All UQ Junior Bullsharks’ Coaches are required to have appropriate accreditation. Contact the committee to find out when and where courses are available.
Our club is very lucky and quite unique in that we have the active support of our senior club UQ Rugby. Each week our parent coaches are supported by a team of experienced and qualified coaches provided by the UQRFC Coaching Academy. We are very proud of this fact and it is not something many other junior clubs can offer.
Downloads & Links
Pathway Game Modifications Under 6
Pathway Game Modifications Under 7
Pathway Game Modifications Under 8 & 9
Pathway Game Modifications Under 10 & 11
Pathway Game Modifications Under 12
More information and tools including video tutorials can be found on the Rugby Australia Leaning Centre & the Rugby Australia Coaching Resource Library.
Pathway Game Modifications Under 6
Pathway Game Modifications Under 7
Pathway Game Modifications Under 8 & 9
Pathway Game Modifications Under 10 & 11
Pathway Game Modifications Under 12
More information and tools including video tutorials can be found on the Rugby Australia Leaning Centre & the Rugby Australia Coaching Resource Library.
Video Resources - TACKLING
We have searched the world (or at least the internet) for great videos our coaches can use, let us know if you have more or better tools and we’ll add them right here.
Introduction for kids (Canterbury Rugby)
Warm up and introduction for kids (England)
Advanced points on tackle (NZ- Pat Lam)
Post-tackle attitude (NZ- Richie McCaw)
Tackle technique progression drill (Springbok)
Tackle position and tracking (NZ)
Front-on tackle drill for juniors (NZ)
Side-tackle drill for juniors (NZ)
Video Resources - BALL HANDLING & ATTACK
We have searched the world (or at least the internet) for great videos our coaches can use, let us know if you have more or better tools and we’ll add them right here.
Introduction for kids (Canterbury rugby)
Ball movement drills (Townsville rugby league)
Advanced passing drill (NZ- Crusaders)
Video Resources - RUCK DRILLS
3 player ‘take the space’ contest (ARU)
Video Resources - TRAINING PLAN
Great training plan for older kids U9-U12 (NZ – Leslie rugby)
Half time plan (NZ-Leslie rugby)
We have searched the world (or at least the internet) for great videos our coaches can use, let us know if you have more or better tools and we’ll add them right here.
Introduction for kids (Canterbury Rugby)
Warm up and introduction for kids (England)
Advanced points on tackle (NZ- Pat Lam)
Post-tackle attitude (NZ- Richie McCaw)
Tackle technique progression drill (Springbok)
Tackle position and tracking (NZ)
Front-on tackle drill for juniors (NZ)
Side-tackle drill for juniors (NZ)
Video Resources - BALL HANDLING & ATTACK
We have searched the world (or at least the internet) for great videos our coaches can use, let us know if you have more or better tools and we’ll add them right here.
Introduction for kids (Canterbury rugby)
Ball movement drills (Townsville rugby league)
Advanced passing drill (NZ- Crusaders)
Video Resources - RUCK DRILLS
3 player ‘take the space’ contest (ARU)
Video Resources - TRAINING PLAN
Great training plan for older kids U9-U12 (NZ – Leslie rugby)
Half time plan (NZ-Leslie rugby)
3 player ‘take the space’ contest (ARU)
Video Resources - TRAINING PLAN
Great training plan for older kids U9-U12 (NZ – Leslie rugby)
Half time plan (NZ-Leslie rugby)
Summary Age Group Information
Under 6 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
- FUN – Games Based
- Fundamental skills of Running, Jumping, Catching, Passing,Evasion & Tag
- Running with a ball in two hands
- Running Forward towards the tryline
- Understanding to place the ball over the try line
- Evasion & Swerving
- Catching the ball (stationary)
- Passing the ball (stationary & moving)
- Jumping for the ball
- Two handed tag – targeting hips
- Game development
- Understanding the principles of the game
- Go Forward, Support
- Introduction of the laws
- Fun games developing spacial awareness & team work
Click here to download the U6 Core Competency
Click here to access the U6 Coaching Manual
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness |
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Click here to download the U6 Core Competency
Click here to access the U6 Coaching Manual
Under 7 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
- FUN – Games Based
- Fundamental skills of Running, Jumping, Catching, Passing,
- Evasion & Tag
- Running Forward towards the tryline
- Evasion & Swerving
- Catching the ball (stationary & moving)
- Passing the ball (stationary & moving)
- Jumping for the ball
- Two handed tag – targeting hips
- Spacial awareness – maintain width in attack
- Spacial awareness – creating a defensive line
- Game development
- Understanding the principles of the game
- Go Forward, Support
- Introduction of the laws
- Fun games developing spacial awareness & team work
Click here to download the U7 Core Competency
Click here to access the U7 Coaching Manual
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness |
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Click here to download the U7 Core Competency
Click here to access the U7 Coaching Manual
Under 8 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
- FUN – drills & games
- Fundamental skills of Running, Catching, Passing, Track/Tackle, basic understanding of contact elements
- Evasion & Swerving
- Change direction
- Catch & Pass
- Left & Right
- Understanding of tracking to tackle
- Basic tackle progression
- Basic breakdown understanding
- Scrum & Lineout elements
- Spacial awareness – maintain width in attack
- Spacial awareness – creating a defensive line
- Game development
- Understanding the principles of the game
- Go Forward, Support
- Introduction of the laws
- Fun games developing spacial awareness & team work
Click here to download the U8 Core Competency
Click here to access the U8 Coaching Manual
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness |
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Click here to download the U8 Core Competency

Under 9 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
- FUN – drills & games
- Fundamental skills of Running, Catching, Passing, Track/Tackle, Basic understanding of contact elements
- Catch & Pass
- Left & Right
- Tracking to tackle
- Tackle progression
- Basic breakdown understanding
- Scrum & Lineout elements
- Individual skills – throw, kick
- Attack – basic understanding depth, support
- Defensive line – basic understanding – spacings & linespeed
- Game development
- Understanding the principles of the game
- Go Forward, Support
- Understanding of the laws
- Fun games developing spacial awareness & team work
Click here to download the U9 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness |
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Click here to download the U9 Core Competency
Under 10 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
- Learning to Train the basic technical skills under pressure.
- Skill, drill, game awareness and development.
- Go Forward, Support
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L& R)
- Tracking to Tackle progression
- Shoulder contact
- Attack Breakdown Technique
- Attack – basic understanding depth, support
- Defensive line – basic understanding – spacings & linespeed
- Scrum Body Shape
- Lineout
- overhead catch
- throw
- Kicking
Click here to download the U10 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness |
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Click here to download the U10 Core Competency
Under 11 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
- Learning to Train the basic technical skills under pressure.
- Skill, drill, game awareness and development
- Go Forward, Support
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L& R)
- Tracking to Tackle progression
- Shoulder contact
- Attack Breakdown Technique
- Attack – basic understanding depth, support
- Defensive line – basic understanding – spacings & linespeed
- Ball Carry – leg drive
- Scrum Body Shape
- Lineout
- overhead catch
- throw
- Kicking
Click here to download the U11 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness |
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Click here to download the U11 Core Competency
Under 12 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
Physical Development
- Learning/Training to train – Basics of Rugby with basic decision making
- Intro to tactical development
- Go Forward, Support, Continuity, Pressure
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L&R)
- Basic Decision making activities
- Tackle progression (shoulder contact + Leg Drive)
- Attack Breakdown
- Defensive Breakdown understanding
- Ball Carry – Leg Drive
- Lineout Technical
- Jump, Throw
- Scrum Technical
- Bodyshape, Binding
- Overhead catch
- Kicking
- Core Strength Development
Click here to download the U12 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness | Physical Development |
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Click here to download the U12 Core Competency
Under 13 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
Physical Development
- Training to train – Basics of Rugby with decision making
- Intro to tactical development
- Go Forward, Support, Continuity, Pressure
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L&R)
- Basic Decision making activities
- Evasion, Footwork, Speed, Change direction
- Tackle progression (shoulder contact + Leg Drive)
- Intro to 2nd Man into tackle
- Attack & Defence Breakdown
- Ball Carry – Footwork & Leg Drive
- Lineout
- Jump, Lift, Throw
- Scrum Technical
- Bodyshape, Binding
- Overhead catch
- Kicking
- Goal Kicking, GP kicking
- Clearing Pass
- Basic body weight activities ie. pushups, free squat, situps
- Core Strength Development
Click here to download the U13 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness | Physical Development |
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Click here to download the U13 Core Competency
Under 14 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
Physical Development
- Training to train – Basics of Rugby with decision making
- Intro to tactical development
- Go Forward, Support, Continuity, Pressure
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L&R)
- Tackle progression (shoulder contact) Left & Right
- Front, side, behind
- Intro 2nd Man
- Attacking Breakdown technical development
- Ball Carry – Footwork & Leg Drive
- Lineout Technical
- Jump, Lift, Throw
- Scrum Technical
- Bodyshape, Binding
- Overhead catch
- Kicking
- Functional body weight activities
- Core Strength Development
Click here to download the U14 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness | Physical Development |
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Click here to download the U14 Core Competency
Under 15 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
Physical Development
- Core Skills performed with a low degree of pressure
- Increased Tactical nous
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L&R)
- Basic Decision making activities
- Tackle – progression
- Front, side, behind
- Intro 2nd Man
- Attack Breakdown
- Effectiveness
- Ball Carry – Footwork & Leg Drive
- Lineout Technical
- Jump, Lift, Throw
- Scrum Technical
- Bodyshape, Binding, 3 v 3
- Overhead catch
- Kicking
- Functional body weight activities
- Core Strength Development
Click here to download the U15 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness | Physical Development |
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Click here to download the U15 Core Competency
Under 16 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
Physical Development
- Technical and tactical understanding of game
- Catch Pass
- Left & Right (L&R)
- Decision making activities
- Tackle – dominance
- 2nd Man Roles
- Attack & Defence Breakdown understanding
- Ball Carry – Footwork & Leg Drive
- Offload ability
- Lineout Technical
- Speed, stability, accuracy in Jump Lift Throw
- Scrum Technical
- Bodyshape, Binding, Tactical understanding
- Jackal Turnover
- Overhead catch
- Kicking
- Structured Strength Training Programs
- Game Based Conditioning
- Core Strength Development
Click here to download the U16 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness | Physical Development |
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Click here to download the U16 Core Competency
Under 17 Core Competency
General Principles
Core Skill Development
Game Awareness
Physical Development
- FUN – Games Based
- Fundamental skills of Running, Jumping, Catching, Passing,Evasion & Tag
- Running with a ball in two hands
- Running Forward towards the tryline
- Understanding to place the ball over the try line
- Evasion & Swerving
- Catching the ball (stationary)
- Passing the ball (stationary & moving)
- Jumping for the ball
- Two handed tag – targeting hips
- Game development
- Understanding the principles of the game
- Go Forward, Support
- Introduction of the laws
- Fun games developing spacial awareness & team work
- Structured Strength Training Programs
- Game Based Conditioning
- Core Strength Development
Click here to download the U17 Core Competency
General Principles | Core Skill Development | Game Awareness | Physical Development |
---|---|---|---|
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Click here to download the U17 Core Competency