Basics of Touch FAQ INTRODUCTION Touch Football was only formalized in the 1970 s and is now played in all states of Australia. Coaches of Rugby League and Rugby Union teams used many variations of this game over the years to improve skills, warm up and also for offseason activities where contact was eliminated to decrease the likelihood of injury. From these origins the game came to be known as Touch Rugby/Football, now simply known as touch. What makes this sport so attractive to parents and players is the fact that it is safe with minimal body-contact. There are no tackles, scrums, packs, congested ground play, fast bowlers and the like. Weight and height are irrelevant, as speed, agility, co-ordination and fitness are the skills required to play. Why Play Touch as a Sport? Touch is a minimal contact sport that is easy to teach and learn. It is cheaper than most sports as it has limited equipment and the sport is played on any oval or park. It caters for both sexes equally and can be played as either single sex or mixed. As well as this, body shape plays no bearing on the success of participation. Touch also complements many other sports, as many of the skills learnt in Touch are transferable, and as such, can be utilised as an off-season alternative sport. Competitions for seniors cater for both the elite and the social player and with clubs all over Australia; Touch truly is a lifetime sport. Touch also caters for the fitness and social needs for a diverse demographic from the young to the old. Although there are some specific positions (with various different names depending on the areas of Australia you are in) players can find themselves all over the field during the game. 1
Australian Representatives at the 2007 World Cup PLAYERS: The 6-a-side format is played with up to 8 substitute players. A minimum of 4 players per team is needed for the game to commence. Note: Riverland Touch is 5-a-side EQUIPMENT: 1 touch football 6 cones to mark out the field Referee & whistle PLAYING AREA: A grassed area 80 meters long by 50 meters wide. NOTE: Port Pirie Touch may operate on smaller fields OBJECTIVE OF GAME The objective of the game is to score more touchdowns than the opposition team. A touchdown is worth one (1) point. The team with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner. Basic description: Out-maneuvering the opposition through passing, running, deception, moving the defenders and creating overlaps to cross the score line and ground the ball without being touched by an opponent. TERMS Attacking - team/players in possession of the ball and trying to score a try Defending - team/players not in possession of the ball and trying to affect a touch on the opposition. METHOD OF PLAY The ball may be passed or handed backwards between players of the attacking team in an attempt to gain an advantage and score a touchdown. Defending players prevent the attacking team from gaining an advantage by affecting a 2
touch. Either defending or attacking players may initiate touches. Teams have six touches to attempt to score a try. 2009 CMI Toyota State League Vipers vs. Stingrays SKILLS USED TO PLAY Individual Skills: Passing used in all aspects of the game to make the ball travel backwards from player to player on the attacking team. Carrying holding the ball in two hands and traveling with it while remaining in possession. Alignment position in relation to possession of the ball. Both in attack and defense. Evasion avoiding being touched. Roll ball occurs after being touched or at a change of possession. The Tap occurs at the start or re-start of the game, after a touchdown is scored and for a penalty. Touchdown the method of scoring. Effecting the Touch making a touch on either an attacking or defensive player. Team Skills: Attacking Skills - used by the team in order to gain ground advantage. Includes rucking, wraps, switches, drawing a player, running into gaps, player movement off the ball, creating an overlap, communication & using predetermined moves in order to create options. Defensive Skills used by the team not in possession of the ball in order to stop the attacking team gaining a ground advantage and pressuring the attacking team to cause a change of possession. Tactics use of both attacking and defensive skills in order to play the game with the aim of out-maneuvering the opposing team. RULES The delivery of Touch can be catered for from beginner level to elite and with only 18 rules in total is easy to understand and start playing. A copy of the rules can be downloaded for FREE from the Touch Football South Australia website at 3
www.touchsa.com.au. Please see the website for more details & explanations. Port Pirie Touch has mainly 5-6 main rules to follow! 2009 CMI Toyota State League Scorpions huddle GAME PLAY TERMS The Tap: A tap is the only form of kick in the game. It is used to start the game, recommence after a score and after half time, and is used when a penalty is awarded. A tap is taken by placing the ball on the ground on or behind the location of the mark (given by a referee) and releasing it from the hands, tapping the ball with either foot (a distance less than one metre) and picking the ball up cleanly from the ground. The Roll ball: Following a touch, the player in possession of the ball has to return to the mark of where the touch occurred and place the ball on the ground between their legs while being parallel to the sideline (essentially stepping over it facing their score line). The player behind them, designated as the acting half is there to pick the ball up. All the players in the defending team must be back at least five (5) meters from the mark of the roll ball and cannot move forward until the acting half has touched the ball. A roll ball is also used following a change of possession. Penalties: Penalties are awarded for infringements of the rules and can be taken as a tap or roll ball with the acting half being able to be caught in possession of the ball. Defending players must move back 10 metres for a penalty. Change of Possession: The ball is taken from the offending team and given to the other team for either; the use of all 6 touches or mistakes by the team in possession. For example, the attacking team in possession of the ball drops a pass. Scoring: A player scores a touchdown by placing the ball on or over the score line in the scoring zone. Touching or placing the ball down without dropping or 4
losing possession will result in a touchdown. NB: Acting half cannot score. Effecting the Touch: A touch is any contact between any body part of an attacking player & a defending player. A touch includes contact on the ball, hair or clothing. Defending players should call out touches. A touch can be made by either the attacking player or defensive player. General Points: - Players may substitute at any time. Players must be off the field before the substituting player may take the field. There are unlimited substitutes. - The game is divided into 2 halves of 20 minutes. There is a 5 minute break at half time and the teams change direction in the second half. - The ball must be returned to the attacking team. It cannot be kicked away or left behind. - The acting half cannot score a touchdown. ACTION RULE MEANING 6 th touch Dropped ball Incorrect roll ball Acting half caught Stepping out/over sideline No control on roll ball or acting half pick up Ball has bounced or been fumbled Infringement Incorrectly performed penalty or tap Forward pass Touch & pass Penalty tap Penalty tap Over step the mark Penalty tap Roll ball not performed where initial touch was made Phantom touch Penalty tap Touch called when touch was not effected Voluntary roll ball Penalty tap Roll ball performed without being touched Offside Penalty tap Defenders not getting back 5m or 10m Ball not returned Penalty tap Ball thrown away or left behind Obstruction Penalty tap Deliberate attempt by attacking player to gain unfair advantage by preventing a defending player from effecting a touch Back chat Penalty tap Abuse to referee 5
PORT PIRIE TOUCH - MAIN RULES 1. 6 players are permitted on the field at once. Substitutions can be made at anytime. 2. Forward passing is not permitted. 3. Teams have six (6) touches before turnover of possession occurs 4. Once a touch has been made the defending team needs to retreat five (5) meters and form a line with the referee. 5. If a pass is dropped, a turnover of possession occurs 6. The acting half (person who picks up the ball after it has been rolled) cannot score. If the acting half is touched before passing the ball a turnover occurs. 7. Other rules will apply however referee s will work through the rules over the course of the season. Field size 80m long x 50m wide Game Time 2 x 20 minute halves with a 5 minute half time (45 minute total) Subject to change 6