Touch Basics
Touch Football is probably the easiest sport to play with your friends and you are in the best place to get to know where and how!
What Does The Sport Look Like?
If you haven’t seen Touch Football before you can find plenty of great quality footage on Touch Football Australia’s (TFA) YouTube Channel.
The Basics
The aim of the game is to score touchdowns by getting through the opponent team’s part of the field and placing the ball down in the touchdown zone.
Teams are made of up to 14 players, with a maximum of six players on the field at any time with unlimited substitutions. The game lasts between 30 minutes and 45 minutes. Just before the game, team captains gather with the referee/s for the toss. The winner gets the ball and chooses which direction they want their team to run.
The game starts with a ‘tap’ on the half way line.
The Rules
The rules are quite simple, and even if it’s your first time playing, you will pick up the basics in no time and enjoy the game with your teammates, no matter what everyone’s skill level is.
You can have a look at generic explanations by following this link to a video explaining some of the basic Touch Football rules.
For a complete version of the rules of the game, please follow the link or visit the Rules and Policies section of the TFA website www.touchfootball.com.au.
An Affiliated Sport: The Touch Football Community
Touch Football is often referred to simply as ‘Touch’, or ‘Touch Footy’. It can be played everywhere across an extensive affiliated network within Australia. Touch Football Australia is the National governing body for the sport of Touch Football, recognised by the Australian Sport Commission.
Playing within an affiliated competition ensures you that you are covered with insurance and you enjoy the best ‘Touch experience’, with quality fields, organised draws and dedicated volunteers to make sure the games flow smoothly and people enjoy their time down at the field.
An Evening Down At The Field
Usually, players arrive 10 minutes before the start of the game. The warm up is pretty casual; you simply start playing as soon as both teams are on the field, with a referee ready to officiate, and after the Competition Coordinator has started the clock. The game lasts between 30 minutes and 45 minutes. In just an hour, you can have a run, a good time, a work out while having the thrill that Touch Football brings to players.
Touch Football - The Thrill of a Lifetime!
Some friends and a footy - that’s all it takes to play Touch Football!
Touch equipment
Touch Football is an accessible game, and you only need basic sporting gear to become involved at a social level of the sport - a pair of shorts, a team shirt, socks and boots (moulded soles). However, to make the most of your Touch Football experience, here are a few points to help.
The Touch Football Ball
Any oval ball will allow you to play. However, you can find specific Touch Football balls on the Touch Football Australia (TFA) website. They are designed especially for the game, with hard grip and perfect shape for handling, carrying and passing.
Moulded Soles Footwear
Touch Football is a game of evasion; therefore you can expect to need to change direction while you are running at some speed. It is wise therefore to invest in appropriate footwear, as they have more grip and will provide stability while you are playing, making the experience more enjoyable. The TFA Playing Rules however have restrictions on the types of footwear that are able to be used. Make sure you get moulded soles, with cleats no more than 13mm, as studs are not permitted.
Team Shirt With Numbers
In all competition, players on the same team need to have the same shirt, with a number on the back (at least 16cm in height). This needs to be arranged with your team leader and teammates.
White as a colour for your team is not recommended, as official referees use this colour for their uniforms. Before you order your team shirts, just make sure the colour you have chosen is acceptable by your local competition.
Keep Your Fluids Up
One of the great things about Touch Football is the unlimited interchanges of players, so you can get a drink often throughout the game. Have a water bottle with you that can be kept on the side line or in the sub box to help you stay hydrated. This is especially important during the warmer months. A snack can be helpful to keep up your energy levels especially for competitions that run during the evenings.
Stay Protected From The Sun
As with all outdoor sports, Touch Football can expose you to the sun. To help you stay protected from the sun, a hat can be worn whilst playing and sun cream should be frequently applied as well.
You can get more information about sun protection by visiting www.sunsmart.com.au.
Stay Warm In Winter
In colder weather we advise wearing warmer underclothing such as long sleeved shirts and tights with a jumper or tracksuits. Compression clothing, which will keep you warm and help you recover, is suggested.
You are all ready to Play Now!
What parents want to know
Touch Football is an accessible sport, played by both boys and girls from three years old with equal fun and opportunities. After discovering Touch Football, most children continue playing through their entire childhood and adolescence.
Perfect For Your Child’s Development
There is no other sport more conducive to child activity than Touch Football. It’s a minimal contact sport that actively encourages fitness, communication, team spirit, coordination, and decision making; it contributes positively to your child’s development. Medical and sport doctors describe Touch Football as a low injury physical activity, perfectly suitable for kids in their phase of physiologic awakening and acquisition of movement skills.
Perfect For Busy Parents
Parents like Touch Football firstly because it’s a great sport for their children but also because it doesn’t require a lot of equipment to buy and wash! Competitions have convenient scheduling of times without a formal requirement to train, which suits busy parent’s lifestyles.
Children Love It Too
Children love Touch Football for many reasons including:
Touch Football can also be a passion for you, or simply an activity that you share with your children. Because age is not a barrier in Touch Football, you and your family members can play together and it becomes an occasion to spend quality time together.
Volunteering
Volunteers play a major role in the delivery of sports and children activities. Parents and volunteers are the cornerstone of the Touch Football community, and your involvement will be greatly valued by your child and all members of the community.
To get involved with your local club, simply contact your Competition Coordinator - he or she will tell you how you can contribute to the sport and form part of the Touch Football community.
Player Pathways
Touch Football proposes an entire pathway for players from learning as a kid to representing Australia in international competitions.
Children from the age of three are often exposed to Touch Football through school based clinics or events. School competitions are fantastic experiences for all participants, with the main ones gathering up to 5000 children in a great carnival atmosphere. School participation has a representative pathway with opportunities to link to Touch Football Australia’s (TFA) High Performance Program.
Touch Football affiliates also run junior competitions as a complement to the school pathway. From those competitions, various regional or state junior teams are selected to play in the National Youth Championship (NYC), which again links to the TFA High Performance Program.
Uniquely in Touch Football, the community and school Touch Football community combines at the National Youth Championship level. This event is the main talent identification event for youth athletes to transition into High Performance athletes.
Talented young players can also play in the National Touch League (NTL), in the ‘Under 20’ or ‘Open’ divisions. At these national events (NYC and NTL), Australian Youth teams are selected from the Australian Youth Squads (under 18 and under 20) and compete in the Trans Tasman Test Series against New Zealand.
For national youth players, gates are wide open to make the Australian team and play in the World Cup against the best players in the world. The next World Cup will be hosted by Australia in 2015.
The Number One Sport In The Australian Sport System
Touch Football is the most popular sport in the Australian school sport’s system, praised by physical education teachers, with thousands of kids playing all across the country.
Parent’s Tips for Children to Play More
Parents can positively impact their children’s sporting life in many different ways. Below are some tips that will encourage your child to enjoy their experience in Touch Football.
As the first role model for your child, you are their best supporter. Encouragement from you as their parent means a lot and positive praise is needed. Your support will lead your child to a better involvement in the sport, therefore learning and enjoying it more.
A balanced diet providing a solid amount of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrate and proteins will maintain your child’s good health, optimise their performance, ensure adequate growth and development occurs and help them to continue to enjoy their sport by maintaining energy levels and staying well hydrated.
Sleep is also a dimension to take into account; before and on the day of any particular physical activity, an early bed time is encouraged.
To get more information about nutrition, you can visit the nutrition section of the Australian Institute of Sport website - www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition.
After discovering Touch Football, most kids continue to play as they grow up. They engage in a dynamic and healthy lifestyle, and take part in the Touch Football community for a lifetime.
Touch Football - The Thrill of a Lifetime!
Touch Football Language
Set out below is terminology that will help you understand what experienced touch players are talking about.
Forward pass: Always tricky for referees to judge, forward passes are the main point of discussions on the side line and after the game.
Half: The player who takes possession of the ball after a roll ball. The half can’t score a touchdown; and if they get touched with the ball in their hands, their team loses possession of the ball.
Link: Name of the position and players positioned between middles and wingers. They are the most deceptive runners and the best ball handlers.
Mark: The exact point where the touch is made and the roll ball is performed.
Middle: Name of the position and players occupying the ‘middle’ of the field. Middles are the most consistent and fittest players in the team.
Offside: Referee's favourite call. It means that you haven’t gone backwards enough to be onside and therefore you get penalised.
Over the Mark: Infringement when the ball handler does not perform the roll ball on the exact point where they have been touched. It results in a penalty for the defensive team.
Referee: Referees are a key component of the sport. They don’t have the same jersey, but they share the same passion.
Ruck: Area where the roll ball occurs with the ball carrier, the defender and the half.
Roll ball: Normal act of bringing the ball into play following a touch or a change of possession. Players should perform a roll ball by controlling the ball and placing it on the ground while stepping over it, facing their scoreline. It is the specific move of Touch Football.
Tap: The method of commencing the match, recommencing the match after half-time and after a touchdown has been scored. It is also a method of recommencing play when a penalty is awarded.
Team Sheet: Information form that needs to be signed by every player involved in a game. Players must have their name on the team sheet and sign the team sheet to be covered by the competition insurance.
Touch: Contact on any part of the body between a player in possession of the ball and a defending player. A touch includes contact on the ball, hair or clothing, and may be made by a defending player or by the player in possession.
Wings: Name of the position and players occupying the side part of the field. They are usually the fastest players in the team, as they have to cover a large part of the width of the field.
Touch Football is probably the easiest sport to play with your friends and you are in the best place to get to know where and how!
What Does The Sport Look Like?
If you haven’t seen Touch Football before you can find plenty of great quality footage on Touch Football Australia’s (TFA) YouTube Channel.
The Basics
The aim of the game is to score touchdowns by getting through the opponent team’s part of the field and placing the ball down in the touchdown zone.
Teams are made of up to 14 players, with a maximum of six players on the field at any time with unlimited substitutions. The game lasts between 30 minutes and 45 minutes. Just before the game, team captains gather with the referee/s for the toss. The winner gets the ball and chooses which direction they want their team to run.
The game starts with a ‘tap’ on the half way line.
The Rules
The rules are quite simple, and even if it’s your first time playing, you will pick up the basics in no time and enjoy the game with your teammates, no matter what everyone’s skill level is.
You can have a look at generic explanations by following this link to a video explaining some of the basic Touch Football rules.
- Basically, while attacking, you have to run forward and pass the ball backward; that means the ball carrier is up front, with his teammates on the same line or slightly behind them, so they can pass the ball to them.
- Defenders only need to ‘touch’ the ball carrier to stop the attacking team; the rules of the game stipulate that the ‘touch’ has to be made ‘with the minimum force necessary’. It can be done on any part of the body, including the ball or clothing. The ‘touch’ can also be made by the ball carrier on a defensive player.
- After making a ‘touch’, the defending team has to go backward behind an imaginary ‘defensive’ line, approximately five metres away from where the touch has been made; the referee will show you where they expect you to be. The ball carrier has to perform a ‘rollball’, on the exact mark where the ‘touch’ was made. Be careful not to be ‘over the mark’ when performing a roll ball.
- Your team will have six ‘touches’ as your opportunity to score. The sixth ‘touch’, dropping the ball or any infringement to the rules result in a changeover and the attacking team then becomes the defending side.
For a complete version of the rules of the game, please follow the link or visit the Rules and Policies section of the TFA website www.touchfootball.com.au.
An Affiliated Sport: The Touch Football Community
Touch Football is often referred to simply as ‘Touch’, or ‘Touch Footy’. It can be played everywhere across an extensive affiliated network within Australia. Touch Football Australia is the National governing body for the sport of Touch Football, recognised by the Australian Sport Commission.
Playing within an affiliated competition ensures you that you are covered with insurance and you enjoy the best ‘Touch experience’, with quality fields, organised draws and dedicated volunteers to make sure the games flow smoothly and people enjoy their time down at the field.
An Evening Down At The Field
Usually, players arrive 10 minutes before the start of the game. The warm up is pretty casual; you simply start playing as soon as both teams are on the field, with a referee ready to officiate, and after the Competition Coordinator has started the clock. The game lasts between 30 minutes and 45 minutes. In just an hour, you can have a run, a good time, a work out while having the thrill that Touch Football brings to players.
Touch Football - The Thrill of a Lifetime!
Some friends and a footy - that’s all it takes to play Touch Football!
Touch equipment
Touch Football is an accessible game, and you only need basic sporting gear to become involved at a social level of the sport - a pair of shorts, a team shirt, socks and boots (moulded soles). However, to make the most of your Touch Football experience, here are a few points to help.
The Touch Football Ball
Any oval ball will allow you to play. However, you can find specific Touch Football balls on the Touch Football Australia (TFA) website. They are designed especially for the game, with hard grip and perfect shape for handling, carrying and passing.
Moulded Soles Footwear
Touch Football is a game of evasion; therefore you can expect to need to change direction while you are running at some speed. It is wise therefore to invest in appropriate footwear, as they have more grip and will provide stability while you are playing, making the experience more enjoyable. The TFA Playing Rules however have restrictions on the types of footwear that are able to be used. Make sure you get moulded soles, with cleats no more than 13mm, as studs are not permitted.
Team Shirt With Numbers
In all competition, players on the same team need to have the same shirt, with a number on the back (at least 16cm in height). This needs to be arranged with your team leader and teammates.
White as a colour for your team is not recommended, as official referees use this colour for their uniforms. Before you order your team shirts, just make sure the colour you have chosen is acceptable by your local competition.
Keep Your Fluids Up
One of the great things about Touch Football is the unlimited interchanges of players, so you can get a drink often throughout the game. Have a water bottle with you that can be kept on the side line or in the sub box to help you stay hydrated. This is especially important during the warmer months. A snack can be helpful to keep up your energy levels especially for competitions that run during the evenings.
Stay Protected From The Sun
As with all outdoor sports, Touch Football can expose you to the sun. To help you stay protected from the sun, a hat can be worn whilst playing and sun cream should be frequently applied as well.
You can get more information about sun protection by visiting www.sunsmart.com.au.
Stay Warm In Winter
In colder weather we advise wearing warmer underclothing such as long sleeved shirts and tights with a jumper or tracksuits. Compression clothing, which will keep you warm and help you recover, is suggested.
You are all ready to Play Now!
What parents want to know
Touch Football is an accessible sport, played by both boys and girls from three years old with equal fun and opportunities. After discovering Touch Football, most children continue playing through their entire childhood and adolescence.
Perfect For Your Child’s Development
There is no other sport more conducive to child activity than Touch Football. It’s a minimal contact sport that actively encourages fitness, communication, team spirit, coordination, and decision making; it contributes positively to your child’s development. Medical and sport doctors describe Touch Football as a low injury physical activity, perfectly suitable for kids in their phase of physiologic awakening and acquisition of movement skills.
Perfect For Busy Parents
Parents like Touch Football firstly because it’s a great sport for their children but also because it doesn’t require a lot of equipment to buy and wash! Competitions have convenient scheduling of times without a formal requirement to train, which suits busy parent’s lifestyles.
Children Love It Too
Children love Touch Football for many reasons including:
- It’s a sport they can start and enjoy immediately at any age;
- Size and shape plays little influence on how competitive a child can be;
- Touch Football is fast and dynamic, and it’s all about chasing each other;
- It combines well with multiple sports, and can be played similarly with other football codes;
- Boys and girls can play together and have fun around a commonly appreciated activity.
Touch Football can also be a passion for you, or simply an activity that you share with your children. Because age is not a barrier in Touch Football, you and your family members can play together and it becomes an occasion to spend quality time together.
Volunteering
Volunteers play a major role in the delivery of sports and children activities. Parents and volunteers are the cornerstone of the Touch Football community, and your involvement will be greatly valued by your child and all members of the community.
To get involved with your local club, simply contact your Competition Coordinator - he or she will tell you how you can contribute to the sport and form part of the Touch Football community.
Player Pathways
Touch Football proposes an entire pathway for players from learning as a kid to representing Australia in international competitions.
Children from the age of three are often exposed to Touch Football through school based clinics or events. School competitions are fantastic experiences for all participants, with the main ones gathering up to 5000 children in a great carnival atmosphere. School participation has a representative pathway with opportunities to link to Touch Football Australia’s (TFA) High Performance Program.
Touch Football affiliates also run junior competitions as a complement to the school pathway. From those competitions, various regional or state junior teams are selected to play in the National Youth Championship (NYC), which again links to the TFA High Performance Program.
Uniquely in Touch Football, the community and school Touch Football community combines at the National Youth Championship level. This event is the main talent identification event for youth athletes to transition into High Performance athletes.
Talented young players can also play in the National Touch League (NTL), in the ‘Under 20’ or ‘Open’ divisions. At these national events (NYC and NTL), Australian Youth teams are selected from the Australian Youth Squads (under 18 and under 20) and compete in the Trans Tasman Test Series against New Zealand.
For national youth players, gates are wide open to make the Australian team and play in the World Cup against the best players in the world. The next World Cup will be hosted by Australia in 2015.
The Number One Sport In The Australian Sport System
Touch Football is the most popular sport in the Australian school sport’s system, praised by physical education teachers, with thousands of kids playing all across the country.
Parent’s Tips for Children to Play More
Parents can positively impact their children’s sporting life in many different ways. Below are some tips that will encourage your child to enjoy their experience in Touch Football.
- Constant support, encouragement and praise
As the first role model for your child, you are their best supporter. Encouragement from you as their parent means a lot and positive praise is needed. Your support will lead your child to a better involvement in the sport, therefore learning and enjoying it more.
- Hydration, Nutrition and Sleep
A balanced diet providing a solid amount of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrate and proteins will maintain your child’s good health, optimise their performance, ensure adequate growth and development occurs and help them to continue to enjoy their sport by maintaining energy levels and staying well hydrated.
Sleep is also a dimension to take into account; before and on the day of any particular physical activity, an early bed time is encouraged.
To get more information about nutrition, you can visit the nutrition section of the Australian Institute of Sport website - www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition.
After discovering Touch Football, most kids continue to play as they grow up. They engage in a dynamic and healthy lifestyle, and take part in the Touch Football community for a lifetime.
Touch Football - The Thrill of a Lifetime!
Touch Football Language
Set out below is terminology that will help you understand what experienced touch players are talking about.
Forward pass: Always tricky for referees to judge, forward passes are the main point of discussions on the side line and after the game.
Half: The player who takes possession of the ball after a roll ball. The half can’t score a touchdown; and if they get touched with the ball in their hands, their team loses possession of the ball.
Link: Name of the position and players positioned between middles and wingers. They are the most deceptive runners and the best ball handlers.
Mark: The exact point where the touch is made and the roll ball is performed.
Middle: Name of the position and players occupying the ‘middle’ of the field. Middles are the most consistent and fittest players in the team.
Offside: Referee's favourite call. It means that you haven’t gone backwards enough to be onside and therefore you get penalised.
Over the Mark: Infringement when the ball handler does not perform the roll ball on the exact point where they have been touched. It results in a penalty for the defensive team.
Referee: Referees are a key component of the sport. They don’t have the same jersey, but they share the same passion.
Ruck: Area where the roll ball occurs with the ball carrier, the defender and the half.
Roll ball: Normal act of bringing the ball into play following a touch or a change of possession. Players should perform a roll ball by controlling the ball and placing it on the ground while stepping over it, facing their scoreline. It is the specific move of Touch Football.
Tap: The method of commencing the match, recommencing the match after half-time and after a touchdown has been scored. It is also a method of recommencing play when a penalty is awarded.
Team Sheet: Information form that needs to be signed by every player involved in a game. Players must have their name on the team sheet and sign the team sheet to be covered by the competition insurance.
Touch: Contact on any part of the body between a player in possession of the ball and a defending player. A touch includes contact on the ball, hair or clothing, and may be made by a defending player or by the player in possession.
Wings: Name of the position and players occupying the side part of the field. They are usually the fastest players in the team, as they have to cover a large part of the width of the field.
