Rainy day adaptive games

It’s raining and you want to challenge the players to find spaces to run, move the ball quickly and improve their handling prowess. Great! Try out these adaptive games.
By Dan Cottrell

GAME 1

Hungry hippos

Set up

A 20m box. Six balls.

How to play

> Play say 6 v 6 up to 8 v 8.

> One team (the hippos) has four balls, the other team (the crocs) two balls. The aim of the game is to have one hippo holding three balls.

> Start with four hippos each with a ball. The hippos can run and pass in any direction.

> If a hippo has two balls and is touched by a croc with a ball, they have to drop one of their balls.

> No interceptions or knock downs. Play for one minute or until the hippos have succeeded.

Possible developments

> Have more hippos that crocs.

> The crocs have three balls.

> The hippos only need to hold two balls, but must hold them for three seconds without being touched by croc with a ball.

> Have 8 balls, and both teams are crocs and hippos.

GAME 2

Knock on rugby

Set up

A 20m long box, 15m wide, split as the picture (or size depend on numbers).

How to play

> Split into three teams.

> One team attacks one end, another team attacks the other. The third team splits and defends at each end.

> The attacking teams always start on their start line, and must have all their players on this line before they can start or restart. The defenders must retire to their own line at the start or restart.

> Using normal passing, the attacking teams have a minute to score as many tries as they can. If the ball is knocked on or thrown forward or goes out of play, they have to restart. If they score a try, they all restart on the start line. Plus, if the defenders intercept or touch the ball carrier in possession, it’s a restart.

> If defender deliberately knocks on the ball, then it’s an automatic try.