Touch (sport)

Touch (with a capital "T")is a field game also known as Touch Football (particularly in Australia) and Touch Rugby in other countries. In games of Touch, which is a derivative of rugby league, touching an opposing player replaces a tackle, reducing the physical nature of the full contact game. Touch is overseen by the Federation of International Touch (FIT).

Touch has a number of advantages over the traditional game, including the ease of learning and the ability to play it without fear of injury. One of the best aspects of the sport of Touch is its broad appeal. It is played by both sexes, and in age divisions from primary school children to over-50 masters. The mixed version of the game (where both male and female players are on the field at the same time) is particularly popular with social players.

The game helps to develop essential skills and fitness for use both in the rugby codes and other sports. Schools have used touch as part of their curriculum to avoid the inevitable injuries that can stem from the full contact version.

Touch also scores in the lack of required equipment department. As kicking is not part of touch, posts are not required, and the game can be played with minimal facilities (a ball and a rectangular playing area). There is also no special clothing required and it can often be played barefoot.

The game has a number of variations including Beach Touch where the defence has one less player than the attack.

History

Touch Football started in Australia as a social "park" game and as a training technique for rugby league teams during the 1950s and 60s. The two persons accredited with starting it all and now known as the "Founders/Life Members" were Robert (Bob) Dyke and Ray Vawdon, both members of the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club. On July 13th 1968 the Secretary/Manager of South Sydney League's Club handed over the Official letter to signify the formation of "The South Sydney Touch Football Club", and Touch Football was born. The first official game of Touch was played in late 1968 and the first official competition, organised by Bob Dyke & Ray Vawdon, was held at Snape Park, Kingsford, Sydney, Australia in 1969. From these beginnings the game became a fully regulated and codified interstate sport in Australia in the early 1970s and an International Sport in the Mid-70s. The "Bob Dyke Shield" and the "Vawdon Cup" are the two Premier Trophies still played for in the 'State of Origin'(QLD V NSW)competition in Australia.

The establishment of the national body, "The Australian Touch Football Association" came in 1976. A highlight came after the drawn Sydney Rugby League Grand Final of 1977 when the rematch needed a curtain-raiser and Rugby League officials asked the newly formed "Touch Football Association" to provide the prelude game. With a crowd of 40,000+ this game helped to raise the profile of Touch and was nothing short of spectacular according to Bob Dyke in the book "The Story of Touch". Another profile raiser came in 1978 when the Sydney Metropolitan Touch Football side played the Touring Great Britain Rugby League Team, an excellent touchdown-scoring spectacle, with the local team winning with a disputed touchdown on the siren. As more people began to play Touch, organised competitions developed. Very soon other associations emerged and representative matches have been played since 1978.

Playing Numbers

The new sport quickly took hold in the rugby league strongholds of Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT, but is now played Australia-wide. There are currently over 270,000 registered Touch players in Australia with approximately 500,000 schoolchildren also playing the sport. Touch is also very popular in New Zealand, and these two countries dominate international competition.

The game has also expanded rapidly in recent years, especially in the South Pacific and United Kingdom. The 1999 World Cup in Sydney attracting teams from over 20 nations including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, USA, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, England, Italy, Cook Islands, Fiji, Ireland, Malaysia,kenya,Singapore, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Scotland, Wales, China and Chile.

Rules

These rules discuss the most common form of touch as governed by the Federation of International Touch but minor local variations are common. For the full set of rules see F.I.T. Rulebook

Scoring

The goal is to score more touchdowns than the other team. A touchdown is scored by placing the ball in the opponent's in-goal area, and is worth one point. There are no other methods of scoring. Some local competitions may introduce by-laws which allow multiple points to be awarded for touchdowns under certain situations. The most common variation is awarding 2 points for a touchdown scored by a female player in a mixed game.

Definitions

The Touch

The main defensive tactic in the game of Touch, similar to a tackle in other codes of football. It forces the attacking team to stop and restart play (see roll-ball).

A touch is performed by the defensive team on any part of the body or clothing of the current ball carrier for the attacking team or the ball itself.

At the moment of a touch it is customary for the defensive player who is performing the touch to shout "Touch", which alerts both the attacking and defensive teams and the referees that the player has been touched.

After six touches, possession transfers from the attacking to the defensive team.

The Mark is the position where the ball carrier was touched and the ensuing roll-ball must be performed.

If a hand-over is considered to be not in good sportsmanship a penalty may be awarded. This may be if the ball was thrown to the ground or not given to the opposition by hand.

If a player passes the ball after a touch has been made it is called a "Touch and Pass" and is penalised by the loss of possession.

Roll ball

The ball carrier must perform the roll-ball when he has been touched by the opposition. The roll ball is performed by placing the ball on the mark, and either rolling the ball backwards, or stepping forward over it. The ball is picked up by another player on the attacking team, who is known as the half or dummy half for that play. NB: If the ball is rolled, it cannot travel more than one (1) metre.

Acting-Half

The Acting-Half is the player who takes possession of the ball during the roll-ball. The role of Acting-Half terminates when they pass the ball, so that none of the restrictions of the position apply if the player receives the ball again during the play.

The Acting-Half can run with the ball but the ball is typically passed from the mark where the roll ball took place.
If an Acting-Half is touched with the ball, the attacking team loses possession.
The Acting-Half cannot score a touchdown
As soon as the Acting-Half touches the ball, the defense has the right to move, unless local by-laws prevent it.
A time constraint is set upon the Acting-Half and if the player takes too long in retrieving the ball a penalty may be rewarded to the opposition. The majority of the time, the referee will call "play on" and allow the defense to move up and either touch the Acting-Half or claim the ball.
Any player other than the player who rolls the ball can become the Acting-Half.

NB: Local by-laws may be introduced restricting the movement of the Acting-Half. Similarly, they may also allow the Acting-Half to score.

The Tap

Play is started from the tap because it is either: the start of the game, the second half or the resumption of play after a touchdown or penalty.

The tap is performed by a player placing the ball on the ground, touching the ball with their foot, then picking it up and playing.
The defensive team must stay at a distance of 10 meters from the Mark during the tap ball, unless they are positioned on the scoreline.
The defensive players can move after the ball carrier has touched the ball with his foot.
The player who has performed the tap ball may be touched without losing possession.
The attacking side must be positioned behind the ball when it is tapped.

The penalty

On being awarded a penalty, the resultant ball carrier must perform a tap. If the referee believes that a player behaves in an aggressive way in his connection or with regard to other players, the player may be sin-binned (a period of time where the player stands in the middle of the dead-ball line) or may be removed for the remainder of the game (player automatically receives a 2 match suspension).

A penalty is granted to an opponent team if:

the ball is passed forward.
a "Touch and Pass" is committed (a pass after being touched).
a player does not perform the roll ball at the Mark.(Overstepping)
an obstruction is committed.
If a player acts in a contrary way to the rules (offside, time-wasting, excessive force used when making a touch, phantom touch (calling a touch when they clearly didn't make one), dispute with a decision of the referee, …).

Equipment

The field

The field is of rectangular form and dimension of 70 X 50 meters (ie half of a normal Rugby League field).

The ball

The ball used in Touch is slightly smaller than the one traditionally used in Rugby. Official Balls are available through most leading sports stores. In Australia, the official manufacturers of Touch balls is Steedan.

Clothing

Players typically wear light clothing such as T-shirts or polo shirts and shorts. All shirts must be numbered.
It is becoming increasingly more common for womens teams to wear body-suits.

Footwear

Players normally wear soft rubber cleated shoes, similar to those used in other grass sports such as cricket and field hockey. Screw-in cleats are prohibited. The soles of Touch shoes must not measure more than 13mm in height and must be made of molded rubber/plastic. They should be able to bend if pushed.

Composition of the teams and replacements

The teams can be male, female or mixed.
Each team can consist of up to 14 players, normally including 6 players on the field at any one time (Local by-laws may permit 7or more players on-field and/or more in a team).
Typically mixed teams must have among these 6 players of field at least 3 females and 1 male, although these minimums may be changed to suit local conditions and competitions
There is no limit to the number of substitutions.
Substitutions may be made at any time provided the players are in the designated substitution box. Play is continuous and does NOT stop for substititions.

Mode of play and duration

Mode of play

The ball can be passed backwards (but not kicked) between team mates who attempt to evade defenders and score touchdowns. Local by-laws may be introduced to allow kicking.

Duration

The official duration is 40 minutes (two 20 minutes halves) with a 5 minute halftime, though other durations may be changed to suit local conditions and competitions.

Possession

The ball is returned to the opposing team :

after a touchdown;
after six touches;
from an intercept;
from a dropped ball or other failure to maintain possession.

Competitions

Touch is considered a friendly community-based game where a competitions are usually undertaken in large parks close to residential areas. In Australia, a Touch Association is responsible for running many competitions. There are usually several competitions for each division of men's, women's and mixed which are further divided into competitions based on participating teams skill levels.

Touch, whilst not professional, does offer serious competitions in various countries including a World Cup.

International Competitions

World Cup

World Cup Main Page

Trans-Tasman Tests

There is also a regular program of Tests between Australia and New Zealand.

Masters Games

Touch is a very popular sport at the various Masters Games events, see the Masters Games website.

National Competitions

Australia

NTL

Australia's main competition is the National Touch League (NTL) held each March at Coffs Harbour, NSW. 13 permits representing all parts of Australia compete in open, under-20 and over-age (Masters) divisions in men's, women's and mixed. As you would expect, this is an extremely high standard of Touch.
The permits have been designed to equalise competition between the traditionally strong Touch states of ACT, Queensland and NSW and the remainder of the country. There are currently 13 permit holders:

- Sydney Rebels (NSW)
- Sydney Mets (NSW)
- Sydney Scorpions (NSW)
- Southern Suns (NSW)
- Northern Eagles (NSW)
- Hunter / Western Hornets (NSW);
- South Queensland Sharks (QLD);
- Brisbane City Cobras (QLD);
- Rustlers (QLD);
- Tropical Queensland Cyclones (North QLD)
- ACT (ACT);
- Crusaders (VIC, SA and TAS);
- Barbarians (WA and NT).

State of Origin

Touch has a State-of-Origin series every 2 years. The series is played between Touch strongholds Queensland and New South Wales.

National School Sport Championships

School Sport Australia runs the National Championship Tournament and Exchange for Touch every year - the location moves from state to state. Most Australian States and Territories enter Boys and Girls teams in both the High School (15 and under) and Primary School (12 and under) divisions.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Regional Championships (competed for by the various provinces) is the highest domestic competition.

Scotland

In Scotland, at Heriot-Watt University, two Sport Science Students, John Houston and Nick Grier, organized an Inter-University Touch Tournament. Originally taking place in the 3rd term '03, the first winners of "The Lopez Cup" came through the group stages unbeaten and won the final convincingly. From humble beginnings of only 8 teams the tournament is now a yearly success with 32 teams registering.

Switzerland

The fledgling Swiss Touch Association sent a development team to the 2006 European Championships and 2007 World Cup. A tournament for 2007 is planned sometime in May in Zurich.

Glossary of Touch terms

Touch shares many terms in common with rugby league (eg cover-defence, offside, intercept). Below are some Touch-specific terms. The list is not meant to be comprehensive, and there are some regional variations.

Buddy: two or three referees in control of the one game, alternating between central refereeing and touch judge duties.

Dump: a quick play-the-ball to further attacking opportunities from the ensuing play.

Fade: an angled run forwards and towards the wing/sideline in an attempt to draw defenders out of position.

Half or Dummy or Dummy-Half: the player who receives the ball following the play-the-ball.

Phantom: a defensive player claiming a touch when no touch had in fact been made. Frowned upon by the vast majority of players.

Ruck: a basic attacking move intended to promote the ball down the field rather than specifically result in a touchdown.

Scoop or Scoot: an attacking move following the dump, whereby a player runs from the half position in an attempt to get past the defensive line.

Solo: a single referee in control of a game on his/her own.

Snap: to beat (ie run past) your opposite number with the ball in hand.

Squeeze: a type of zone defence used to force attacking players to move the ball to the wings to gain and/or take advantage of an overlap (by which time the defence should have had time to re-align itself).

Switch: a "scissors" move between two attacking players.

Wrap: a variation on the switch move involving an additional pass back to the original ball carrier

External links

FIT Website

National Bodies

Affiliates/Associations

Clubs

Some sites about Touch

Australian Touch Websites