Introducing Contact Without Fear in Rugby (Lesson 3)

Introducing Contact Without Fear in Rugby (Lesson 3)

By Lesson 3, students are moving confidently, enjoying rugby and no longer worried about being close to other players. This is the point where many teachers feel pressure to “start tackling”. Instead, Lesson 3 focuses on body position and first contact skills, without tackling to the ground.

This lesson is where contact starts to feel normal.

Staying square and in control

Lesson 3 begins with paired activities such as Knee Touch and Press-Up Foot Touch. On the surface these look like simple games, but they teach essential rugby habits.

Students learn to:

Stay facing their opponent

Keep hips and shoulders square

Drop body height

Move their feet rather than turn and run

Because these are games, students stay relaxed. Good body position develops naturally rather than through over-coaching.

Strength, balance and fun resistance

Activities like Knee Wrestle and the Back-to-Back Twist introduce controlled resistance. Students push, pull and twist while staying low and balanced. There is no tackling and no one goes to ground, but students are already learning how to use their body effectively.

These moments are usually full of laughter. That matters. When students associate contact with fun rather than fear, technique improves quickly.

The moment it clicks

The Line Out Game is often the turning point. One player tries to break a line of teammates who are linked together or tag the player at the back with a ball. There is contact, effort and resistance, but it feels safe and exciting rather than intimidating.

This is often the moment where students realise:
“I can handle contact.”
“I understand how to use my body.”
“This is actually fun.”

Once that confidence is there, everything else becomes easier.

First contact technique without tackling

Only after all of the above do students work on below-the-ball contact technique. There is still no tackling to the floor. The focus is on:

Same foot, same shoulder

Head tight and safe

Arms wrapping and squeezing

Driving with the legs

Because students are already comfortable being physical, they can concentrate on technique instead of fear.

Why Lesson 3 matters

Lesson 3 is the foundation for safe tackling later in the unit. By teaching body position, balance and confidence first, students are far more likely to:

Use correct technique

Keep their head safe

Engage willingly rather than avoid contact

When Lesson 4 introduces tackling to the ground, it no longer feels like a big step.

Looking ahead

Lesson 3 sets the tone for the second half of the block. Students are confident, engaged and ready to learn more. Contact is no longer something to worry about, it’s simply part of the game.

For the full unit -

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13380816

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