Confederate Rugby

An active team-building sports game


How To Play Confederate Rugby

Materials Needed

Rectangular space
Some tape, or other way of marking a line
Round balls that bounce. Basketballs, or something related.

Rugby, I am generally advised, is a glorious sport that demonstrates the very pinnacle of human achievement, or some such waffle. In my not particularly humble opinion, waffles are a much better demonstration of this, but we're already sidetracked, and it's only the first paragraph.

Moving forward, Confederate Rugby is just like Rugby Union, except for all the places where it isn't. It's played on a rectangular field. Or, to be accurate, half of one:

[Note to Editor: Monospaced font, please]

+------------------------------------------+-----+---
| | E |
| | n |
| | d | < Try
| | | Line
| | Z |
| | o |
| | n |
| | e |
+------------------------------------------+-----+---

[/End Monospace]

A team scores a point by grounding the ball on the far side of the try line. As there's only one try line, they have to share. Yes, that does mean both teams are trying to move the ball in the same direction. Gives everyone a sense of togetherness and unified purpose as they mercilessly battle to defeat those nasty types who happen to be wearing the wrong team colours this week.

Ball movement rules:
1. The ball starts at the far end of the field
2. You can't move when you've got the ball
3. To legally pass the ball, you need to bounce it on the ground. It must bounce once, and only once before the next player catches it. Think basketball. [We owe this rule to the rugby skills of the NSW Blues.]
4. Non-legal passes:
a. Team A passes, and Team B catches -> Ball stays with Team B from where it was caught
b. Team A passes, the ball is not caught, and Team B did not interfere with the pass -> Ball stays with Team B from where it was passed
c. Team A passes, the ball is not caught, and Team B interfered with the pass -> Ball stays with Team A from where it was passed

To summarise, a turnover only occurs if Team B actually catches the ball, or if they had nothing to do with Team A dropping it. If Team B tries to bat away the pass, or block it, there is no turnover.
5. Only two players from each team are allowed inside the end zone. Adjust the number if you have a large end zone, or lots of players.

Scoring rules:
1. A game is played over five rounds. The team who scores the most points will win the game.
2. A try in rounds 1-4 is worth one points
3. A try in the final round is worth two points. In addition, it acts as a tiebreaker in the event of a tie
4. A try may only be scored if both feet of the player are over the try line. You cannot reach over the line to score a try.
5. Once a player scores a try, they are out of the game. The more points a team scores, the less players on the team.
6. As soon as a try is scored, the other team starts with the ball from the far end. We play with five balls so they can start immediately, but you may need to pass it back if you've only got one or two.

Other things:
1. There's generally a one-metre rule when a player has the ball. That is, no opposition within one metre.
2. Tackling is also out. I'm not particularly fond of hospital trips.
3. Sometimes we use three teams and cycle them around. It depends how many kids, and how much space you have.


Once you're done, then you can go make a harbour of tea. Or whatever floats your boat.

Added by
Rohan
on 4 August 2016


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