NRL Junior League Drills for Kids

What junior footy modifies from the full game

Junior rugby league uses smaller fields, reduced player numbers and simplified rules so kids can grasp the fundamentals gradually rather than facing the full complexity of senior rugby league straight away. The focus at junior levels is skill development and teamwork first, with technique-led, low-risk introductions to contact as kids progress.

A quick but important note: tackling technique should be taught progressively and only when a coach is confident in their own understanding of safe technique. The NRL runs accredited coaching courses specifically covering safe tackling, bracing and falling — if you haven't done one, it's worth looking into before introducing live tackling drills.

Four drills that work well

1. Catch and pass line

Kids line up and pass the ball down the line while jogging forward, focusing on catching cleanly with two hands before releasing a flat pass. Builds the foundational ball skills everything else depends on.

2. Tag tackle

Before introducing real contact, use tag belts or two-handed touch to teach tackling positioning and timing without any physical impact. This is the standard, safe entry point most junior programs use.

3. Brace and fall technique (low-contact)

For older or more experienced groups ready to progress to real contact, practice the correct braced body position and safe falling technique on soft ground, at walking pace, well before introducing it at game speed.

4. Modified mini game

Finish with a small-sided, modified game appropriate to your group's age and contact readiness — tag, touch, or full contact depending on what your league's rules and your players' development stage call for.

Structuring a session

Always include a proper warm-up and cool-down for this sport — the physical demands are higher than non-contact codes, and warming up properly reduces injury risk.

• 10 min warm-up
• 15 min ball skills — catch and pass
• 15 min tackling technique — tag or brace-and-fall depending on readiness
• 15 min modified game
• 5 min cool down

A reminder on safety

Rugby league does carry injury risk, same as any contact sport — the responsibility for teaching safe technique sits with the coach. If you're new to coaching this sport, look into your local league or the NRL's own coaching accreditation courses before running live tackling drills with your team.