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Play Kick Triangles

Score by passing, ripping, and kicking in this rugby-style game that builds teamwork, tactics, and movement skills.

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You’ll need

  • Rugby Ball
  • Cones (or any other object to mark out the playing area)
  • Bibs (or any other way of marking different teams)

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.   
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely. 
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help. 

Let the experts at your local rugby club run this session for you!

To register interest in your Scout Group being twinned with a local rugby club enter your details using this form.

Planning and setting up this activity

  • Choose a spacious, accessible area and mark out a playing area with cones or other objects.
  • Using cones or markers, create two in goal areas (called try zones) and a halfway line.
  • Check the terrain to ensure it’s free from hazards, such as steps or rabbit holes. Use cones or tape to mark or block any dangers.
  • Check the weather forecast and sunset time to ensure there’s enough light throughout the session.
  • Ask everyone to tie long hair back, and remove any jewellery, watches and such, before playing.
  • Remind everyone to bring a drink and wear long sleeves, long trousers and trainers.
  • Read our guidance on running wide games and active games safely.

Running this activity 

  1. Gather everyone together and explain that you’ll be playing a game called Kick Triangles. You could ask if anyone remembers playing Rip Ball or Restart Rugby, and what they learned from those games. 
  2. The aim is to score points by touching the ball down over the try line at the end of a rectangular pitch.
  3. Ask everyone to get into two teams. One team will start with the ball and the other will defend. If you’ve got lots of players, you can rotate teams or allow for substitutions. 
  4. To start, attackers can run with the ball until they are touched by a defender below the line of the armpit. Once touched, the ball carrier must stop. A supporting player from the attacking team performs a rip - they take the ball from the ball carrier and must pass backwards within 3 steps. 
  5. Each team has 7 phases to score. A phase is counted every time a defender touches a ball carrier. After 7 phases, possession is turned over to the other team, who then have 7 phases to try and score. 
  6. When a defender makes a touch, two defenders must form a tackle triangle by placing their outside arms on the shoulders of the defender who made the touch. That defender must stay in place until the triangle is formed.
  7. Once the triangle is formed, the attacker with the ball can call “FREEZE”. All players must stop moving. The attacker cannot be touched and must either kick or pass, they cannot run with the ball. The aim is to give the attacker space to take a shot, pass, or kick. 
  8. If the ball goes out of play, possession is turned over. If players from both teams contest the same area after a kick, the referee decides who gets possession to avoid contact.
  9. Players who are less confident with kicking may roll the ball forward instead.
  10. When you’re ready to play, run a quick warm-up to get everyone moving and ready. 
  11. At the end, make sure to run a cool down to help everyone stretch and recover. 

Reflection

This activity was all about learning how to use space, timing, and teamwork to move the ball and score. How did you find the game? You may have had to think carefully about when to pass, when to kick, and how to support your teammates. Was it easy to remember the rules around the tackle triangle and the FREEZE call? 

You also had to work closely with your team to stay organised and make quick decisions. How did your team communicate and help each other? Did you come up with any strategies to use the FREEZE call effectively or to defend better? What would you do differently next time?  

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Active games

The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.

Contact games and activities

Make sure everyone understands what contact is acceptable, and monitor contact throughout the activity.

Outdoor activities

You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.

  • To make this activity harder, you could only allow the Attacking team 1 FREEZE call in 7 phases.  

This activity can be easily adapted to suit different skill levels and group sizes. Rules around passing, kicking, and the tackle triangle can be simplified or adjusted to support learners with varying physical or cognitive needs. The game can be played at walking pace, and roles can be rotated to ensure everyone has a chance to participate. 

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Scouts Physical Recreation Activity Badge

If you enjoyed this activity, try some of our other activities sponsored by the RFU.