Overhead flat-lay photograph of a worn leather Rugby Fives glove resting on a dark wooden court floor, with a hand-stitched ball nearby; deep browns, burgundy shadows, and warm cream highlights evoke a vintage sporting atmosphere.

Rugby Fives Association

The governing body for Rugby Fives — promoting play, coaching and competition across the UK

Plan a Rugby Fives Volunteer Training Day

A Rugby Fives volunteer training day gives new helpers the confidence to run fixtures, explain the game, support players and keep play moving. Done well, it gives every volunteer the same expectations and allows experienced mentors to share practical knowledge before match day.

Australian community clubs often rely on volunteer committees, shared equipment and modest budgets. A well-designed session should therefore use familiar facilities, clear language and locally relevant procedures while covering the distinctive needs of Rugby Fives.

Set clear outcomes for the day

Begin by identifying what volunteers should be able to do when they leave. Suitable outcomes include welcoming teams, preparing match areas, operating the scoring and timekeeping systems, supporting the touch judge, recognising concussion symptoms and responding to an emergency. These outcomes help you avoid a day dominated by lengthy rule explanations.

Rugby Fives is a compact, semi-contact form of rugby played by five players per side. Volunteers should understand its basic flow, including restarts, substitutions, scoring and the absence of contested set pieces. Use the Rugby Fives Association’s published guidance as a reference, then confirm any local variations with the host club or Australian competition organiser.

Build a practical training programme

A three-hour programme works well for an introductory session. Start with the sport and volunteer expectations, divide participants into small groups for role-specific practice, and finish with a simulated match. Give each group a short scenario involving a delayed kickoff, disputed score, injured player or late arrival so trainees must apply what they have learned.

Use simple demonstrations rather than technical lectures. Explain a task, show it once, allow volunteers to practise, then ask them to explain it in their own words. This method suits the informal “give it a go” attitude common in many Australian sporting environments while still maintaining clear standards.

Volunteer role	Main match-day responsibility	Training focus
Match manager	Prepare teams, paperwork and match details	Competition procedures and communication
Touch judge	Monitor touch and restart decisions	Positioning, signals and consistency
Referee	Apply the agreed laws	Advantage, restarts and player conduct
First aider	Assess injuries and support the emergency plan	Concussion awareness, CPR and incident records
Scorer and timekeeper	Record goals and manage match time	Team sheets, scorecards and clock signals

Prepare the venue, equipment and contingency plans

Choose a venue with enough space for several small-sided games, secure changing areas and access for emergency services. Community rugby clubs, school gymnasiums and local council facilities may all work. In regional New South Wales or Victoria, check travel times, parking and fuel arrangements carefully, and ask volunteers to carry identification and an emergency contact.

Prepare balls, cones, bibs, team sheets, scorecards, clocks, whistles, water stations and first-aid supplies. Test the timing and scoring equipment before participants arrive. Bring spare bibs, pens, tape and batteries because shared gear is often older, and assign a volunteer to check everything rather than leaving it to the coach.

Contingency planning is essential in Australia. During hot periods in Perth or Brisbane, move training indoors, provide shaded breaks and follow the host club’s extreme heat policy. Melbourne’s changeable weather may require an indoor backup, while regional areas can face flooding, fires or travel disruption. Record the venue address, nearest hospital, general practitioner, ambulance station and AED location in the session notes.

Teach the game through realistic scenarios

Brief volunteers on the match sequence from arrival to the final whistle. They should know when team sheets are due, who opens the venue, where players gather, how restarts are organised and who authorises the final score. A practical checklist prevents uncertainty, particularly when the match manager is also helping the scorer or managing a late substitute.

Run a short mock match with volunteers changing roles during play. One person might begin as a touch judge before handling the team sheet, while another acts as a timekeeper and then supports the first aider. Debrief each scenario by asking what happened, which rule or procedure applied and what the volunteer would do differently next time.

Use supportive but precise feedback. Clear calls such as “restart from the mark” or “record the try before the conversion” help teams work together. Avoid regional slang that may confuse visiting volunteers, and use Australian sporting terms such as “time-on”, “the break” and “game day” when they are widely understood.

Make the session safe, inclusive and Australian

Put player welfare before competition. Volunteers should know how to recognise possible concussion, when to stop play, who can authorise a return and how to document an incident. An Australian emergency response plan must include 000, the location of the nearest AED and clear access for paramedics. Only appropriately qualified people should provide treatment beyond basic first aid.

Rugby Fives is suited to mixed ability and varied experience, so design practice tasks that can be adjusted rather than treating participation as a test. Use smaller playing areas, walking restarts and modified contact for participants who need them. The Australian expectation of a “fair go” should extend to players with disability, limited fitness, different cultural backgrounds or little previous rugby experience.

Safeguarding is particularly important when junior players or school teams are involved. Follow the host organisation’s child-protection procedures, obtain any required clearances and ensure no volunteer is left alone with children without an approved supervisor. Provide a named contact for concerns and make it clear that safeguarding takes priority over fixture pressure or a coach’s request.

Turn the training into match-day action

After the session, send a concise role guide through email, SMS, the club’s Facebook group or WhatsApp, depending on what members already use. Include key contacts, arrival times, dress requirements and emergency procedures. Give each volunteer a buddy for their first event and pair them with an experienced mentor rather than expecting them to learn alone.

Ask each participant to confirm the role they can cover, list any qualifications or restrictions and nominate a backup contact. Recognise helpful contributions with a thank-you message, club credit or a place on a future coaching course. A simple survey can reveal whether volunteers need more help with rules, equipment, communication or child safety.

Choose the training date, reserve the venue and advertise the session through your club, school partners and local competition networks. Give participants a clear reason to attend, refreshments where appropriate and the confidence to “grab a role” on match day. Turn the session into a dependable volunteer roster, welcome every helper and give Rugby Fives a strong start in your community.

A close-up photograph of a player's hand striking a small leather ball against a cream-coloured court wall, motion blur conveying speed; warm natural light from above.

What is Fives?

A handball sport with deep roots

Rugby Fives is a fast, skilful handball game played in an enclosed court with walls. It takes its name from Rugby School, where the modern game developed. The RFA provides resources and an introductory video for newcomers eager to understand the rules and spirit of the sport.

Discover the game

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Where to Play

Courts across the country

Rugby Fives is played at schools, universities and clubs throughout the UK. Whether you are a seasoned competitor or picking up a glove for the first time, the RFA can help connect you with local venues and fellow players.

Find a court

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Rankings

Tracking the best in the game

The RFA maintains official player rankings, including a dedicated Women's rankings list and end-of-season standings. A comprehensive record book of tournament winners stretches back to 1925, preserving nearly a century of competitive history.

View rankings

A photograph of a fixture board on a cream-painted wall, with neatly handwritten match cards pinned in rows; soft shadows and warm indirect light.

Fixtures & Tournaments

The competitive calendar

The RFA calendar includes championships, open tournaments, and school and university matches. Major events have included the National Open Singles, the South West Open, the London Open, the Scottish Open, and the Owers Trophy — alongside representative fixtures against schools and clubs.

See fixtures

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