AO2 Games Based Sport- Rugby Union

Games Based Sport: Rugby Union

Skills & Techniques

Passing: When playing rugby to give the ball to another player you have to pass the ball, you can do this by throwing it backwards (it is against the rules to pass it forward) to another player who will catch and then continue running. When you pass you can do different types of passes. Normal pass, pop, and the spin pass.

You then plant your front foot into the ground and throw the ball using your hips/arms. You do this whenever you pass the ball in rugby, no matter what type of pass it is. You perform a normal pass when the player is not too far away but too far away to pop.

When performing the pop pass you should aim to throw the ball up in the air so that it hits the player’s chest. You perform this pass when someone is running really quickly as it is quite easy to catch if performed correctly.

Spin pass is the same as a normal pass except when you throw the ball you spin it. When spinning   the all you throw it normally but with you back hand you spin the ball by moving it upwards just as you release the ball. You use this pass when you want to do a long flat pass as it moves quickly through the air.

 Kicking: In rugby there are three different types of kicks, drop kick, grubber kick and the normal kick, which can be used at different times during the game.

When playing rugby the drop kick is performed when restarting the game from the half way line and can be used when given a penalty. When teams use them at a penalty it is usually because they are in their own 22 (22 meter line) and are under pressure. You can perform a drop kick by bouncing the ball on the ground and just as it bounces off the ground you kick it.

When you perform a grubber kick you must kick the ball just as it bounces on the ground, you use this kick when you want to get past a person and you are quicker than them

A normal kick is where you just kick the ball when you drop it without letting it drop out of your hands; this kick is mostly used in open play when the team is inside their own 22.

Running with the ball: In rugby you run with the ball to gain ground, when you run with the ball there are many different ways to get around apposing players.

Side steps can be performed when carrying the ball; you can perform a side step just as you run into an opposing player and as you are about to collide take a large step to the left or the right and therefore dodging the tackle     

You can also get past a player by performing a dummy; this is when you pretend to pass it and then quickly change direction and accelerate into the space that opened up when you pretended to pass it. This can be used when trying to break through a tough defence.

 Catching the ball: When catching the ball it is important to have the right technique; you can do this by catching it into your chest and gripping the ball tightly, in a game some professional players jump up as they catch the ball as they cannot be tackled in the air

Rucking: rucking is a very important aspect of the game as it determines which team has the ball, rucking occurs when a tackle is made and the ball carrier goes to ground. At this stage players (usually the forwards) protect the ball or try and steal the ball from the opposing team, they do this by pushing each other until the one of the scrum halves on either team gets the ball and throws it away.

Scrimmaging: When playing rugby if there is a forward pass, a knock on or a miskick from the restart there is a scrum, in a scrum there are 2 props, in the middle of them is a hooker, behind them are 2 second rows, on the outside of the 2 second rows are the flankers, one on the left and the other on the right and at the back of the scrum is the number 8. In a scrum the scrum half will role the ball in and the hooker will hook the ball back while the other hooker does the same.

Tackling: When tackling there are three types of tackling front tackle, side tackle and dump tackle   

A front tackle is when a player tackles the ball carrier from the front and takes him to the ground; they do this by grabbing his legs and pulling him to the ground

A side tackle is where the player tackles the ball carrier to the ground; he does this by tackling the player to the side and pushing him over

A dump tackle is where the player picks up the ball carrier and carries him into the ground; they must not let go of the player however as that would be an illegal tackle.

Techniques- Further Detail

Passing    

When you perform a pass you should make your opposite shoulder to which direction you are passing in to face your opponents, you do this because it then protects you when they come to get tackled.

Kicking

When kicking try to aim your kick so it lands in a certain place; you do this by moving your foot as you kick the ball in the direction you wish to kick it. As well as this when you perform a drop kick you should bounce the ball a few times on the spot which you are going to perform the kick to make sure the ground is flat. You do this so that when you drop it it doesn’t bounce off in another direction

Running

The best runners of the ball in rugby always run straight with the ball; they do this so they make more ground instead of drifting as you do not make so much ground

Catching the Ball

When catching the ball you should usually be already running so that you have more chance of getting past the defenders, but if you are catching a kick you should try and stand still and not drop the ball

Rucking

When rucking it is important to make sure you use the right technique; you make sure that when you ruck you drive from low to high while making sure you keep your back straight an head up. As well as this you need to get a good bind around the opposing player and make sure you drive using your legs.

Scrimmaging

In a scrum you should always make sure that the front row is at the same level, when the referee says touch you need to make sure that you touch your opposing player, when the ref says pause look at the position of where your head is going and when he says engage do not push until the ball is rolled in

Tackling

When doing a front tackle you should get into a low crouch position and as the player hits your shoulder twist round and fall over without losing your bind and fall on top of him so you can roll away. When performing a dump tackle you should lift the player up by the legs and make sure you do not let go of the player.

Improving techniques

To improve passing you can do different drills, one of these drills can be where you have 4 players running and you pass it along the line

To improve kicking and catching you can have 2 lined groups of players kick the ball to each other, this test their accuracy and catching skills

To improve rucking you can have rucking shields where you have some players holding rucking shields to simulate a ruck

To improve scrimmaging by using a scrum machine which stimulates an opposing side this can therefore improve the scrimmaging of a side

To improve tackling you can have the players in pairs and then tackling each other to improve tackling skills           

                                                                                                                       

Tactics

When professional teams play each other they sometimes watch video highlights so they can find out their strengths and weaknesses, hey then make sure that they cannot play to their strengths and target their weaknesses.

Teams play different when they are attacking to when they are defending

Attacking: When teams attack their lines are always diagonal, as well as this they commit to the rucks more. They also leave a few forwards out the ruck so they can try and smash through the defence’s line

Defending: When defending teams usually have a straight line to try and make sure there are no gaps to get through. As well as this they don’t usually over commit to the rucks therefore having more people in their defensive line

Teams usually kick when they are under pressure in their own 22 and they can therefore have some time to regroup and get the ball away from their own try line. This is different when they are inside the opponents 22 as they try to run it over the try line and score a try or try to put their opponents under pressure

When a team are up against a hard defence they usually start to give the ball to forwards to try and make a hole in their line, this can also be used to try and draw the opposing teams players in before spinning the ball out wide.

When a team come up against a defence that don’t spread out very wide the backs usually pass the ball down the line and score a try. They can also use it if the team do spread out wide if they make the overlap and therefore breakthrough

Strategy

The overall strategy in a rugby game is to find the opponents weakness and use it to your advantage but there are many other tactics as well i.e. Backs spread out win the race to the gain line, make the first tackle and forwards clear out the opposing players in the rucks mauls and scrums

Gymnastics Based Sport The Vault Callum Boddy 8G

Gymnastics

The Vault

Vaulting is where an athlete runs up to an obstacle called the ‘horse’ or vault table and then has to jump off a spring board and perform some sort jump to get over the obstacle. You are watched by judges who then give you a score out of ten from each judge and then give you an overall score

      Dimensions

Length: 120 centimetres (3.9 ft)

Width: 95 centimetres (3.12 ft)

Height:

Men: 135 centimetres (4.43 ft)

Women: 125 centimetres (4.10 ft)

Run up area:

Length: 2,500 centimetres (82 ft)

Width: 100 centimetres (3.3 ft)

International Organisations

International Federation of Gymnastics (IFG) is the governing body of competitive gymnastics and controls all gymnastic events and changes

World Standings

In Gymnastics athletes are judged on places in different competitions and events and when they perform well can go up in the rankings but when they perform badly they can go down in the rankings, this determines the best gymnasts.

Top Gymnasts

Full Name: Marian Drăgulescu

Age: 30

Nickname: The Moroccan

Occupation: Artistic Gymnast (does a short performance on different apparatus and is judged on performance)

Full Name: Gervasio Deferr

Age: 31

Occupation: Artistic

Gymnast (retired)

Equipment

Landing mat: to land on safely

Spring Board: To Jump off

Vault Table: To jump over

Athletics Based Sport Shot Put Callum Boddy 8G

                                              

Athletics

Shot put

Shot put requires a lot of strength, the shot put requires the athlete to throw an extremely heavy ball across a distance. The athlete is required to begin the throw from a stationary position within a marked circle and must throw the shot using one hand only. The contestant is disqualified if they leave the marked circle before the shot has touched the ground. The world record for men was set by a man named Randy Barnes (who was from the USA) who threw it a total distance of 23.12 m on the 20^th May 1990. The women’s world record was set by Natalya Lisovskaya who threw it a total distance of 22.63 m on the 7^th June 1987.

Rules

·        After the person’s name is called they have 60 seconds to throw

·        The athlete must pause when entering the circle before he or she throws

·        The athlete must not leave the circle until the shot put has hit the ground

·        The shot is thrown out of the specified sector

·        The athlete must leave out of the rear half of the circle

·        The athlete must not touch anywhere outside the circle during the throw

·        The shot must be released above the shoulder

All of these rules are enforced by an official who will call a foul if any of these rules are broken

Dimensions

There is a specified area which is 34.92° wide in front of the thrower and the shot must land within this area. The circle is 2.135m wide and there is a stop board at the front that is 10cm high.

International Organisations

IAAF (International Association of Athletics foundation) is the main governing body for athletics around the world

WMA (World Masters Athletics) is the main governing body for athletes over the age 35

World Standings

Shot Put doesn’t have leagues, it has a world standing which is based on athlete’s performances, achievements and medals and therefore decides who the best is.

Top Players

Full Name: Eric Randolph Barnes

Age: 45

Nickname: Randy

Current Profession: Retired

Achievements: Holds the current world record

Full Name: Dylan Armstrong

Age: 30

Height: 6 ft 4 in

Weight: 140kg

Current Profession: Shot Put, Hammer Throw

Achievements: Thrown the furthest this year

Equipment

 A shot: To throw

Stop Board: To practice with

Games Based Sport Rugby Union Callum Boddy 8G

Games

Rugby Union

Rugby is a full contact sport that lasts for 80 minutes each game and it has 40 minute halves. The aim is to score points by getting the ball over the oppositions try line, as well as this you can also score points by kicking the ball through the H shaped goal at the oppositions try line. At the end of the game the team with the most points wins the game.

Rules

· The referee enforces all rules and any decisions he is unsure of he will get the television match official or the assistants to confirm

· You cannot throw the ball forward (you must always throw it backwards or level with where you are)

· You cannot tackle above the neck (below shoulders)

· You cannot tackle anyone while they are in the air

· If the ball is kicked and you’re in front of the kicker you cannot interfere with play before the opposition catch it, you must also get back 10 yards from where it is going to be caught

· If the ball is knocked forward it is a scrum

· In a scrum there must be 2 props, a hooker, 2 second rows, 2 flankers and a number 8

· If the ball is kicked or carried off the pitch it is a line out for the opposing team unless it is kicked off from a penalty then it is the team who kicked it offs penalty

· When someone is tackled a ruck is formed and you cannot enter a ruck from the side

· When a maul is formed you cannot enter from the side

· When someone is tackled the tackler has to let go of the player

· If you have the ball on the floor you have to let go of it

· If you touch the ball down inside your try line it is a 22 yard drop out

Playing positions

1= loose head prop: on the left side of the front in the scrum

2=Hooker: in the middle of the front row in the scrum

3=Tight head prop: Right side of the front row in the scrum

4= Second row in the scrum

5=Second row in the scrum

6=Blindside flanker: left side of the scrum

7=Openside Flanker: Right side of the scrum

8=Number 8: at the back of the scrum

9=Scrum half follows the pack around

10=fly half: follows the scrum half

11= Left wing

12=Inside centre Follows the fly half

13= Stays on the side of the with the least players to the inside centre

14=Right wing

15=Full Back: There to stop the opposition from scoring a try after it has got through the defence

Dimensions

It is played with an oval-shaped ball on a field up to 100 metres (330 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) wide with H-shaped goal posts on each try line.

International Organisations

The governing body for rugby union is the RFU which control national and international rugby games tournaments and other events

<><><><><>  <><><><><>  <><><><><>  <><><><><>  <><><><><>  <><><><><>  <><  <><><><><>  <>  <>  <>  <>  <> 

Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Difference	Tries For	Tries Against	Try Bonus	Losing Bonus		Points
1	Harlequins	8	8	0	0	234	143	+91	23	13		2		0		34
2	Saracens	8	7	0	1	195	122	+73	17	12		1		1		30
3	London Irish	8	3	1	4	221	195	+26	20	18		2		4		20
4	Gloucester	8	4	0	4	167	163	+4	14	15		0		3		19
5	Sale Sharks	8	4	0	4	177	201	-24	18	19		1		2		19
6	Northampton Saints	8	4	0	4	177	136	+41	15	10		1		1		18
7	Bath	8	4	0	4	153	169	-16	12	9		0		2		18
8	London Wasps	8	4	0	4	148	169	-21	15	10		1		1		18
9	Exeter Chiefs	8	3	0	5	150	170	-20	14	17		1		4		17
10	Leicester Tigers	8	2	1	5	210	231	-21	20	25		1		3		14
11	Worcester Warriors	8	2	1	5	110	151	-41	7	13		0		2		12
12	Newcastle Falcons	8	1	1	6	130	222	-92	9	23		0		1		7

 Leagues

Premiership: All of the top teams play in the premiership as it is the best league

RFU Championship: The second league is where the teams who are not good enough to play in the premiership are placed  

National League 1: This is where some of the not so good teams play as they are not good enough to get into the RFU Championship or the Premiership

National League 2: There are two different Types of national League 2, National League 2 North and National League 2 South. These two leagues are where the worst teams in the three rugby leagues play

Saracens

Coach: Mark McCall

Captain: Steve Borthwick

Kit Supplier: Nike

Stadium: Vicarage Road

Stadium Capacity: 19,920

Place in the 2010-2011 Season: 2^nd

Harlequins

Coach: John Kingston

Captain: Chris Robshaw

Kit Supplier: O'Neills

Stadium: The Stoop

Stadium Capacity: 14,600

Place in the 2010-2011 Season: 1^st

London Irish

Coach: Toby Booth

Captain: Clarke Dermody

Kit Supplier: ISC

Stadium: Madejski Stadium

Stadium Capacity: 24,250

Place in the 2010-2011 Season: 3^rd

International Tournaments

There are many different tournaments in Rugby which are played by the international rugby teams.

World Cup: These are played every 4 years by all the countries in the world that qualify to play in the tournament

Tri Nations: The Tri Nations tournaments takes place once a year and is participated in by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa

Six Nations: The Six Nations takes place every year and is participated in by France, Ireland, England, Italy, Wales and Scotland

These are only some of the many Rugby Tournaments that take place

Top Players

Full name: Jonathan Peter Wilkinson  

Age: 32

Height: 5 ft 10 in

Weight: 14 st

Occupation: Professional Rugby Union Player

Nickname: Wilko

Position: Fly Half, Inside Centre

Full Name: Manu Tualangi

Age: 20

Height: 6 ft 1 in

Weight: 17 st 5 lb

Occupation: Professional Rugby Union Player

Position: Outside Centre

Equipment

Rucking Shields: Used to practice rucking and tackling

Scrum Machine: For the pack to practice scrums

Ball: Used to practice running and passing as well as being used in a game

Pads: Worn by the player to protect their soldiers while tackling

Scrum hats: Used by members of the scrum to protect their heads

Gum shields: To stop player’s teeth being knocked out

Rugby Boots: There are boots made for rugby as they have extra ankle protection to help stop injuries