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Kudos what Dom said about the students learning and your effort to expose them to new, 'non-traditional' activities. Sadly, that is the challenge these days with budgets/staff being cut and gym class sized growing in numbers; the managment alone becomes such a burden.

Truly appreciate teachers like yourself with the enthusiasm to expand their own toolbox of things to how the kids. Keep it up!!!

I had not read this post... I totally agree with Mark!

Within the first 3 days of learning some basic passing and rules, I throw my students into playing games with as few rules as possible. They begin slow but very quickly they pick it up and suddenly they are playing decent games of rugby (touch).

Thanks Dom!

Playing rugby in school is very challenging!! But more than challenging... it is a LOT of work!! To explain anything that is new and unknown to the students is a LOT of work because you have to constantly be explaining and correcting and even running the drills along with the kids. For me it means 5 straight hours of yelling outloud (so that everyone can hear me, most of my classes are double classes [302 students]) and running up and down the field! Not to mention, I have to organize them and keep order while doing everything!

I can definitely tell you that this is a major detractor for coaches in the public schools systems to teach sports that students don't know that well... it is easier for many coaches to stick to activities that kids are familiar with and have an easier time at work. So unless the coach is really motivated to teach an "uncomon" sport... the sport simply won't get taught. In my opinion, it has NOTHING to do with local curriculums as many of the lead up games fulfill many of the objectives. So yes, certainly, regardless of curriculum, rugby can be taught in the public school system unless there is a local ordinance to not do so (LOL!!)

We do have a team here in Miami for those that want to play tackle. You can see it at www.miamirugbykids.com . I got flyers from the team and those students that are a little too physical or simply those that want to play tackle; I go ahead and give them a flyer. I do the same when I teach other "uncommon" sports (Tennis, Cricket, LaCrosse, Archery, Jai Alai) at my school. I contact the local clubs of that sport and get flyers to give to my students. My biggest interest as a Phys Ed Teacher is that my students experience as many activities as possible so that they naturally feel inclined to participate and stay active hopefully throughout their lifetime.

Just checked out the pics of your students playing rugby! not a bad spot to learn the sport and glad they love playing the games!

Congrats on getting them playing too can be challenging some times - are there any youth clubs they can join down there to play tackle if they wanted?

Took some pix today! The kids absolutley just loved the games today!

I had a pair of 5th grade Touch Rugby games, many other 4th and 5th graders did passing drills in preparation to a touch rugby game, and my 2nd and 3rd graders played "Keep Away".

I uploaded some pix of today to my profile.