag a player in possession, Ball carrier must then return ball to
where they got it from then go to re attach tag before collecting a ball
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
6
Ball Handling Drills & Relays
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
In the following drills, 2 mins of Practice then Race against each other:
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First player runs with ball & places next to marker and returns to tag next player who runs out and picks
up ball and places at feet of next player and continue on
Place ball 2 – 3m before marker, round the marker and pick up ball on the run to hand off to next player
Variations: Play the Ball to next Player, Grubber kick to next player, on way back to team player runs
around whole group, ball passed around waist on way back, throw ball in the air (head height) catch on
the run
Start with a Captain of each team standing on the marker:
 First Player runs with the ball, passes to the Captain, runs around Captain and gets a hand off from
Captain, then run back to hand off to next Player
 Variation: Get a Pass off Captain after player runs around him, Pick up loose ball – Captain throws ball on
the ground after player goes around him, Captain Grubbers for Player
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
7
Standing Pass
1.
X
X
X
Crocodiles
X
X
5.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Teaching Points/Demonstrate – present one at a time then Practice then Relay race.
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Correct Grip
Stand side on (All players face
or ). Step to pass (weight on closest foot to receiver)
Swing arms across body (Elephant‟s trunk). Point ball down, thumbs first
Point hands at target after ball is released, make pistol shape with fingers & „Pistol sound‟ after pass
Catcher must have hands up in front of eyes. Watch the ball into hands. Don‟t catch on chest
Relay Race
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Player 1 Starts, standing pass along line. When Player 5 receives ball, he/she runs to the front of line while all
other players shuffle along 1 place. Continue until Player 1 gets back to the top of line – all sit down
Variation: When Player 5 receives ball, zig zag run between players to front of the line, grubber kick re-gather on
way back to front of the line, „Crocodiles in the river‟ – Put a player from another team in as a crocodile, Ball
carrier must evade crocodile. Crocodile try to tag ball carrier. Winning team has the most tags.
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
8
Play the Ball
Teaching points
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Defender removes tag and then holds up the tag and drops it to the ground marking where the play the ball should
occur
Run back to where Tag is on the ground, face your try line
Place the ball on ground in front with ends of ball pointing to sidelines
Put one foot on top of the ball & heel or roll the ball behind to dummy half
Pick up and re attach Tag quickly
Drill – Play the Ball Practice & Marker & Dummy half Duties
D
A1
A2
A1 starts with ball runs straight at D then veers off to one side. D removes A1‟s tag and holds up tag then drops it on the
ground. A1 runs back to tag (facing try line) and Plays the ball. A2 moves in behind A1 to become the dummy half
ready to pass or run. Swap roles.
Play the Ball Relay 1
1X
2X
X2
3X
X
X1
X3
4
X4
5X
6X
X5
X6
X7
X7
Player 1 starts with ball. 1 PTB to 2 who passes to 3. 3 catches and PTB to
4. 4 passes to 5. 5 catches and PTB to 6. 6 passes to 7 on the run who runs to where player started. All players move to
the next position immediately after pass or PTB. Continue. Winner is first team who gets back to starting positions
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
9
Play the Ball Relay 2
Try line
A1
A1
A1
A1
A2
A2
A2
A2
tag on ground
On whistle A1 runs to the line where tag is on the ground, face the try line and PTB correctly. A2 runs forward to
Dummy half, picks up ball and runs to score a try.
Variation: A2 must re
attach tag and also run past try line. Both players must be past try line first to win. A1 must pass to A2 before the try line
for A2 to score a try
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
10
Tagging
1 v 1 (choose similar athletic ability)
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A grubber kicks ball to B. B fields the ball and attempts to score at the other end. A cannot come forward until B
has touched the ball.
When first learning „Tagging‟, B uses no evasion
Later, B tries to evade A
Explain basic rules: Attacking rules (eg. no jumping, bumping/fending, bending forward, onus on ball carrier to
avoid contact) & Defensive rules (A defender cannot change direction and move into attackers path)
Tag Grid – 10m x 10m
A
B
Teaching Points
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Move to position body in front of Attacker
Eyes on Tags
Bend knees, Grab for top end of tag (where tag attaches) with both hands
Hold Tag up then drop on the ground
Explain basic rules: Attacking rules (eg. no jumping, bumping/fending, bending forward, onus on
ball carrier to avoid contact. May swivel or spin) & Defensive rules (A defender cannot change
direction and move into attackers path)
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
11
Tag Gauntlet
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4 Teams of 5 and use tag gauntlet to count number of tags removed. Defenders cannot move forward must only
move laterally on line Team 1 Attacks, Team 2 Defends then swap, then Team 2 v 3 & Team 1 V 4.
10m
XXXXX
Team 1
O
O
O
O
O
10m
Team 2 (O – total up Tags removed)
Red Rover Game – whole team (X) vs 2 defenders (O)
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All students have belts and tags on. On whistle, all X‟s run to try to make it to the other side. The defenders try to
tag as many players as they can. X‟s that are tagged become Defenders on the next run. Whistle again, repeat
from R to L.
X
X
X
O
X
30 – 40m
X
X
X
O
X
X
30 – 40m
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
12
Running Pass Drills

Players run out in Pairs passing between each other (Receiver must be behind Passer), round the marker and
come back down wider channel to rejoin line
X
X
X
X
X
X
2m
4m
Players in groups of three. Start off only walking. Pass ball over and back then hand off next group. Then move to
jogging.
Teaching Points
 Weight on leg furthest from Receiver
 Head and shoulders turn towards receiver. Pass just in front of receiver
 Swing arms and point to target after release
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
13
10 passes – 10m x 10m
X
O
O
X
X
O
X
O
O
X
O
X
X
X
O
O
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Select 2 equal teams use coloured Tags
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One team starts with the ball – opposing team members must not be with 3m of player starting with ball. On
whistle, Team with the ball must attempt to get 10 passes between each other (Coach Counts out loud). Player
with the ball can run and defending team cannot grab or tackle (non contact). A changeover occurs if the
attacking team drops the ball, pass goes to ground, is intercepted or knocked down by a defender. Great for kids
to find space and use vision

Extension – same as above except changeover occurs if an attacker is tagged in possession or the defending team
gains possession (ie. catches intercept or picks up loose ball) Play on if ball goes to ground or is knocked down.
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
14
Continuous 2 v 1
X
X
A
X
X
F
X
X
B
Start
Hand off
D
X
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C
X
E
X
Notice the hats are colour coded. All Pink Tags on Pink hats, all Green Tags on Green hats.
A starts with the ball. B is his Support player. C is the defender (thus 2 v 1)
A draws C to pass to B who hands off to E who runs back to other end with D as Support Player & E is the
Defender…Continuous drill
Begin with the defender going to ball carrier, then going to support player (Ball Carrier must dummy), then have
Defender make the choice to defend either player. Keep score for a period of time.
2 v 1 Gauntlet
10m
XXX
Team 1
O
O
O
O
O
10m
XXX
Team 2 (O – total up Tags removed)

As per 1 v 1 Tag Gauntlet. Defenders can only move laterally (not come forward)
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
15
3v1v1
Try line
A
10m
B
O
O
C
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Coach Passes to either A B or C. All 3 run down the channel. Defender moves towards ball carrier (again only
move laterally). Draw and Pass both defenders and score at the try line. If Defender moves towards support
player, ball carrier should dummy.
Once a try is scored, Attackers slow jog back to starting positions again (mix up whether in middle or on edge)
3v2
15m
try line
start
XXA
XX
E
XXB
10m XX
F
XXC
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Hand off
XX
A starts with ball and runs with B & C as Support Players. E & F are defenders.
The 3 Attacking Players try to score at the other end then hand off next attackers
Again defenders can only move laterally
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
16
5 a side games
Play on reduced size field
40m
30m
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X
O
X
O
X
O
X
O
X
O
For 5 v 5, Game commences with tap off.
Play for 10 – 15mins. Keep score.
Explain rules for Juniors (below Under 10‟s)
 No Marker allowed
 Dummy Half may run but if tagged, a changeover will occur
 Dummy Half cannot score
 Defensive line cannot move until first receiver touches the ball or the dummy half runs
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
17
8 v 8 Full Game

Game commences with Kick off
70m
O
X
X
O
X
O
50m
O
X
X
O
O
X
X
O
X
10m
O
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association
Oztag Australia – Primary School Drills/Games Booklet
18
a) The Basics
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Oztag is a non contact version of rugby league.
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There is a marker in the play the ball.
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A knock back is play on, knock on advantage rule applies - same as league.
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The game is non-contact the attacker cannot deliberately bump into defender. A defender cannot change direction and move into attackers
path. Whoever initiates contact will be penalised.The onus is on the attacking player to avoid defender.
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Maximum of 8 players at any one time.
Defender must remove one or both tags to stop attackers progress. He/She then holds up the tag and drops it to the ground marking where the
play the ball should occur.
Defence must be back seven metres.
Defensive line can move forward only when dummy half touches the ball. Dummy half can run and be tagged with the ball.
Six tags/plays to promote ball before changeover.
An attacker must stop and play the ball if he is in possession with only one tag on.
The only persons able to promote the ball with one tag on are the dummy half, and the player taking the tap (as long as they do not take more
than one step with the ball.
An attacker must stop and play the ball if he is in possession with only one tag on.
The only persons able to promote the ball with one tag on are the dummy half, and the player taking the tap (as long as they do not take more
than one step with the ball.
The ball carrier is not allowed to protect his tag or fend off defenders.
A try is awarded to the attacking team when they ground the ball on or over the try line.
Simultaneous tag is play on. (If the referee is unable to decide, the pass is allowed - play on. The advantage goes to attacking team.)
An attacker may pass the ball over his/her try-line to a team mate who may run the ball out. If the ball is dropped, the ball is deemed dead. A
player in possession may run behind his try-line and back out into the field of play.
Players can dive to score a try, however, if this player touches the ground with the knees or arms before the try line or slides across the line
and a defender is within tagging distance a try is disallowed and a tag is counted.
A player can go down on their knees to score a try over the try line.
b) Kicking

A team may kick the ball before the initial tag is made. (eg: a team picks up the ball in general play from a kickoff, knock- on, loose ball etc..
may kick the ball before being tagged) Once a tag has been made, the ball may not be kicked again till after the fourth tag.

Kicks in General play cannot be above the shoulder height of the referee. Attacking team cannot dive on a kicked ball in any situation, but can
kick on.

Kick offs and line drop outs. If the ball lands in the field of play and then rolls across the try line whether touched or not a line drop out occurs.
Try line becomes the dead ball line for all kicks.

If the ball is kicked or passed into the referee, the referee will order a changeover where he was struck.
c) Misconduct
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
Unsportsmanlike conduct covers the behaviour and attitude of players on the field and may result in penalty, sin bin or dismissal.
The Australian Oztag Sports Association has and will hand out lengthy penalties for fighting.
PO Box 703, Cronulla NSW 2230
Tel: +61 2 9522 2777 Fax: +61 2 9522 3599
[email protected] www.oztag.com.au
ABN: 58 134 637 740
Copyright – Australian Oztag Sports Association