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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

TAG Rugby?

10 replies

Smithagain · 30/03/2010 21:32

Can anyone enlighten me what TAG Rugby involves?

DD1 has come home with a letter saying that the whole of Year 3 & 4 are going to a Primary schools' TAG Rugby festival next month. Leaving school at 1pm and not returning till 5:30pm.

She is really not keen to go and says she hates the game. They've done a half term of it in PE apparently.

I'm a bit disgruntled at the assumption that it will be fine for them to be out till 5:30. School trips are normally in school hours. At the same time, if it was some sort of art/music festival I know she'd be really keen. So she should probably go because sports are just as important, it will be character-building, she might enjoy it ... blah, blah, blah.

I do just have a little niggle of feeling that rugby is the last thing I can imagine my very skinny 7 year old enjoying, and four hours on a windswept recreation ground sounds like my idea of hell!

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 30/03/2010 21:33

They run around playing rugby but instead of tackling each other they pull tags from the other person.

southeastastra · 30/03/2010 21:35

if she doesn't want to join in - just tell her to take her own tag out

RustyBear · 30/03/2010 21:40

TAG rugby practises rugby skills without the contact - the children wear a belt with strips of material velcroed to it and a successful 'tackle' involves pulling a strip off the belt.

We play it a lot at our school - it was introduced by a previous deputy head who used to be in the New Zealand International Touch rugby team - and the children really enjoy it.

Why not ask the school what happens if a child doesn't want to go, or if they can't be out till 5.30?

Quattrocento · 30/03/2010 21:41

tag rugby They call it girl's rugby at DS's school ...

I think it is important for children to participate in lots of sports actively. Don't be half-hearted about it - she will sense your lack of enthusiasm.

blametheparents · 30/03/2010 21:42

In Tag rugby children wear belts with two tags that are velcroed on. In order to tackle someone you pull a tag off the belt and shout 'TAG'.
No scrums, kicking the ball, full tackling etc.
Easily a game boys and girls can play together.

ninah · 30/03/2010 21:42

sea my ds would LOVE you
as he abs detested this game

biddyofsuburbia · 30/03/2010 22:36

My house is a bit rugby mad so I can't escape it - but you can tell your dd that the best player at my ds's club, the one all the coaches fight to have in their team, is a girl and she's fantastic at it. It might help. Then again, it might not! They are similar age - I think my point is that at this age it's not a boys game, girls are often better and if she throws herself into it she might have a laugh - doesn't matter if she's skinny as it's non contact. Really will keep fingers crossed she enjoys it at least a little bit, maybe it's the feminist in me but I love to see girls doing well at 'boys' games!

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 30/03/2010 22:45

The old cliche about rugby is that all shapes and sizes can play it - but, at tag level, your skinny DD will be at an advantage, assuming she's quick on her feet and good at dodging.

My on-the-large-size DS enjoyed it at this age, but has thrived since progressing to full contact, where his strength and size are an advantage in the position he plays.

It can be irritating to have these events foisted out of the blue - but welcome to school life.

DS2's Y4 class recently took part in one of these tournaments (in ice-cold Feb), and when I went to watch they all had shining eyes and were really enjoying themselves.

Plus the games only last about 10 mins so it's not too arduous.

Be positive - I was arty as a child, but now wish I'd been encouraged to do more sport as I'm convinced I wouldn't now have this dodgy back!

Northumberlandlass · 31/03/2010 07:44

My DS plays Tag at our local rugby club every Sunday, he's 6.

Like all above have said the kids wear a belt with a velcro strip on each side. The object being to tag (pull one tag off) the player then has to pass the ball to another player on his team and if they are double tagged (it is a turn over) they give the ball to the other team.

They are taught basic rugby skills and there is no contact. They aren't even allowed to scramble on the floor for the ball.

It's a great team game. It also encourages good sportsmanship. At the end of every game they shake hands with the other players and give them 3 cheers (as they do in all levels of rugby).

Again - it really encourages the skinny whippets who can run. Unfortunately my DS looks like Bambi when he runs and is longing for contact.

If they are just starting to play now, they have missed most of the bad weather..we have been standing on touchlines since September and it has been COLD !

Also, should say that DS wears long johns under his tracksuit / rugyby shirt....

Original poster

Smithagain · 31/03/2010 13:12

Thanks all! At least I feel like I know what she's in for now! The out-of-the-blue nature of the announcement didn't exactly help matters, but as you say, that's schools for you.

Good to know that it's normal for girls to take part. Even better to know that skinny girls can do well!

Her best friend's mum is feeling quite "anti" on the basis it's a man's sport and I don't want that sort of message filtering through to DD. Will do my best to be upbeat about what a great time she'll have and go along to watch if I can. (And will keep southeastastra's tip in reserve in case I need it )

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