Basics of Touch FAQ

INTRODUCTION
Touch Football was only formalized in the 1970s 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.

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
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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
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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
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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
6th touch

RULE
Change of possession

MEANING

Dropped ball

Change of possession

Incorrect roll ball

Acting half caught

Change of possession
Change of possession

Stepping out/over sideline

No control on roll ball or
acting half pick up

Change of possession
Change of possession

Ball has bounced or been fumbled

Infringement

Change of possession

Incorrectly performed penalty or tap

Forward pass

Penalty tap

Touch & pass

Over step the mark

Penalty tap
Penalty tap

Phantom touch

Penalty tap

Voluntary roll ball

Penalty tap

Offside

Penalty tap

Ball not returned

Penalty tap

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

Roll ball not performed where initial

touch was made
Touch called when touch was not
effected
Roll ball performed without being
touched
Defenders not getting back 5m or
10m
Ball thrown away or left behind

PORT PIRIE TOUCH - MAIN RULES

1. 6playersarepermittedonthefieldatonce.Substitutionscanbemadeatanytime.

2. Forwardpassingisnotpermitted.

3. Teamshavesix(6)touchesbeforeturnoverofpossessionoccurs

4. Onceatouchhasbeenmadethedefendingteamneedstoretreatfive(5)metersand
formalinewiththereferee.

5. Ifapassisdropped,aturnoverofpossessionoccurs

6. Theactinghalf(personwhopicksuptheballafterithasbeenrolled)cannotscore.Ifthe
actinghalfistouchedbeforepassingtheballaturnoveroccurs.

7. Otherruleswillapplyhoweverrefereeswillworkthroughtherulesoverthecourseof
theseason.

Fieldsize

80mlongx50mwide

GameTime

2x20minutehalveswitha5minutehalftime(45minutetotal)

Subjecttochange