“Run at spaces, not faces” (tag rugby adage)
“Run at spaces, not faces” is a popular saying in tag rugby. The saying is for the offense; on defense, the defenders should run at faces (the players, especially the one with the ball).
“Train hard, run straight, hit the ball at speed, run at spaces not faces, and when attacking, the touch line is not your friend!” was cited in 2007. It’s not known who first came up with the rhyme.
Wikipedia: Tag rugby
Tag rugby, or flag rugby, is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt that has two velcro tags attached to it, or shorts with velcro patches. The mode of play is based on rugby football with many similarities to touch rugby, although tag rugby is often deemed as a closer simulation of the full contact codes of rugby than touch. Attacking players attempt to dodge, evade and pass a rugby ball while defenders attempt to prevent them scoring by “tagging” – pulling a velcro attached tag from the ball carrier, rather than a full contact tackle. Tag rugby is used in development and training by both rugby league and rugby union communities.
Tag rugby comes in several forms with OzTag and Mini Tag being some of the better known variations. Tag rugby has the highest participation levels in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
YouTube
2nd try against Avoca -Aug 20 2005
Hugo Davies
Uploaded on Aug 18, 2006
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COMMENTS
HugoDavies 7 years ago in reply to dunk2k714
Train hard, run straight, hit the ball at speed, run at spaces not faces, and when attacking, the touch line is not your friend!
The Catholic Weekly (Aistralia)
School friends share win
SPORT
By DAMIR GOVORCIN
15 April, 2007
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Oztag, created in 1993 by former Cronulla and St George halfback Perry Haddock, is a game designed to be the only true non-contact form of rugby league.
What makes it different to others is that a tackle is affected when a strip of cloth attached by Velcro, known as a tag, is removed from the side of a player’s shorts.
In Oztag the attacking team has the advantage (you run at spaces not faces).
This occurs due to the fact that there is more room to move because you have to remove a tag on the side of the shorts instead of tipping anywhere on the body as happens in touch football. The invention of the tag also prevents phantom calls.
Google Groups: Blood Subs Tag Rugby
Highfield RFC THURS Night - Important Info
John
5/21/08
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HELPFUL PLAYING TIPS
. No Contact (yellow or red card). “Run at spaces, not faces!”
Twitter
Huw Jones
@Huw_Jonesy
@chrisriches58 no picked up two facial cuts instead. Need to listen to me as a coach: run at spaces not faces. Couldn’t resist the bosh
Wiltshire, England
12:32 PM - 27 Jan 2011
Twitter
Tyron Louw
@tyronlouw
SAC U16A team vs Framesby selected. Cracking backline, dynamic forwards. “Run at spaces, not faces”
1:32 AM - 14 Mar 2012
The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Benji admits ego was bruised by bench role
May 19, 2013
Glenn Jackson
Rugby League Writer
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COMMENTS
There is a phrase in the footballing vernacular, ‘run at spaces not faces,’ this doesn’t mean the space across the field between the 10 metres separating attacking and defensive players, or the space behind your own men, it is the space between defenders (in the defensive line) in the direction of where your team will score points. Please start running at these spaces and things will start happening for your team. Tell all your mates too!
Watch the first half of this season Melbourne video, the best 40 you guys have put together this year, you’ll get the idea. Thompson and pettybourne were quite effective this night, and so were the team for 50 odd minutes because you guys were moving in the right direction.
PS: in defence you do the opposite, ie move to faces ( and close spaces)
Deano70 May 19, 2013, 9:06AM
Twitter
Simon Gaynor
@sigbigg
Text book rugby for all mini & juniors out there… “Run at spaces not faces”. @WorthingRaiders @SussexRFU @pe_sgs
5:28 PM - 10 Dec 2013
Twitter
Oom Rugby
@Oom_Rugby
what is the basis? run at spaces not faces (at paces) tackle round the laces. and if you follow kicks with chasers you are off to the races!
3:16 AM - 29 Apr 2014
Royston Crow (UK)
Royston Rugby Club vice-chairman Jamie Green “humbled” by National Rugby Awards nomination
12:00 25 June 2015 Tom Sharp
Royston Rugby Club U9’s head coach Jamie Green said he was “very humbled” after being short-listed as one of six for Coach of the Year at September’s National Rugby Awards.
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“I have also coined a phrase of ‘run at spaces not faces’. The game is all about judgement and timing. This has allowed the players to avoid injuries which keeps the team together and always heightens our chances of success.”